The Forgotten World Highway

No sooner had we got got back from our Xmas/New Year trip when my mate John and I headed of on a three day motorbike trip taking in the Forgotten World Highway.

We rode up to Taumarunui where we camped for the night. 

The next day we rode the Forgotten World Highway which runs from Taumarunui to Stratford and then on SH3 to Whanganui. 

The first half of the highway was sealed but very tight and twisty with liberal quantities of gravel and rocks to keep you on your toes. Just when it looked like it couldn’t get any worse the road turned to gravel and this along with some washboard sections made for a few buttock clenching moments (my R Nine T has very stiff suspension and is not at all suited to this stuff). After 10km or so of gravel the road became paved again and we rode through the very photogenic Moki Tunnel. Shortly after this we entered the self proclaimed Republic of Whangamōmona and then onto lunch at the Whangamōmona Hotel.

The republic doesn’t take itself too seriously having had a goat and a poodle elected president in the past, which is perhaps a model the USA might like to consider.

From a biking perspective the rest of the road was much better with some lovely sweeping bends although one always had to be mindful of the often very bumpy road surface.

All to soon we arrived in Stratford which marks the end of the highway. This also marked the point where the weather, which had been threatening all day, really turned and we had a very soggy ride to Whanganui where we stayed in Johns partners palatial and very posh riverside apartment.

The next day we had another soggy ride back to Wellington but that didn’t detract from what was a fun trip.

Xmas/New Year Trip

With no family around Christmas is a quiet time of the year for us and a good excuse to hit the road and do some exploring.

We did do the sociable thing on Boxing Day and had a rather fine lunch with one of Neena’s friends only to find some fucktard had left a not so fine dent in our car. No note, so no surprises there then, although at least the car was drivable. 

We drove up to Hamilton and spent four days there. The city doesn’t have the best of reputations over here with the town centre being particularly dire but it is also home to Hamilton Gardens NZ’s best botanical gardens and also the majestic Waikato River, so well and truly redeems itself.

After much botanicaling we headed up to Auckland to visit friends. Again, I am not not a big fan of the city (or cities in general) as it is way to busy for my liking but at this time year most of the population heads to the beaches and consequently Auckland is nice and quiet and a lovely place to spend a few days.