Forgotten Highway 43, Central North Island

Lavender gifts galore with the scent of lavender drifting through the cafe and shop. Lavender farms are a sure winner. Lauren’s Lavender Farm is closed in winter, open from October to May. The best time to visit is when lavender is blooming, early January to early March.

The Okahukura Saddle is incredibly picturesque with hill farms and grazing sheep. Originally the hills would have had dense podocarp forests. Where a solitary community hall stands is testament to a once sizable population. Pre-European Maori had a significant settlement as Matiere was a station of the walking track between Mokau (west coast) and inland Taumarunui. 

Matiere is the turnaround point on the 5-Tunnel Tour conducted by Forgotten World Adventures

On the banks of the Mangaroa River, on a side road is Ohura. The town is largely abandoned. The main street is bereft of operating shops. The supermarket, hairdressers, garden centre, general merchandise, cafe and petrol station are all closed, some with fading signs about the option of purchase or rental.

Ohura figures large in the abandoned ghostly places in New Zealand. For visitors interested in more places like this scroll through Images, ghosts, abandoned objects, the art of decay – Best Bits

More about Ohura

TANGARAKAU GORGE – SCENIC NEW ZEALAND

• The forests have understorey of ferns, shrubs and grasses in every shade of green
• Lush primeal podocarp forest where conifer cones look like berries

One of New Zealand’s top scenic gorges complete with waterfall. Tangarakau is now a remote camping ground with very little evidence of the former bustling town (photographs adore the camp ground offices).

Raekohua falls is located on Tangaraku Road on the way to the campground. This is a no exit road. You will need to return on the same route to the Forgotten Highway 43 to continue your journey. 

The roads are now an unsealed gravel narrow road. Slow down and use the roadside stops to ponder the difficulty facing people whose form of transport was either fast flowing rivers or walking over the rugged terrain. The description “overlooked highway” is apt.

More about Tangarakau Gorge

A must do short walk for waterfalls as well as visitors relishing the remote countryside. You have a chance to walk among sheep as the local farmers have provided right of way access to the Department of Conservation for walkers to view the Mount Dampier waterfalls. 

The falls are one of the highest falls in the North Island. The falls drop in a curtain 78 metres.

More about Mount Dampier Waterfall

Whangamomona’s attitude is summed up by the quirky hotel still supporting visitors on the Forgotten Highway.

For visitors taking the slow lane this is an ideal place to find somewhere to sleep overnight. Booking beforehand is strongly recommended.

More about Whangamomona

Located on the Forgotten Highway 43 is the Moki Tunnel with its ‘Hobbits Hole’ signage. The tunnel is the better known of the two road tunnels on the Forgotten Highway. Near the Moki tunnel is the detour to the spectacular Mount Dampier falls. The Moki tunnels is 19 kms from Whangamomona, the largest settlement on the Forgotten Highway.

Pioneer hand cut tunnel provided access to the remote Puniwhakau valley for farming ventures in the early years after World War I. 

This pioneer tunnel was the main access to the Makahu and Puniwhakau valleys in the early 1900s.

INTERESTING FACT NOTE AFFILIATE PARTNER STATEMENT

Location: About 15 km (9 miles) from Strathmore on the Forgotten World Highway, take the road to Makahu then continue on the Upper Mangaehu Road.

Kiore (Matau) located on Mangaoapa Road is still in its original shape with no modifications to its original form.

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The tunnel is only 3 metres wide so breathe in deep.

Departing the Republic of Whangamomona, think about the harsh conditions for the men employed in the late 1800’s living in tents for over a decade to build the communications networks of rail tracks and roads. At the Strathmore Saddle stop at the lookouts signposted and get the camera ready for spectacular views of the volcanoes of Tongariro, Ruapehu, Ngaurahoe and Taranaki. You can almost feel the ferocity of volcanic eruptions observing the horizons with volcanic mountains embracing the horizon.

Experience Purangi. The Otunahe Scenic Reserve (approx 70 hectares) is a private QEII-covenanted reserve which lies on the farm property of Bob and Karen Schumacher.

Both the farm and the reserve are within the much larger predator-controlled area cared for by the East Taranaki Environment Trust (ETET).

A remote difficult multiple day hike, tramping through dense undergrowth with the reward of the Whanganui River at the end of the hike. Walk deep into the wilderness of the Whanganui National Park on old Maori trail and settlers’ dray rod.

Shorter day and overnight opportunities are also available. For details check Matemateāonga Track Department of Conservation.

Whangamomona to Stratford delights travellers with magnificent views of volcanic peaks, forested green hills and rolling farmland.