Forgotten World Highway Roadtrip

The Forgotten World Highway is one of New Zealand's well-known drives that traverses 148km as State Highway 43 from Stratford to Taumarunui. It offers beautiful views as the road passes various saddles, goes through a tunnel or two, stops at some funky little towns and meanders through a gorge along the only unpaved section of New Zealand's state highways!

We started the drive in Stratford, just outside Egmont National Park and made our way eastward. Key places to stop along the Forgotten World Highway are:

• Strathmore Saddle
• Makahu Tunnel
• Bridge to Somewhere
• Whangamamona - this place declared itself a republic in 1989 (and even offers passport stamps!) and is now most famous for its Presidential elections which has, in the past, been won by a goat!
• Moki Tunnel - fondly known by the locals as Hobbit's Hole
• Mount Damper Falls
• Tangarakau Gorge

We did the trip across two days, spending the night at the lovely campground in Whangamamona for $10/person. We frequent free campgrounds but were in desperate need of a shower and this one provided wonderfully hot ones and plenty of space to park!