Forgotten World Highway

SH43 is 148 km of tight bends over three saddles between Taranaki and the King Country, past farms, bush and the village of Whangamōmona, which declared itself a republic in 1989. The Tangarakau Gorge stretch was the last unsealed state highway section and was sealed by February 2025. Allow a long half-day with stops; it suits drivers happy with slow corners and no phone signal.

The stops

1. Start

   Stratford

2. Town

   Stratford

   Start town with the Glockenspiel clock tower; last fuel

3. Town

   Whangamōmona

   Republic village; the pub stamps passports

4. Nature

   Tangarakau Gorge

   Narrow gorge with steep walls, previously the unsealed section

5. Town

   Ōhura

   Small town about 10 km off the highway for a detour

6. Town

   Taumarunui

   Finish town on the Whanganui River with fuel and food

7. Finish

   Taumarunui

Where to stay

• Night 1

  Taumarunui

  Taumarunui Holiday Park · Whangamōmona Hotel rooms

When to go

Year round; winter mornings can be icy on the saddles

On the road

Very windy with no fuel between towns. Fill up in Stratford or Taumarunui. Check NZTA for slips.