Right, Marilyn...The Forgotten Highway...you failed to mention falling rocks, subsidence and at least 11 kilometres of gravel road to negotiate! Challenging? Those hairpin bends gave me palpitations and sent Ian into boy racer mode! Boy did he enjoy it. No regard for me clinging on like mad and preying we would make it in one piece. And that tunnel...no made up road in there just dirt! It was great fun though and the landscape was quite different, beautiful in a rugged sort of way, nothing like we have seen before.
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| The Bluff |
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| After a car had passed us. |
Stopped for coffee at the Taranaki River, the resting place of
Joshua Morgan. Know nothing about him other than what I read on the information board but he was a pioneer surveyor who blazed the trail through the Tangarakau Gorge and died of peritonitis aged 35.
We also took a detour off the highway in search of Mt Damper Falls, a 16k drive, 1k walk and a disappointment at the end! The only saving grace, a little Owl perched right by us but I wasn't quick enough with the camera.
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| Not much flow over the top |
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| Stunning colours in the river. |
We
have made it over halfway and are now parked for the night with the most stunning view overlooking the plains. Mt Ruapehu and Ngahunhue loom in the distance. Now, all we need is for a clear night, dark sky and we may yet get to see the milky way!
4 comments:
Irene, Jan and I drove the road in 1975. We did it in the dark and it was all unsealed. I don't remember seeing any of those cliffs . I do remember the tunnel and I remember we were in the middle of nowhere running out of petrol. Eventually I found a small closed general store with a petrol bowser. There was much relief when the owner of the house/store responded to my knocking and agreed to sell us some fuel.
Yes.... it's probably one of the most isolated roads in NZ. Well done!
Tom & Jan
We passed a building and commented at the time that it must have been a general store in days gone by. Maybe that was your store.
Do take the time to stop at The Republic of Whangamomona, a tiny place with the most interesting stories. The pub does nice coffee too, if you need reviving. Good on you for tackling this road, you just need to take your time and keep your eyes out for idiot drivers!
Hi Jenny, We did do the whole Whangamomona experience and even had our passport stamped. You are right the coffee at the hotel was excellent!
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