Forgotten World Highway
New Zealand, oceania
150 km
540 m
moderate
October-April (New Zealand summer and autumn)
# The Forgotten World Highway: New Zealand's Best-Kept Secret
Want to experience New Zealand like it's stuck in a time warp? State Highway 43 is your ticket. This 150-kilometer stretch connects Stratford in Taranaki to Taumarunui in the King Country, and honestly, it feels like you've stepped into another era.
The whole drive winds through some seriously remote countryside where you'll encounter abandoned settlements, hand-carved tunnels, and native bush so thick it practically swallows the road. The Tangarakau Gorge is the real showstopper—a deep, forested valley so isolated it was literally one of the last places on the North Island to get properly mapped. And we're talking recent history here.
The highlight? Driving through the Moki Tunnel, a tunnel that was actually carved by hand straight through solid rock. From the saddle points along the route, you get those postcard-perfect views of Mount Taranaki's iconic volcanic cone. It's the kind of scenery that makes you pull over just to take it in.
Here's where it gets weird (in the best way): Whangamomona is a tiny settlement of about 30 people that literally declared itself an independent republic back in 1989. They still issue their own passports. And if ghost towns are your thing, Tangarakau—an old coal mining village—sits abandoned along this route, making it the only road in New Zealand that actually passes through one. It's surreal and unforgettable.
Where is it?
Forgotten World Highway is located in Taranaki / King Country, New Zealand (oceania). Coordinates: -39.0000, 174.5000
Driving Tips
# Road Tips for the Tangarakau Gorge Drive
**Take your time on the unpaved section.** About 12 km of this route is unsealed, so slow down and enjoy the scenery—there's no rush through here.
**Fill up your tank before you go.** You won't find any gas stations along this highway, so make sure you've got enough fuel to get all the way through.
**Don't miss the Whangamomona Hotel.** It's a great spot to grab a bite to eat, and honestly, getting your republic passport stamped is kind of a fun souvenir from the trip.
**Budget 3-4 hours for the whole drive.** That includes time to stop and take in the views, so you're not feeling rushed.
**Heads up about phone service.** You'll lose cell coverage for most of the journey, so don't count on having signal out there. Plan accordingly before you head out.
Road Surface
Mostly paved with one significant gravel section, winding and narrow
Road Details
- Country
- New Zealand
- Continent
- oceania
- Region
- Taranaki / King Country
- Length
- 150 km
- Max Elevation
- 540 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Surface
- Mostly paved with one significant gravel section, winding and narrow
- Best Season
- October-April (New Zealand summer and autumn)
- Coordinates
- -39.0000, 174.5000
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