The Forgotten Highway runs from Tauramanui to Stratford. Highway 43 is a unique opportunity to have a glimpse into the history of NZ.

By David & Maria

              NZ's Unique Forgotten Highway

Maria and I were on our way back from Auckland and we decided to take The Forgotten Highway. (Highway 43) The drive up to Auckland along highway number 3 through Mokau is littered with roadworks not least the expensive and over-rated Mt Messenger deviation and so we thought we would try the Forgotten Highway as an alternative.

The drive up to Auckland on highway number 3 took us 5 1/2 hours and the journey back where we stopped for lunch at the delightful Te Kuiti Railway station and halted all along the 43 Highway to take Vids and photos including a beer at the Whangmomona hotel took us 6 1/2 hours. It was an absolute pleasure to slow down and enjoy this beautiful old road and appreciate the scenery and the work that was undertaken by NZ pioneers to build it.

The Forgotten Highway is a scenic route in New Zealand that winds through the rugged and remote landscape of the North Island's central plateau. The highway, also known as State Highway 43, stretches for 155 kilometers from Stratford in Taranaki to Taumarunui in the King Country region.

The Forgotten Highway is known for its breathtaking natural scenery, including rolling hills, native bush, and stunning views of Mount Taranaki. The route also passes through several small towns and rural communities, providing an opportunity to experience the authentic New Zealand countryside.

One of the highlights of the Forgotten Highway is the Tangarakau Gorge, a narrow and winding canyon that is home to several historic sites and natural attractions, including the Tangarakau Bridge, which is the longest single-lane wooden suspension bridge in the Southern Hemisphere.

The highway also passes through the town of Whangamomona, which declared itself an independent republic in 1989 as a protest against local government boundary changes. Today, the town is a popular destination for tourists and features a hotel, pub, and post office all bearing the "Republic of Whangamomona" name.

Overall, the Forgotten Highway is a unique and memorable road trip experience for visitors to New Zealand, offering a glimpse into the country's stunning natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. 




We're David and Maria the owners and present custodians of the 1906 Eltham Post Office where we offer a Romantic and luxurious Bed and Breakfast stay for discerning travellers.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

MY BRILLIANT CAREER

By David & Maria
Image
  My Brilliant Career I grew up by a river, a big and very beautiful river. I wrote an ode to it in later years… ”Light rolling, rippling river of light, your waters washed us in our youth, that baptism now reveals a truth. To June and Lou whose time was not in vain, that constant fall of steady rain has cleansed us of all time-worn pain, and now that ripple has become a flop a loving source of life and blood……  I literally lived for the river, leapt about crazily on it’s smooth round rocks in the heat of summer and swam in it’s dark and mysterious depths. Diving down into pools and wondering at the flow and beauty and depth. I “knew” it so well on an elemental level and its light rippling waters in the rapids. My mother had suggested to my father in the early 1950’s that with a growing family why wouldn’t they move out to her Paternal Grandfather’s house in Upper Hutt. It was on several acres of land and a grand old estate known as “Gatehouse”. I was eternally grateful to her...
Read more