What to do in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand

For your next mini getaway, how about a series of adventures in the North Island’s trifecta of leisurely stays: Taumarunui, Whangamōmona? and Whanganui National Parkwrites Sam Carran

When the idea of ​​a trip involving Taumarunui, Whangamōmona and Whanganui National Park for the Easter weekend first came up, I have to admit it wasn’t high on my wish list.

That was until you look up to see what you can actually do, courtesy of Forgotten World Adventures.

So we packed up the car, traveled the four and a half hours from Auckland (it should have been three and a half, but there was Easter traffic) on a Friday afternoon and barricaded ourselves in Taumarunui. But not before enjoying some delicious Indian food at Monsoon Indian Cuisine, which I’m told people travel all over, which set us up perfectly for the early start.

READ MORE: Five new things to do in Palmerston North and Manawatū

highway of the forgotten world

We started at 6.30am under a morning of clear, frosty skies which this southerner-turned-Auckland doesn’t handle all that well either. We were told to bundle up before boarding a bus to the start of the famous ‘highway’, where guide Ray was already in full swing.

You can clearly tell that the guides love their jobs and are proud to show off this gem of a place. Forgotten World Highway is a railcar adventure, where you travel in a modified golf cart along 142km of tracks and native bush as part of the country’s oldest heritage trail.

We were on the two-day expedition trip, one of the things the new owner, former professional rugby player Grant Ross, has implemented. Our journey involved 80 kilometers of track, through 20 hand-built tunnels on the Okahukura-Stratford line.

We had absolutely the right weather, drove our own car and enjoyed the beautiful views, the pitch black tunnels, the river bridges you drive over and the vast areas of farmland and landscape that you need to travel off the beaten track. city ​​to get a glimpse of.

Along the journey there are stops to learn about history, visit entire towns that have been abandoned, and, perhaps most importantly, stops to cook at Midge’s house. The entire trip takes about eight hours, and since I’m a millennial, I figured I’d get bored by the end. But the novelty never wore off.

The places to stop and hear about the history were perfectly laid out and waiting to see what came out of each tunnel or around the next bend was always exciting. Did I mention we hit the jackpot with the weather? I don’t think the trip would have been as pleasant in the rain, but the team makes sure there are blankets and raincoats if things get difficult.

In fact we had a farming couple from Whanganui in our group who said this was the best thing they had done in years. So between the gushing reviews and our own experience, it wasn’t hard to see why this place was the busiest tourist area in the two years of Covid and a much-loved attraction, with 80 per cent of sales going to Kiwis.

Whangamomona Hotel

We arrived in Whangamōmona, New Zealand’s own republic, around 4:30 p.m. It’s a small place that decided to secede in 1989 and has since elected a dog as mayor, while a cockatoo and a sheep have also claimed their rights (it’s a human at the moment, boring).

You can also stamp your passport if you wish! We immediately headed to the iconic Whangamōmona Hotel for our accommodation (included) and a well-deserved beer.

You can choose to stay in the hotel itself or in the hostel behind which is still part of it. We chose the hostel because you have your own bathroom in each room, compared to the shared facilities at the hotel.

It’s all a perfectly pleasant experience, as the hotel becomes a good pub to watch some sport and enjoy a burger in preparation for an early start the next day. They are all friendly and much less threatening than the sign on the state highway leading to the township: “Whangamōmona Republic Warning: Things can happen quickly.”

Helicopter ride to speedboat around the Whanganui River

The second day is where you will have another opportunity to see our beautiful country from a different angle. I’ve only been on a helicopter once and the quick ride over Whanganui National Park was so green and spectacular as far as the eye could see.

When you land, you’ll have waterfalls to explore before heading to the speedboat. The first stop is Mangapurua Landing, where you’ll walk 40 minutes to the Bridge to Nowhere, the largest and most intact structure associated with the Valley Soldiers’ Settlement and a site that has category one Historic Site status in New Zealand.

As someone who hasn’t traveled the Whanganui River before, nothing prepares you for the sun hitting the water, the massive cliffs you find yourself between and the views you get as you take each turn, soaking it all in as you stand idle while you wait. for kayakers to pass by, or take on the longest 110km commercial boat ride in the Southern Hemisphere.

Grant told me that he never gets tired of the trip no matter how many times he’s done it and it’s very easy to see why. And don’t worry, adrenaline enthusiasts: all 360s are included and recommended!

To say this trip is a hidden gem is an understatement.

It’s a little expensive? Yeah.

Do you get your money’s worth? Absolutely.

Details

Forgotten World Adventures expedition trip in Taumarunui, Whangamōmona and Whanganui.

Duration: two days

Cost: $2100 per person.