20 Tunnels/Forgotten Highway
28-11-2024 to 01-12-2024
First Day
28th November
The Auckland to Wellington train, The Northern Explorer arriving in Hamilton. We took the train as far as Taumarunui. Our case is the red one on the small trolly.
After checking into our accomodation we were taken to visit Nevalea Alpaca Farm.
An unshorn alpaca.
And a shorn one.
And one one sunbathing.
Feeding alpacas.
(Photo supplied by Gina Ward, Pukekohoe Travel)
Alpaca sheering demonstration.
The Forgotten World minibus that transport us over the following two days.
20 Tunnels
28th November
The line between Okahukura and Whanamomona.
A stretch of the disused railway line between Taumarunui and Stratford.
Rail Carts being cleaned at the start of the trail in Okahukura.
Ready for the off after receiving instructions on how to operate the cart.
In the front are Alan and Debra.
The carts were set off at 50m intervals by the guide in the last cart.
(Photo supplied by Gina Ward, Pukekohoe Travel)
Our first stop. The guide from the front cart pushed the arriving ones right up to the one infront. So that we could all hear what the guide was telling us.
The guide giving a talk on part of the railway. Afterwards the guide at the rear set us off again at 50m intervals. This procedure was repeated everytime we stopped.
Inside the first and longest tunnel on our section of the line. The tunnel curves and we stopped in the middle where no light reaches. The lights on the carts were switches off and we experienced total darkness.
(Photo supplied by Gina Ward, Pukekohoe Travel)
At last we reached the end of the tunnel.
A couple of photos taken along the track.
Arriving at our morning refreshment stop in Matiere.
Matiere town.
Clearing up after our refreshment stop.
There was a family visiting from Singapore with us and two train drivers from the the Bernina Express in switzerland.
Two carts in front of us.
Sometimes we seemed to be all alone with no one infront or behind.
Travelling through a tunnel built in 1929.
Tokirima, translates to 5 axe men. Reportedly named because it took 5 axe men to fell a kauri tree in the area.
This was our lunch stop where we made our own ham/cheese and salad sandwiches from ingredients layed out for us.
(Photographer Colleen)
Getting ready to leave Tokirima.
I took over the driving for the afternoon.
Our afternoon refreshment stop at Tangarakau.
A couple of Colleen's photos. Taken while I was driving.
Our last stop at Kohuratahi before Whangamomona. Our group stayed in Whangamomona for the night. The others were taken back to Taumarunui in the mini bus.
Having a wine before dinner at the Whangamomona Hotel.
Our room is the window above the table.
(Photographer Colleen)
Whangamomona-National Park
30th November
Whangamomona Hotel where we spent the night.
The Forgotten World mini bus has arrived with customers who are going to ride the carts back to Taumarunui.
The mini bus will take us to National Park.
The view from the Verandah where we had our wine.
Looking down the track to Whangamomona station.
The carts ready for their new passengers.
A wooden sculpture of a bull hauling a log.
On our way to National Park we stopped at the Tahora Saddle lookout.
Down below we could see the track we ran on the day before.
Later we stopped at the Tangarakau Gorge.
Photo taken on the bush walk in the gorge.
Our lunch stop was at Lauren's Lavender Farm in Aukopae on the Whanganui river.
I walked down to the river.
. Debra watching the kayakers coming ashore to go up to the farm.
The path to Lauren's farm.
National Park-Home
1st December
Our train is not due till after 1pm. So we decided to take the optional tour to the Top of the Bruce where the gondola and ski lift start.
As you can see the weather was not good so we did not go up in the gondola.
Instead we decided to do the short Meads Wall walk. We almost reached the end but the path got rougher. So we took a selfie and headed back.
The train was about 8 minutes late arriving at the National Park station.
I went to the observation car to take photos as we decended the Raurimu Spiral.
The track below.
Entering the tunnel under the upper track.
On the lower track with upper track on the skyline.
We had just passed the Okahukura Station. This bridge is not used anymore so the Forgotten Highway rail carts have to start on the other side.