Forgotten World Highway

. Travelling south on the Forgotten World Highway. The Forgotten World Highway can be approached from Stratford or Taumarunui. It wriggles its way over four mountain saddles, through an eerie one-lane tunnel and along a sinuous river gorge. Fifteen kilometres of the road is unsealed gravel, and the only significant settlement on the way is Whangamomona, where the historic hotel is known for its hospitality. Built on colonial bridle paths formed in the late 19th century, the highway is remote and mysterious to the extreme. While it's only 150 kilometres long, the Forgotten World Highway is a highly memorable driving journey.

Growing beside the Forgotten World Highway.

On Raekohua Road off the Forgotten World Highway.

Raekohua Falls on Raekohua Road, not far off the Forgotten World Highway. Archive Airings.......AA 237.....Had To Stop! HFW

On the Forgotten World Highway HFW

From a lookout on the Forgotten World Highway . Archive Airings.....AA 217.....Down In the Valley.

From Forgotten World Highway Lookout

Farm On the Forgotten World Highway.

From the Forgotten World Highway Lookout.

Road Tunnel on Forgotten World Highway.

On the Forgotten World Highway

Crossing a river on the Forgotten World Highway. Archive Airings.......AA 262.....Reflections.

Tangarakau River Rest Area on Forgotten World Highway. HBM.

A farm on the Forgotten World Highway.

From the Forgotten World Highway lookout.

On the Forgotten World Highway. Archive Airings.....AA 283.....Beauty In Nature.

On the Forgotten World Highway. Archive Airings......AA 217..... Down In the Valley.

Whangamomona is a small township in the Stratford District and Manawatu-Wanganui Region in New Zealand. It lies on State Highway 43, the "Forgotten World Highway", 65 kilometers north-east of Stratford and 55 kilometers south-west of Ohura. In 1989 regional council boundaries were redrawn, with an emphasis on connected catchments. These revised maps made Whangamomona part of the Manawatu-Wanganui Region. Residents objected, as they wanted to continue being part of the Taranaki Region, and on 1 November 1989, they responded by declaring themselves the "Republic of Whangamomona" at the first Republic Day. The day has become a local festival day, and attracts visitors from throughout the North Island. In 2001, the celebration became biennial, held in January to take advantage of the summer weather.