It might be called the Forgotten World but it’s actually pretty hard to miss and it’s certainly hard to forget once you’ve been there.
Forgotten World Adventures is a unique tourist venture which takes it guests on Rail Cart tours along the decommissioned railway line through the ‘Forgotten World’. Manager Paul Chaplow says the company agrees with Tourism New Zealand’s campaign, to encourage visitors into regional areas, rather than simply following traditional tourist routes.
By Tristan Hooker / Media PA
“We are both an ‘off the beaten track’ experience and close to key tourist areas like Waitomo, Taupo and Ruapehu,” says Paul, “so with an extra hours drive, visitors can experience some unique activities and scenery. “The Forgotten World is such a beautiful part of New Zealand, with a rich history and a chance to experience unique New Zealand nature. It’s so easy to get to that it would be a shame for visitors to miss it.”
Forgotten World Adventures is located within the central North Island regions of the Ruapehu District and the Manawatu-Whanganui Region. The company’s base is in Taumarunui and the tours – in which guests self-drive in motorised Rail Carts or Pedal-Powered Rail Bikes, accompanied by a guide – run on the railway line in the vicinity of the Forgotten World Highway between Taumarunui in the King Country and Stratford in Taranaki.
They also offer heli-jet and jetboat tours on and above the Whanganui River, with views of historic sites such as the Bridge to Nowhere in the Whanganui National Park.
Forgotten World Adventures offers a range of packages from half -day to multi-day tours.