Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
beach. Above the village the
Mokau Motel
(
06-752 9725;
www.mokaumotels.co.nz
; SH3;
s/d/ste from $95/110/125;
)
offers fishing advice, self-contained units and three luxury
suites.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Taumarunui
POP 5140
Taumarunui on a cold day can feel a bit miserable, but this town in the heart of the King
Country has potential. The main reason to stay here is to kayak on the Whanganui River
or as a cheaper base for skiing in Tongariro National Park, and there are some beaut
walks and cycling tracks around town.
For details on the Forgotten World Highway between Taumarunui and Stratford, see
Taranaki (
Click here
)
. For details on canoeing and kayaking on the Whanganui River, see
Whanganui National Park (
Click here
)
.
Sights & Activities
The 3km
Riverbank Walk
along the Whanganui River runs from Cherry Grove Domain,
1km south of town, to Taumarunui Holiday Park.
Te Peka Lookout
, across the Ongarue
River on the western edge of town, is a good vantage point.
Hakiaha Street
STREET
At the street's eastern end is
Hauaroa Whare
, a beautifully carved house. At the western
end
Te Rohe Potae
memorialises King Tawhiao's assertion of his
mana
(authority) over
the King Country in a sculpture of a top hat on a large rock.
Raurimu Spiral
RAILWAY
The Raurimu Spiral, 30km south of town, is a unique feat of railway engineering that
was completed in 1908 after 10 years' work. Rail buffs can experience the spiral by
catching the
Northern Explorer
train linking Auckland and Wellington to National Park
township (around $96 return from Otorohonga). Unfortunately this train ceased stopping
in Taumarunui in 2012.
Forgotten World Adventures
TOUR
( 0800 7245 2278;
www.forgottenworldadventures.co.nz
; 1 Hakiaha St; 1/2 days $285/495;
booking office 9am-2pm)
Ride the rails on quirky converted former golf carts on the railway
