From Taupo we had to speed up to make it to our friends for Christmas. It left us 3 days to cross the southern half of NZ north Island – 3 days of very divers scenery. These areas are remote and therfore the roads have hardly any traffic. We climed the southern hills of the lake plateau from Taupo. Rolling pleasently up and down in rich farmland, which later on is replaced by native forest up to the saddle on 870m. 400m further on a extremly steep road we found a wooden construction from which we could see over the top of the trees. The view was stunning, North is the vast wide landscape of lake Taupo, east you see the central snow caped vulcanos and south and west is a tramendous system of green hills with narrow windy valleys. A huge lanyrinth as far as one can see. On a narrow windy road we almost surfed 20km into this labyrinth. There, in Turamnunui we found the Whanganui River, the good old river, we had lived on ! We became a bit sentimental all of a sudden. Here the 153km long forgotten world highway is starting – a road heavenly forgotten by cars as well, therfore wonderful calm to cycle. No wonder that this world got forgotten, this world with thousand winding narrow valleys. Up and down, left and right – green grass hills with happy sheep, few hidden farms. About the only Camper overtaking belonged to a couple we had met at the last campground. Some corners further on they stayed next to the road and invited us for morning tea. Later the valley became even narrower, deeper and covered by thick native bush, the road became unsealed – we entered the Tangarakau Gorge. Imagining to be here in the dark damp bush, without road, as one oft he first settlers makes me shiver. But weh ad a road leading us out, then through a tunnel and on to Whangamomona, the capital oft he area, the Republic in the middle of New Zealand. When the regions were reorganised some 30 years ago, the «Wanga country» should be divided halfway through. The inhabitants were not going to accept this, sat together in the Pub and formed their own republic in the 80´s. Since they had a row of presidents including a dog and in 2009, when we were here first it had been a goat. We learned, that he had died. Whangamomona, the capital has about two dozzen houses, a campground in the old school, two churches, a museum, an old post office and the Pub/hotel where you get finest steaks, burgers and Muffins. The pooltable in there is still active. The railwayline though has seen the last train a while ago.
This little place with its warm, engaged people has fascinated us again as the times before. Nevertheless we agreed that we could never live in the narrow land.
