Taranaki - Wheelaway Holidays

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Forgotten World Highway
Taumarunui to Stratford - linking from our self drive tour
‘Thermal Explorer Highway’ this is a remote and mysterious route.
Allow yourself time to view the sights and enjoy the views as you follow the trail of yesteryear
Taumarunui to Stratford
(150 kms – 21/2 to 31/2 hrs)
You will not find a service station along the Forgotten World
Highway, so fill up before you depart!
While it is only 150 kilometres long, the Forgotten World
Highway is a memorable driving journey. Built on colonial bridle
paths formed in the late 19th century, the highway is remote and
mysterious to the extreme.
Forgotten by name, this route is really a journey of remembrance.
Along its length there are constant reminders of settlers who
tried to scratch out a living in the wild, isolated hill country. The
almost-ghost like town of Whangamomona once flourished in
the early 1900’s. The remains of a flour mill and various river boat
landings are signs of days gone by in this abandoned coal mining
village. However, there still remains a fighting spirit in the town’s
tiny population of around 40.
At the Whangamomona Hotel, built in 1911 you will find genuine
Kiwi hospitality and a history that reflects the colourful and truly
unique nature of the Whangamomona community.
Back in 1988, Whangamomona found itself caught up in local
government bureaucracy. In a piece of boundary shuffling, the
district found itself split between two adjoining provinces
with half of Whangamomona going from the Taranaki province
to the Manawatu province. Upset locals, who considered
themselves Taranakians through and through, demonstrated their
disappointment by declaring themselves a republic.
Enthusiastic Republic Day celebrations are now held every
second January, when visitors must purchase a passport before
entering the small
republic. Country
activities such as
gumboot throwing,
possum skinning and
sheep racing are held
in the main street,
the population swells
from 40 to 4,000
and celebrations are
thoroughly enjoyed by
all! Find out more about
Whangamomona and the
date of its next Republic
Day on
www.taranakiwiki.com.
NORTH Hamilton
ISLAND
Lake Rotorua
Rotorua
Waitomo Caves
Wairakei
New
Plymouth
Taumarunui
Whangamomona Chateau
Tongariro
Stratford
Mt Ruapehu
Mt Taranaki
Hawera
Turangi
Mt Tongariro
Mt Ngauruhoe
Wanganui
Palmerston North
History is one reason
to choose this route,
Masterton
scenery is another. From
the top of the ragged
Strathmore Saddle you’ll
WELLINGTON
see the three volcanoes
of Tongariro National
Park – Mounts Ruapehu, Tongariro and Ngauruhoe to the east. The
snow topped cone of their lost brother, Mount Taranaki, lies to the
west.
At the Stratford end of the Forgotten World Highway, there’s
a side road leading to the evocatively named “Bridge to
www.wheelawayholidays.com
Taupo
Lake Taupo
Wheelaway
Phone: +64 6 753 8294
HOLIDAYS
THINGS TO SEE AND DO
• Look out for the distinctive teal & yellow signs drawing your attention to places of interest along the highway.
• The area abounds in scenic photo opportunities. It is rare to come upon traffic on this forgotten highway so park your vehicle in front of one of the tunnels and click away
• Whangamomona Historic Hotel – well known for its hospitality
• Mount Egmont/Taranaki National Park, accessible from Stratford by a short drive.
Overnight stop suggestions:
• New Plymouth Top 10 Holiday Park
• Belt Road Holiday Park, New Plymouth
Tips
From Stratford it is but a short 30 minute drive to New
Plymouth, via State Highway 3 where it is possible to link onto
Surf Highway 45 and circumnavigate Mount Taranaki around the
coastal route to Hawera.
Tr a v e l
Somewhere” (in response to the Whanganui National Park’s
famous ‘Bridge to Nowhere’).
Taumaranui before •Fill your fuel tank at Stratford or
on
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•To book
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comprehensive booking serv
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HOLIDAYS
Forgotten World Highway
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l
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w
e
ay
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HOLIDAYS
Taumarunui to Stratford - linking from our
self drive tour ‘Thermal Explorer Highway’
this is a remote and mysterious route.
w w w. w h e e l aw ay h o l i d ay s . c o m