The Forgotten World Highway

The volcanoes finally revealed themselves by daybreak today. Majestically they soared into the blue sky and accompanied me during the whole day. For I could see the snow-covered shapes of Mt Ruapehu and Mt Ngauruhoe on the horizon every time I had reached a saddle point on the breathtakingly scenic Forgotten World Highway.

For most of these 150km between Taumarunui and Stratford I had the road to myself. There was a distinct sense of isolation, a stepping back in time. Seemingly untouched landscapes, rural idylls with sheep grazing underneath blossoming trees, the cowboy on horseback with his four dogs moving a herd of black cows form one paddock to the other. Undoubtedly, I as a passer-by savoured every moment of this natural beauty. However, I am fully aware of how tough it must be for people eking out an existence here.