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Stratford
Travel Guide
"Central
Taranaki", "Stratford"
and "The Forgotten World Highway"
are all synonymous with this heartland of Taranaki and New Zealand's North
Island.
Stratford
is one of New Zealand’s special places. Named after William Shakespeare’s
birthplace – its streets are named after characters in 39 of his
plays. With two national parks and a major heritage trail, (The Forgotten
World Highway – SH43), within its boundaries, Stratford is a gateway
to fun and adventure. Nestled beneath the slopes of the pristine Mount
Taranaki. Stratford District welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors
every year who come to enjoy the National Parks, the rich heritage, bountiful
gardens and the unassuming and unspoilt district.
The
Forgotten World Highway
Running between Stratford and Taumarunui and enveloped in breathtaking
countryside that’s hard to match elsewhere, the Forgotten World Highway
takes intrepid travellers on an intriguing and historic trip through New
Zealand’s Maori and colonial heritage. The 155km highway threads
through time-frozen landscapes untamed by man’s repeated efforts
to break it, sub-tropical rainforests and more than 20 sites of significant
interest.
Forgotten
is its name, but this route is really a journey of remembrance…a
constant reminder of the determined settlers who tried – and sometimes
failed – to scratch a living from its wild and isolated hill country.
It’s no wonder this was New Zealand’s first Heritage Trail,
with each of its special historic highlights signposted and explained
along the way.
Drive
the highway in less than three hours, or take your time to explore the
fusion of nature with man…riverboat landing sites, road tunnels,
disused coal mines, mills, brick kilns and sleepy villages instilled with
the character of yesteryear.
EGMONT
NATIONAL PARK - AN ACCESSIBLE WONDERLAND
There are some 300 kms of walking tracks in the Park from short walks
up to the five day ‘Round the Mountain’ walk. Short walks can
take you to some of the most scenic waterfalls and areas of the Park.
For example, the 15 minute Kamahi Track from the Mountain House goes straight
into the heart of the rainforest where heavy lichen and moss grow on the
Kamahi trees creating the famous Goblin Forest. The latest track to be
created is the two to three day Pouakai Circuit on the northern flanks
of the Mountain. While the Pouakai Circuit is a track of international
walking standard, all tracks are well-signposted and regularly maintained.
Department of Conservation (DOC) huts are spaced approximately a day’s
walk apart right around the mountain and require a ‘back Country
Hut’ pass to stay overnight.
PLEASE
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