Transfer Taumarunui

✦ Unique 43km rail cart journey through the Forgotten World
✦ Stunning hill country farms and native bush
✦ Guided stops at historic villages of Matiere and Ōhura
✦ Go through 10 tunnels and traverse many bridges
✦ Venture through the line’s longest tunnel at 1.5km
✦ Visit Lauren’s Lavender Farm on the banks of the Whanganui River
✦ Expert local guide
✦ Rail-side picnic lunch with hot/cold beverages and home-baking
✦ Historical and cultural commentary and storytelling ✦ Return shuttle bus transfer to the Forgotten World Motel

This experience begins in Taumarunui at 7:30 am. You will board our shuttle bus to travel to Whangamomona via The Forgotten Highway. After a quick look around the Whangamomona village you will receive your safety briefing at at the Whangamomona Station before heading off along the rails to finish your tour at Okahukura. From there you will board the shuttle bus for the 10 minute ride back to our base in Taumarunui.
Options available for this tour include:
1. Staying the night at the Whangamomona Hotel before the tour and booking a vehicle transfer so that your car is waiting for you in Taumarunui when you get back to our base. Just let us know if you would like us to book accommodation for you.
2. Driving up from Taranaki on the morning of your tour and meeting the tour at the Whangamomona Hotel at 9:00am for a tea/coffee/juice. Do allow sufficient time for a look around Whangamomona. It is worth it! After your experience stay the night in Taumarunui and book a non-standard shuttle back to Whangamomona the next day. The shuttle will depart for Whangamomona at 7:30am.
3. Driving up from Taranaki on the morning of your tour and meeting the tour at the Whangamomona Hotel at 9:00am. Our free of charge Same Day shuttle will return you to Whangamomona around 7pm.

Tour departs the FWA Taumarunui base at 7.30am and will  arrive in Whangamomona approx 3.45pm - The same day shuttle picks you up after a quick look around Whangamomona and delivers you back to our Taumarunui base at approx 5.30pm.

Choose this tour if you are planning to:

start and finish in Taumarunui OR

start in Taumarunui, stay overnight in Whangamomona and return to Taumarunui the next day OR 

start in Taumarunui and have your vehicle transferred to Whangamomona to continue your journey from there.

Additional Options:

• Stay overnight in Whangamomona (just let us know if you would like us to book accommodation for you) and return to Taumarunui on our next day shuttle
• Book a vehicle transfer so your vehicle is waiting for you in Whangamomona
• Book accommodation in Taumarunui for the night before and/or the night after your tour

The history of this unique landscape will resonate as you absorb the stories and relive the memories of New Zealand’s pioneering past with this two-day journey back in time. Unplugged yet still ‘on the line’ as you travel the entire 142km from Okahukura to Stratford with an overnight stay in Whangamomona. You’ll go through all 24 tunnels, cross all 98 bridges and see the remnants of the original settlements along the line – the ultimate experience.
You can continue on your travels from here, talk to us about a vehicle transfer, or we can help you organise a return shuttle to your departure point. Overnight accommodation with dinner and breakfast in the Republic of Whangamomona is included along with morning tea, lunch and afternoon snacks on both days. We will ensure that your overnight luggage awaits you in Whangamomona and in Stratford at the end of your journey (or Taumarunui if you are shuttling back).