Forgotten World Highway

State Highway 43 runs about 150 kilometres between Stratford and Taumarunui through country that emptied out after the small farms and sawmills failed - hence the name, which is a marketing term but not a dishonest one. The road crosses four saddles, follows river gorges, and passes through the Moki Tunnel, a one-lane bore cut through rock in 1936 and known as the Hobbit's Hole, which was later lowered to let stock trucks through. The last twelve kilometres of gravel, through the Tangarakau Gorge, were sealed in February 2025. Partway along is Whangamomona, a village of a few dozen people that declared itself a republic in 1989 after a local government boundary change put it in a different region against its wishes; it elects a president, sells passports at the hotel and holds Republic Day every two years. There is no fuel between the two ends, mobile coverage is patchy, and the road is winding enough to take longer than the distance suggests.

The main sights

• The Moki Tunnel - one lane, cut through rock in 1936.
• Whangamomona - the self-declared republic, with a hotel and passports.
• The four saddles - the climbs and gorges along the route.
• The Tangarakau Gorge - its last twelve kilometres of gravel sealed in 2025.

When to go

October to April. Allow three to four hours of driving without stops, more with them. Fill the tank at either end - there is no fuel on the route.

Good to know

No fuel for 150 kilometres and patchy phone coverage. The road is narrow and winding throughout. Services along the way are minimal.

Nearby

Stratford and Mount Taranaki are west; Taumarunui and the Whanganui River are east.

Key facts