Forgotten Highway!!

[pjpnz]

Rode the Forgotten Highway (43) yesterday. Sunshine and rain all the way from Te Pahu (Hamilton) to Whangamomona via Taumarunui, and back to Te Pahu via Stratford.

Beautiful scenery. Road surface excellent.

Hazards... goats, and lots of rock falls from recent rain. Road surface good even when wet. Unsealed road had no metal, so easy riding; not slippery even when it was pouring!

Would be a perfect ride on a sunny, no frost day!!

[Masterchop]

I did that road about a month back,its really nice,not much traffic except following camper van on the gravel section.

[mazz1972]

Sounds awesome....it's on my list of roads to ride hopefully next summer. Is there much gravel?

[spookytooth]

Sounds awesome....it's on my list of roads to ride hopefully next summer. Is there much gravel?
About 10ks its flat and pretty easy riding gravel

[puddytat]

Will definately go that way when I head up for the WSB in 2010:woohoo:. Took the coast road from Wangas to New Plymouth in March, was nice though a tad boring,couldnt convince my mates that the forgotten hgwy was a better ride...:oi-grr:

[zxcvbnm]

Looks nice.

How many tunnels are there.

[nadroj]

Just the one tunnel east of Tahora.

[yod]

it's a ripper

everyone should do it at least once

[Boob Johnson]

Sounds awesome....it's on my list of roads to ride hopefully next summer. Is there much gravel?
Bloody awesome stretch of road, im blessed with living not to far from it so have done it heaps of times & will continue to :headbang:


About 10ks its flat and pretty easy riding gravel
Actually about 14km's

[cowboyz]

yep. good road. done it twice now. I like the real tight lower speed stuff where you are back and forth on the bike. Great road for that. Watch the cars though!

[pjpnz]

Hi. 14km of gravel; was easy riding on the day. One short tunnel; you can see right through from one end to the other, so safe.

Great summer ride (watch out for the goats!). Winter could be tricky - very frosty roads in the morning, I suspect.

[dutchman49]

Hi. 14km of gravel; was easy riding on the day. One short tunnel; you can see right through from one end to the other, so safe.

Great summer ride (watch out for the goats!). Winter could be tricky - very frosty roads in the morning, I suspect.

My friends and I do this area every year at Cold Kiwi weekend. (We dont actually go to the Cold Kiwi) There are good roads all over this area and worth while spending a Friday and/or Saturday night at the Whangamomona Hotel. The owner is a biker. Cost is about 90 bucks and includes a roast dinner and cooked breakfast. I think it is cheaper for the rest of the week. you may have to book.

[PrincessBandit]

That looks cool. I will definitely look at a map to see just where that runs (as it sounds like it might be just a weeeeee way from where I live). Perhaps next school holidays might be able to check it out. Thanks for posting about it!

[Boob Johnson]

The owner is a biker.
It changed hands last year, is that the current owner you are talking about? Ive spoken with him many times & he never mentioned anything about being a biker himself?

[DVS 69]

Its definately one of my all time fav rides, ridden to the pub heaps of times gets abit slipperey in the winter etc tho but all an all awesum ride and awesum pub real nice food too:yes:

[inlinefour]

Rode the Forgotten Highway (43) yesterday. Sunshine and rain all the way from Te Pahu (Hamilton) to Whangamomona via Taumarunui, and back to Te Pahu via Stratford.

Beautiful scenery. Road surface excellent.

Hazards... goats, and lots of rock falls from recent rain. Road surface good even when wet. Unsealed road had no metal, so easy riding; not slippery even when it was pouring!

Would be a perfect ride on a sunny, no frost day!!

I used to blast that road through to Tamranui have lunch and back to New Pymouth regularly on my DRZ400. Awesome road and scenery, not that I really got to see much scenery as I was usually abusing the shit out of the bike and rear tyre. Stratford to Whanga and back on my sportsbike was a fecking awesome ride. Might have to go out there at some stage with the Mrs and give the turbo/tyres a good working. Well on 2nd thoughts, maybe I should leave the Mrs at home...:innocent:

[Marmoot]

worth while spending a Friday and/or Saturday night at the Whangamomona Hotel. The owner is a biker. Cost is about 90 bucks and includes a roast dinner and cooked breakfast. I think it is cheaper for the rest of the week. you may have to book.

Any hope for a contact details?

[sinfull]

They have their republic day celebrations every year, last week of january sometime ! Well worth riding out there for any reason though or for no particular reason at all for that matter !

[nadroj]

Any hope for a contact details?

http://www.whangamomonahotel.co.nz/

Yes he is a biker & may have been a police officer in the past.

We had a ride with Pritch to the republic on sunday & the hospitality and meals is tops.

[young1]

It changed hands last year, is that the current owner you are talking about? Ive spoken with him many times & he never mentioned anything about being a biker himself?

May not be a current biker but knows what is required. When we stayed their last year with a Kiwi Biker ride it was raining and he raced out to open the gate for us so we could get all the bikes off the road. Then his wife had it sorted for us to hang wet gear while they gave keys out etc etc Price was good value to.

That might have been June last year, it was their first weekend with the hotel.

[dutchman49]

It changed hands last year, is that the current owner you are talking about? Ive spoken with him many times & he never mentioned anything about being a biker himself?

We were there in September last year. A new bloke and his wife had just taken over. He told me he had a Honda "something or t'other" touring bike. I have stayed there 7 times now and have always been made to feel very welcome, whomever the owner was. That's Taranaki hospitality for you. And I aint from there, but will vouch for it.

[rygsx]

im keen to rde that loop anytime im between te kuiti and taumranui used to live near whanga

[ynot slow]

Yep a definate biker,was there last labour weekend and he was pissed off he had to work,said something about 45 riders or so over the weekend had passed by in either directions,and he couldn't enjoy the ride,or the weather.

Be warned though the weekends need to be booked,but bloody good value for $$$.

[86GSXR]

Bloody brilliant road that! The owner rides a Blackbird :niceone:

[Pedrostt500]

Nah its not a forgotten highway its still known and on my map.

[Boob Johnson]

We were there in September last year. A new bloke and his wife had just taken over. He told me he had a Honda "something or t'other" touring bike. I have stayed there 7 times now and have always been made to feel very welcome, whomever the owner was. That's Taranaki hospitality for you. And I aint from there, but will vouch for it.
Well that's just dandy then. Im in the industry myself in the district so that's just dandy once again :clap:

[ynot slow]

Well that's just dandy then. Im in the industry myself in the district so that's just dandy once again :clap:

Plug the bisso for free,go on.:2thumbsup

[glice]

yup that is one awsome stretch of road, we did it on the weekend. It was 180k from taumaranui to stratford, and probly the best 180km stretch of road I have riden so far.
I wish I lived closer to it, but I dont think that will stop me from taking a trip down just to ride it!

[Dazza]

yup that is one awsome stretch of road, we did it on the weekend. It was 180k from taumaranui to stratford, and probly the best 180km stretch of road I have riden so far.
I wish I lived closer to it, but I dont think that will stop me from taking a trip down just to ride it!You'll find it's only 150k's maybe 154 as if it was any further I'd be pushing to Taumaranui, you'd be hard pressed to find a better road IMO. Done it twice in the past couple of months & the gravel was like a well prepared speedway track :laugh:

[HRH]

If anyone's interested, Kerry Turner (Omapu Station, Tahora) is planning a rally to coincide with Whangamomona Republic Day on/around 26-27th January. Thousands of people turn up for Republic Day, many of them bikers - an awesome opportunity to join in and then camp over in one of the most amazing spots in the country.

Kerry also does a rally over Anzac weekend, which is the best I've been to so far.

[wickle]

It changed hands last year, is that the current owner you are talking about? Ive spoken with him many times & he never mentioned anything about being a biker himself?
There was a letter to editor in BRM (August 2007) from the new owners, Geoff and penny Taylor

[Boob Johnson]

There was a letter to editor in BRM (August 2007) from the new owners, Geoff and penny Taylor
I went for a blast on Tuesday & Carolyn (didn't catch the last name) was one of the new owners so must have sold again :scratch:

[Boob Johnson]

If anyone's interested, Kerry Turner (Omapu Station, Tahora) is planning a rally to coincide with Whangamomona Republic Day on/around 26-27th January. Thousands of people turn up for Republic Day, many of them bikers - an awesome opportunity to join in and then camp over in one of the most amazing spots in the country.

Kerry also does a rally over Anzac weekend, which is the best I've been to so far.
Oh sweet, I run a lodge here in New Plymouth so ill keep that in mind for any guests wanting to attend.

PM the details if you can :niceone:

[ynot slow]

If anyone's interested, Kerry Turner (Omapu Station, Tahora) is planning a rally to coincide with Whangamomona Republic Day on/around 26-27th January. Thousands of people turn up for Republic Day, many of them bikers - an awesome opportunity to join in and then camp over in one of the most amazing spots in the country.

Kerry also does a rally over Anzac weekend, which is the best I've been to so far.

He's not far from the pub either,and looking to have his backpackers/accomodation ready asap this year.

[ynot slow]

I went for a blast on Tuesday & Carolyn (didn't catch the last name) was one of the new owners so must have sold again :scratch:

You absolute lucky bastard,Tuesday was a goodish day,compared to the few days prior.

[HRH]

He's not far from the pub either,and looking to have his backpackers/accomodation ready asap this year.

Yep...a mere 19kms up the road!

[ynot slow]

Yep...a mere 19kms up the road!

Far enough when pissed lol(passenger).He was sussing out some bits from us at work,was hoping he needed em delivered,nice trip and about 2hrs from Stratford return etc.

[HRH]

Far enough when pissed lol(passenger).He was sussing out some bits from us at work,was hoping he needed em delivered,nice trip and about 2hrs from Stratford return etc.

You're not wrong - not a road to travel pissed, but a fantastic wee ride on a nice day. I've been going out there to music festivals since I was a wee tacker..great spot.

[Pedrostt500]

Worked in Toko in the early 80s, Friends used to race from the northern roundabout in Stratford to Whangamomana and back, yep its a good road.

[glice]

You'll find it's only 150k's maybe 154 as if it was any further I'd be pushing to Taumaranui, you'd be hard pressed to find a better road IMO. Done it twice in the past couple of months & the gravel was like a well prepared speedway track :laugh:

Yea sory your right, I reset my trip counter at taumaranui and at stratford it was about 160ish. Yea you can keep up a pretty good pace on the gravel stretch.

[sinfull]

I went for a blast on Tuesday & Carolyn (didn't catch the last name) was one of the new owners so must have sold again :scratch:
Its the suit boob ! Would you tell anyone your real name if they looked like you ?

[BUELLFIREBOLT7777]

I lived in Eltham for 7 years and used to ride to that pub often.For those that would be interested the Vintage Railway (club or association) in Auckland has a Steam train trip down to Whanga every year or two on Republic Day,about 4-6 carriages.Would have to book way ahead.

[Boob Johnson]

Its the suit boob ! Would you tell anyone your real name if they looked like you ?
Flatery will get you everywhere :laugh:

[raftn]

So is the roadt from Tamranui to statford sealed all the way, it said in a bike i had that it isnt? because i want to ride it but i am on a sports bike. Any help any one ?

[cowboyz]

it has about 14km of very hard packed gravel in the middle. Really easy to ride. Done it several times on my bike without issue and well worth it.

[ynot slow]

Is good,two guys from work were out that way wednesday,road good where gravel was and they were in a loaded van,made good time back for beers too.