19th February, 2014 - Raglan, Taumarunui, Forgotten World Highway, Stratford and New Plymouth.

Last night in Raglan, I took a photo just in front of our motel, of the bridge lit up at dusk where the kids jump off.

Today we left our motel Bow Street Studios Raglan at 7.45am heading to Taumarunui to start the Forgotten World Highway 43 arriving at New Plymouth at 4.15pm. Big driving day. Another fine hot day with no wind.

We got caught out by going down an alternative highway from Raglan which looked a good road but turned out more than half of it was gravel and twisty but we finally met up with highway 39 meeting up with highway 3 onto highway 4 to Taumarunui 

Turned off just before Taumarunui to go on highway 43 the Forgotten World Highway. It was great weather but because of no wind it was quite misty so couldn't see a long way in the distance when we crossed over the four saddles which all had viewing points.

Enjoyed the countryside for about a third of highway 43 with some great sights of its high rolling countryside although very brown and dry. Although it was high up amazingly there was no wind and very hot. 29.5 in places.

 Start of  Forgotten World Highway 43

Otunui River Boat Landing is a reminder of the time when the Whanganui River provided the main access to the King Country.

Whanganui River which we were following on parts of the highway.

Crossing over the Nivins Saddle  with Panoramic views of the King Country and the central North Island mountains can be seen but unfortunately it was too misty today to see the mountains.

Nivins Saddle

Nivins saddle

Drove through the Tangarakau Gorge clad in luxuriant native bush. Then came across about 14 ks of gravel road. Poor old car so dirty.

Moki Tunnel a 180m road tunnel which we drove through built in 1935 .

Coming out 

Tahora Saddle. Another good view point to see the central North Island mountains but again too misty to see into the distance. Straight ahead in this photo the mountains are 70 km away.

Hotel where we had fish and chips for lunch. Didn't arrive here until about 1.30pm

Main street of Whangamomona

Above photos inside the hotel

Whangamomona Saddle.

Good NZ scene

Makahu Tunel was opened in 1907 giving access to the Makahu and Puniwhakau valleys. Light at the end of the tunnel.

Entering tunnel. Dirty car

Inside tunnel

Strathmore saddle nearest to Stratford. The end of our adventure.  In our 8 and half hours of travelling today we only covered  411 km. Another great day.