Several years ago we became aware of a new adventure tourism venture based in the heart of the King Country at Taumarunui. An entrepreneur had thought of a use for the decommissioned Stratford - Okahukura branch railway line. In 2012 Forgotten World Adventures began a new tourism activity travelling the railway line in golf carts adapted to run on the rails. A Rail Cart adventure was instantly on our ‘Bucket List’.
Early in the morning of February 5th, 2024 we boarded a shuttle bus in Taumarunui with our friend Karen, which was to take us to Stratford at the base of Mount Egmont to join our Rail Cart journey. Over the next two days we travelled 142 kilometres on the rails back to our starting point traversing over ninety bridges and through twenty four tunnels with a combined underground distance of 10.1 kilometres. Our guides were fantastic, thorough and efficient. The depth of their local knowledge which they imparted to us at frequent points of interest stops was impressive.
Our overnight accommodation was in the settlement of Whangamomona at the iconic hotel built in 1911. A very friendly atmosphere, delicious food and drinks at the characterful bar and a comfortable nights sleep in faithfully refurbished bedrooms just finished off a superb day perfectly.
In equally fine weather the following day, after breakfast, our rail mounted convoy resumed it’s journey.
The catering was excellent as it had been the previous day with stops for lunch, morning and afternoon tea. Fresh baking was eagerly anticipated and different at each stop. The lunches in particular were beautifully presented with linen table cloths and fresh cut flowers, all the more impressive for the isolated locations we stopped to dine.
Our morning refreshment break was in the one time boom town of Tangarakau. This near deserted township which boasted a population exceeding 1200 in the 1920s owed it’s existence to the construction of the railway line which took nearly 32 years. Both Tangarakau and it’s railway line are now largely abandoned.
Leaving behind the narrow twisting river valleys and many tunnels of the Tangarakau Forest we crossed into hill country pasture land. After our lunch stop at Tokirima we spent the afternoon travelling through farm land to complete our journey at Taumarunui.
We would recommend this adventure to anyone.
A true heartland experience.
Brilliant!
No comments:
Post a Comment