/ New Zealand / Guided Cycling / Mt Taranaki & The Forgotten World
Mt Taranaki in all its glory | James Heremaia
Mt Taranaki in all its glory  | James Heremaia
Scenery riding along the Forgotten Highway | Tristanbnz from Getty Images
Scenery riding along the Forgotten Highway  | Tristanbnz from Getty Images
Scenery riding along the Forgotten Highway | Tristanbnz from Getty Images
Scenery riding along the Forgotten Highway  | Tristanbnz from Getty Images
Scenery riding along the Forgotten Highway | Adventure South NZ
Scenery riding along the Forgotten Highway  | Adventure South NZ
Mt Taranaki is a dormant stratovolcano in the Taranaki region | Max Stussi
Mt Taranaki is a dormant stratovolcano in the Taranaki region  | Max Stussi
Scenery riding along the Forgotten Highway | Adventure south NZ
Scenery riding along the Forgotten Highway  | Adventure south NZ
Most meals are included. Credit Geoff Marks | Geoff Marks
Most meals are included. Credit Geoff Marks  | Geoff Marks
The Forgotten Highway | Brett Leyden
The Forgotten Highway  | Brett Leyden

Mt Taranaki & The Forgotten World

A forgotten world, Taranaki is a coastal and mountainous region dominated by Mount Taranaki, its namesake volcano, which lies within the rainforested Egmont National Park.

New Zealand

 15 reviews

5 Days from

$2490 USD

Trip Code: TFW
View dates to Book
Essential Information

Extra trip options & supplements

*Prices listed are per person

Bike Rental
$100 USD
Drop Bar Gravel Bike Rental
$170 USD
Ebike Rental
$350 USD
Single Supplement - Limited to 2 per departure
$450 USD

Duration

  • 5 Days

Activities

  • 5 day road cycle

Accommodation

  • 4 nights hotel/motel

Meals

  • 4 Dinners
  • 3 Lunches
  • 4 Breakfasts

Difficulty Grading  

3 / 5

Moderate

Carbon Footprint  

25kg of CO2-e PP per day

(100kg of CO2-e PP entire trip)

Trip highlights

  • Marvel at rugged, remote inland farming country hardly anyone gets to see
  • Enjoy great hospitality from the locals of back country NZ
  • Traverse the Volcanic Plateau with stunning views across to the North Island's 3 active volcanic peaks.
  • Ride the famous Forgotten World Highway to the equally infamous Republic of Whangamomona
  • Get up close and personal with the slopes of the dormant volcano, Mt Taranaki,
  • Enjoy the beaches, parks, art galleries and cafes of New Plymouth
  • Ride like a local on a smorgasbord loop of back country Taranaki

Overview

A hidden gem on the Western flank of New Zealand's North Island, Taranaki is often overlooked because of its remoteness, but that's the reason to visit! The region is dominated by Mt Taranaki, a dormant volcano with its near-perfect cone and the second highest mountain in the North Island. The mountain reigns supreme over Egmont National Park, a area of diverse vegetation, lush waterfalls, rainforests, and mossy swamps that has developed in an environment of frequent volcanic activity.

We make our way to Taranaki from Taupo, where our trip starts, via the Volcanic Plateau, an active volcanic and thermal area including the North Island's 3 active volcanic peaks, Ruapehu, Tongariro and Ngauruhoe. Our day offers an exploration of a section of the Mountains to Sea cycle trail by bike, to the remote Whanganui riverside settlement of Whakahoro; following a vehicle transfer in the morning from Taupo, through the volcanic tupuna (ancestors) of this area, Ruapehu, Tongariro & Ngauruhoe.

The following two days are spent on the famous The Forgotten World Highway, Aotearoa New Zealand's oldest heritage trail, giving us all things remote, mysterious and scenic. The highway follows ancient Maori trade routes and pioneering farm tracks through ambitious historic settlements, untamed native bush and stunning natural scenery. Our night on the highway is spent in one of Aotearoa New Zealand's most iconic country hotels in the charismatic town of the Republic of Whangamomona, declared as such by residents in 1989 due to their frustration with the local council!

The highway ends in the Shakespearean inspired town of Stratford, beneath the Eastern slopes of Mt Taranaki. We'll head up the mountain late afternoon to experience the stunning scenery, unique mountain flora, and bountiful birdlife.

From Stratford, our adventure continues, with a vehicle transfer to kick off cycling on quiet country roads around the base of the Maunga (mountain), all the way into of New Plymouth. Along the way, we'll pay a visit to Cape Egmont, then Pukeiti, a garden of international significance hosting one of the world's biggest and most diverse collections of rhododendrons and other exotics. New Plymouth itself is a vibrant and contemporary city, known for its art galleries, picturesque parks and spectacular, wild surf beaches.

As all the locals will tell you, our final loop ride is a memorable gem delivering a satisfying smorgasbord of riding experiences. It has it all – flats, hills, sea-edge promenade, scenic farmland, quiet roads, a tunnel and a historic bridge. We will be back in New Plymouth by late afternoon when our tour ends; please book any onwards flights from New Plymouth for departure after 5pm.

Itinerary

Expand all | Collapse all

Welcome to Aotearoa New Zealand and your North Island Adventure! Hopefully you should all have arrived yesterday and be ready to ride this morning, with any personal bikes built up and gear prepared. Meeting at a central location in Taupo, we'll start with an introduction and short tour briefing before loading up and heading off on a beautiful drive around Lake Taupo to the small settlement of Raurimu, home of the engineering masterpiece, the Raurimu railway Spiral. After bike fitting and a safety briefing, we'll head out on our first back country gravel ride with our lunch stop at the Kaitieke Horse Memorial, a sculpture made of horseshoes to commemorate the horse history of this rural heartland. Appropriately our ride follows a horseshoe shape and we head back to Owhango, another small town whose name translates as 'the place of wheezy noses"! Loading up it's a short drive to the rural town of Taumaranui, our home for the night. Originally a Maori settlement at the confluence of the Ongarue River with the Whanganui, Taumaranui was at the head of important canoe routes linking the interior of the island with the lower Whanganui River settlements. Cycle : 42km, 626m, 78% gravel, 22% quiet sealed country lane

Meals: D

Today is our first taste of real back country, remote, heartland New Zealand! Starting in civilisation, we end in the tiny Republic of Whangamomona (pop. 40 humans plus numerous other inhabitants), where a goat was once the President and which sells its own passports. Built on colonial bridle paths formed in the late 19th century, the Forgotten World Highway is remote and mysterious to the extreme. "A bit upsy downsy" is how one local resident puts it - a classic New Zealand understatement to describe a road that hugs the rugged contours of the land to provide a natural roller coaster experience. We start with a 30km stretch of hilly farmland initially alongside the Whanganui River, the original 'highway' into this hinterland. The asphalt Highway leaves the river and winds up Paparata Saddle before descending into the beautiful Tangarakau Gorge, where the landscape changes from farmland to dense native bush. Rolling through the Gorge we ride through the single-lane Moki Tunnel, known locally as the 'Hobbits' Hole', over the Tahora Saddle and finish with a mostly downhill final few kms into Whangamomana. Tonight we'll stay at the Whangamomana Lodge, part of the Whangamomana Hotel, one of New Zealand's iconic country hotels. Cycle Options : The Forgotten World Highway, 100% asphalt Standard : Taumaranui to Mokis Tunnel via Nevins Lookout: 66km, +1,288m Avid : Taumaranui to Whangamomana 86km, +1369m

Meals: B,L,D

Another stunning, challenging ride starting back on the Forgotten World Highway, distinguished by 2 Saddle crossings, both worth stopping at the top to take in stunning vistas and catch your breath! Leaving straight from the hotel, it's just a short warmup before heading over the first Whangamomana Saddle, offering spectacular views of the surrounding landscape with a backdrop of beech and Podocarp forest. Next up is the Pohokura Saddle, named after a prominent Maori Chief and with views into the valley used as a large railway construction campsite. We then divert off the Forgotten Highway to avoid logging trucks and enjoy a delightfully quiet scenic road through to Stratford, named after its English counterpart, but rather less iconic, although Shakespeare is reflected in the Street names and the Glockenspiel Clock. Later this afternoon, we'll head up the lower slopes of Mount Taranaki to enjoy the stunning views and mountain flora and birdlife. There is a diverse range of vegetation to observe that has developed in an environment of frequent volcanic activity. Cycle : The Forgotten World Highway, 69kms, +1003m 100% asphalt

Meals: B,L,D

The legendary annual Tour of Taranaki Cycle Challenge takes riders on a striking road race around Mt Taranaki, tackling the full 148km circuit in one day. Today's journey takes in the same circuit with the mountain continually changing its aspect throughout the day. Considered one of the most symmetrical mountains in the world, it is a landmark that locals are strongly bonded to. From Stratford we head south with wide ranging views both of Mt Taranaki and across farmland out to the Tasman Sea. We eventually head into the native bush, although there are still peeks of the sea, but the native trees and ferns are a delight to ride through. Pukeiti Gardens is a Garden of International Significance with its world renowned collection of rhodedendrons and other exotics. After a lunch stop here it's almost all downhill to the vibrant city of New Plymouth. There may be some free time to visit Pukekura Park, the impressive Puke Ariki Museum or the Len Lye Centre before our final tour dinner at a local restaurant. Cycle Options : Around the Mountain, 100% asphalt Standard : Stratford to Pukeiti Garden: Up to 62km, +647m Avid : Stratford to New Plymouth: Up to 85km, +783m

Meals: B,D

The Kennett brothers have been pioneers in the development of all things biking here in New Zealand and they describe today's ride as one of the best loops in New Zealand, which is high praise indeed. This is where the locals ride and for good reason - it takes in rural New Zealand at its most beautiful. We start by riding up the coast on the award winning New Plymouth Coastal Walkway with crashing waves, and crystal ocean as far as your eye can see. Turning inland we'll experience the beautiful rich dairy country of rural Taranaki steeped in history, including the historic Bertram Suspension Bridge over the Waitara River and the Tarata Tunnel dug by hand in 1904 to enable residents to get to the valley from Waitara. Climbing up and over the Tarata Saddle, it's then an 18km rural rollercoaster through to lunch in the small town of Inglewood, founded in 1875, in a clearing in dense forest. After a final celebration lunch it's an hr to transfer back to New Plymouth where you can be dropped either back in the central city or at the airport for an early evening flight. Cycle : New Plymouth to Inglewood : 66km, +927m

Meals: B,L

Map

Elevation

The map and elevation chart are for illustrative purposes only and meant to provide general guidelines.

Ready to start your adventure?

View dates to Book

What's included?

Included

  • 4 nights hotel/motel accommodation, based on twin share
  • 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners
  • Central Location Pick up from Taupo and Drop off in New Plymouth
  • Comfortable support vehicle throughout
  • Speciality bike trailer to carry bikes and luggage
  • Snacks, fruit and water while cycling
  • Department of Conservation and National Park Fees

Not included

  • Domestic airfares and taxes
  • Arrival and departure airport transfers
  • Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
  • All beverages, other than breakfast and water while cycling
  • Road/Gravel bike - available to hire
  • Optional activities
  • Personal expenses (eg. phone calls, internet, laundry, shopping etc)
  • Travel insurance
  • New Plymouth to Taupo return transfer available on morning after tour ends (departing 8am) at $75pp - please advise office to prebook

About your guide

Our guides are one of our biggest assets and we pride ourselves on their level of quality and high standards. You will have two experienced members of our guiding team. You’ll know you’re in safe hands as all of our guides are certified in first aid and CPR and many of them are trained bike mechanics. They come from all walks of life but our guides have a common desire to give you the best possible experience, fun and lots of fond memories to take home with you.

Reviews (15)



Responsible Travel

Extra trip info

Guaranteeing A Great New Zealand Trip

Pioneering World Firsts

Quality equipment

Quality accommodations

Innovative itineraries

Custom built, reliable transport

Our all inclusive approach

Multi Award Winning Adventures

Responsible Travel

Adventure Experts Since 1975

Search Filters