Not Daphne Hut

These were taken on a 2-day walk with the Wellington Tramping and Mountaineering Club to Daphne Hut in the Ruahine mountain range.

After a 2-hour slog we reached the tops only to be confronted by ferocious winds meaning that Daphne Hut was out the question. Instead, we stayed at the nearby Longview Hut.

I can’t say the trip was up to too much on a social level, not least, as family and friends aside, truth be known I don’t really like people all that much. Being up in the mountains though is always special, so I enjoyed it all anyway.

Taupo Summer Concert and the Huka Falls

We drove up to Taupo for their annual summer concert featuring, ahem, Huey Lewis and The News, REO Speedwagon & Melissa Etheridge. 80’s mid-Atlantic pop rock is very much Neena’s thing, but hey it’s a weekend away in a lovely part of NZ.

REO Speedwagon were ok, but the real highlight for me was Melissa Etheridge who is a great singer and an even better guitarist.

We spent 4-days in Taupo, with the highlights being a cruise to the Huka Falls and swimming in Lake Taupo, which was almost a necessity given the scorching hot weather.

 I reckon there were about 10000 people at the concert and it was hotter than Venus.

 Melissa Etheridge doing her thing.

 At the start of the cruise to Huka Falls.

 A rather fine looking bridge over the Waikato River.

 The river was wonderfully scenic and we saw some monster trout under the bushes.

The Waikato River in all its glory.

Huka Falls in the distance.

The boat got pretty close to the Falls.

A short video of the Falls.