As we head towards daylight savings time on Sunday the blossom trees burst into flower to cheer up all the traffic along the Tongariro River Trail. They remind us that summer is almost here.

The photos are from the trail along the stop bank between Te Aho Street and the SH1 road bridge.

Do not look at the intensive ground cover provided by the Council or DOC or whichever iwi claims to own the land. Just look skyward to admire the display of blossoms.

Years ago there were numerous wild fruit trees along the anglers’ access – there were no bikers back then – but they are now being choked out by thick unpenetrable blackberry. Now that the trail is such a popular tourist route someone in the Council or DOC (who are supposed to manage the trail) need to try to clear the noxious weeds more than ever.

Some of the mature native trees between the walkway and the backs of the properties are worth protecting before they all get smothered.

A special congratulations is due to the property owner(s) who have taken the initiative to clear their blackberry jungle. Our tourist guests thank you…

It was so refreshing to see one property has effectively cleared the blackberry patch at the back of their land adjacent the walkway. But there is still a long way to go to match similar trails in Taupo…

We were really on a hunt to discover Tuis stripping the Kowhais but in the blustery wild spring weather they must have been hiding.

So there is still hope…