Day 12: Tongariro - Places to see on the Forgotten World Highway: Taumurunui - Moki Tunnel, Whangamomona, Pohokura Saddle, Strathmore Saddle, Makahu Tunnel - Taranaki
A route through places to see on the Forgotten World Highway This is what we will dedicate today, before heading to Mount Taranaki, where we will spend the night.
Much more rested after having done the Tongariro Alpine Crossing Trekking yesterday, one of the best trekkings in the world, and having slept almost 12 hours in the Tongariro Holiday Park, our accommodation in Tongariro, when it is 6:30 and after breakfast, We set off to go to the Forgotten World Highway, which is 115 kilometers away.
The first section of the journey of today's trip to New Zealand allows us to enjoy the Mount of Destiny or Mount Ngauruhoe of 2287 meters and the Tongariro, which we are fired giving us its completely clear silhouette before covering as we move away of them with the Jucy motorhome with which from now on, we begin a new stage of the New Zealand in motorhome.
Remember that if you are interested in making a route through New Zealand by motorhome, we recommend you look at the Motorhome Republic page where you can see all the available motorhome options, prices and make the reservation directly.
Typical signs of the North Island of New Zealand
The next 115 kilometers we make surrounded by breathtaking landscapes, dotted with hills and vegetation, which remind us how lucky we are and how incredible it is to travel this country on wheels, a way that allows you to know and stop anywhere, something that you cannot imagine what is appreciated in a place like this.
New Zealand roads
We arrive at the beginning of the route by places to see on the Forgotten World Highway When it is 10:30 in the morning, stopping before in Taumurunui to fill the gas tank, keep in mind that in the 150 kilometers of the route there are no gas stations, make several purchases in the supermarket and get into what they say, it is one of the most beautiful roads in New Zealand.
Forgotten World Highway
Known for being one of the most beautiful routes in the country, the Forgotten World Road is 155 kilometers of the SH43 road, between Taumurunui and Stratford, where you can enjoy incredible landscapes, among which undulating rolling hills, such as the ones we saw when visiting Hobbiton and the Waitomo Caves as well as areas where the vegetation seems to cover everything, parting around the road.
Landscapes on the Forgotten World Highway
In addition to the landscapes, the Forgotten World Highway passes through some Maori or fortified villages, already abandoned mines and even an independent republic called Whangamomona.
Keep in mind that although the entire road is well preserved, in some sections it is narrow and there are 10 kilometers of unpaved roads. Despite this, it can be perfectly circulated even by motorhome, so you should not worry.
More practical information to prepare your trip to New Zealand
- 10 essential tips for traveling to New Zealand
- 10 essential places to see in New Zealand
- The best travel insurance for New Zealand
Places to see on the Forgotten World Highway
After this brief introduction, we will explain to you what are the places to see on the Essential Forgotten World Highway.
Moki Tunnel
The first of the stops on the Forgotten World Road is Monkey Tunnel 68 kilometers from Taumurunui. This tunnel is also known as the "Hobbit hole", as can be seen in the entrance. We had read that some fossilized giant crabs can be seen in the side area. We look for them, but we can't find them, so we can't ensure that this is true.
Moki Tunnel
Whanganamoma
19 kilometers from Moki Tunnel, also on the Forgotten World Road, is Whanganamoma, the only independent Republic of New Zealand.
It all started in 1988 when the council decided that the small town of Whangamomona should be divided into two: the Taranaki district and the Manawatu-Wanganui district.
After many discussions without reaching an agreement, the inhabitants decided to declare Whangamomona as an independent republic, declaring even a president, who over the years has gone from human to animal. Yes, as you have read. And in recent years, the president of Whangamomona has been an animal.
Whanganamoma
Although we cannot deny that it is a curious stop and one of the things to do on the Forgotten World HighwayWe do not believe it is necessary to be much more than a few minutes on its main street to get to know it.
Whanganamoma
Pohokura Saddle
The next point on the Forgotten World Road route is Pohokura Saddle 19 kilometers from Whangamomona.
This viewpoint, which is called a Maori chief, is the perfect place to stop and enjoy the incredible views of the green valleys surrounded by rolling hills.
Pohokura Saddle, one of the places to see on the Forgotten World Highway
We take advantage of the place and it is 1 noon, to prepare food in the motorhome and enjoy lunch with incredible views, although as the minutes go by and the desktop approaches, as if by magic, the sky It starts to get cloudy, warning us in some way of what was yet to come ...
Stop to eat at Pohokura Saddle
Strathmore Saddle, another place to see on the Forgotten World Road
22 kilometers from Pohokura Saddle is Strathmore Saddle, our last stop on the road along this road and which was for us one of the key points of the day, because due to its incredible location, from here you have unique views of the Tongariro, Ruapehu, Ngaurahoe and Taranaki volcanoes.
But as you can imagine after what we have told you before, the day seems not to be on our side, making this stop only become a technical stop, to stretch our legs, without allowing us to see absolutely anything.
Strathmore Saddle
Tips for touring the Forgotten World Highway
- Keep in mind that the Forgotten World Highway is 155 kilometers, where there are no gas stations.
- It is best to leave with a full tank, charging it in Taumurunui or Stratford, depending on where you come from.
- Calculate about 4 hours with stops, provided the weather is clear and you can enjoy the views.
- In addition to the stops we have made, there are many more stops, including several trails. In case you have an extra day, you can find several brochures with the routes available in the ISite (Tourist Offices) of the area.
- After the experience we have to say that we expected much more from this road, since what we had read was one of the most beautiful on the North Island of New Zealand.
It is indeed beautiful and if we had been lucky, especially in the last stage with time, we are sure that being able to see the volcanoes would have been a great incentive, the perfect icing on the day and would have made us see it with other eyes too.
That said, we cannot say that it is a must, although if you want to go to Mount Taranaki from Tongariro and you have these 3-4 hours, it can be a great opportunity to enjoy the views and some curious stops.
Forgotten World Highway
After the tour and seeing that the weather has left us and that the forecast is only getting worse, we decided to make the rest of the route along the Forgotten World Road without stopping by now heading to Volcano View Campsite, the place where we will sleep tonight .
But it is seen that today something has been twisted. And we find the surprise of an announcement in the Campermate last minute application: Volcano View Campsite, a low cost campsite with stunning views of the Taranaki, the days of bad weather or bad weather, closes. And not without reason. Its maximum and probably only incentive are the views and on cloudy days, as today, these do not exist, so it is best to close.
With the plans turned upside down and with a forecast not encouraging for today and the next few days, we decided to go to the most central area of the population of New Plymouth, which is only 5 kilometers from the key points we have to see the Taranaki, to work for a while in a cafeteria and go to the supermarket, waiting for time to give us a truce again.
But nothing is further from the truth, since the weather is only getting worse, so we decided to end the day, heading to Mangawara River Hideaway, the place that will be our accommodation in the Taranaki, where we take the opportunity to review the squares available on ferries from Wellington to Picton, which will be the ferry ride from the North Island to the South Island of New Zealand, within a couple of days.
And here is when the next surprise comes. There are practically no seats left within two days, so after giving it several laps, we determine that it is best to reserve them, despite risking not seeing the Taranaki cleared and thus not running out of seats.
And so we close the day today, reserving the ferry ride from Wellington to Picton, with the Bluebridge company for 295NZD two people and the caravan, which will take us to the next stage of the trip in a couple of days.
Taking into account our experience, we understand that if you travel in high season or mid season, it is necessary to book the ferry from Wellington to Picton in advance, as it can happen to you that in recent days you can no longer find the cheapest fare or which is worse, that there are no more places.
Forgotten World Highway
We leave you the map of the route by places to see the Forgotten World Highway among which you can visit the Moki Tunnel, Whangamomona, Pohokura Saddle, Strathmore Saddle, to end up in the area of the famous Taranaki.
Day 13: Visit Mount Taranaki and Wellington in one day
