Enjoy 15% off for the remainder of the season (up to and including 11th May)!

 

 

After a rollercoaster of a season, the railcarts have had their final run for now, and are tucked up for a well-deserved for a rest over winter. Our carts, jetboats and the entire team have been hard at work over the past seven months, as thousands of Kiwis visited the Forgotten World to tick a truly unique experience off their bucket list. 

Did you visit us over the past few months? Or perhaps we’re still on the travel wishlist? Whether it’ll be your first time or you’re keen to try another of our tours, we’ll be back from mid-October 2022 for another action-packed season. But first, time for us to have a holiday! 

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Top 5 of the season 

What will the next season bring? 

Our favourite winter warmers 

As the temperature goes down, the good times are just warming up in our neck of the woods. From top spots for a warm meal to places to stay on a mid-winter getaway, here’s some of our team’s top spots to visit in the cooler months: 

The Forgotten World – famous in BBC Travel! 

It’s not very often our little corner of the world makes the big league news – but our very own gem Whangamōmona has made the cut, diving into its status as ‘the Republic’, its tight-knit community spirit, and the honest truth on why it’s referred to as “old-fashioned New Zealand at its best”. 

READ ALL ABOUT IT

Fun Fact Corner – the Tangarakau Gorge Road 

The Tangarakau Gorge forms part of State Highway 43, and is known as one of the most notorious stretches of road along the Forgotten World Highway. With 12 kilometres of unsealed gravel, it’s a gorge-ous drive that takes concentration and care!  

The area’s story has its origins in pre-European times, where local Māori villagers would trade coastal fish for birds and eels. It wasn’t until the late 1800’s when a local surveyor, Joshua Morgan, helped map the road and enhanced access to the area. Speaking fluent te reo Māori and well-respected by local iwi, he was an influential local figure who made phenomenal surveying progress, but tragically died an untimely death at the age of 35, of suspected peritonitis. It’s his legacy that’s still evident through the winding road, tunnels and bridges that are driven along to this day – you can even see his grave about half-way through the gorge, surrounded by trees and ferns. 

And some good news ahead for those who are used to a bumpy ride full of potholes – the road is slowly being sealed, a couple of kilometres a time – whilst the vast natural beauty of the gorge remains. 

THE STORY CONTINUES WITH NZ GEO