We came to Taumarunui to experience the Forgotten World Adventure. What is this tour you may ask? We will get to that in a moment but first let me tell you about the little town of Taumarunui.
Matt and I stayed at the Forgotten World Motel. It is centrally located on the main “drag” of this very tiny town. The rooms are surprisingly modern compared to the outside facade and they offer full kitchenettes and wifi!
This part of the country was owned by a King. When the locals decided to build the train tracks they had to ask for the King’s permission.
They asked the King to show them his land on the map. The King placed his top hat on the map and said everything under the hat is mine. The hat covered the entire map. In the end, they got his permission. The legend lives on in this area called “Kings Country.”
This town is rich in history as you walk down their main road.
They have two museums and several pieces of artwork.
My favorite piece is this abstract optical illusion rail clock.
Building the Impossible Dream
Kings Country’s tortuous terrain of slip-prone mudstone made it very difficult to build the line. Workers used picks, shovels, and dynamite to build the 24 tunnels, 98 bridges, 260,000 sleepers, and 9000 tons of rail to build the 143km (89 miles) train track.
The cost to build the track was an astronomical amount of $2.5 million (billions in today’s money). It is still the most expensive track in NZ’s history.
The work began in 1901 and was completed 32 years later in 1932. They started at Stratford and Taumarunui and met in the middle.
The work was disrupted by WWI, Spanish Influenza, and the Great Depression.
The Tunnels
There are 24 tunnels along the 143km track.
If you were to add up the total length of all the tunnels it would be 8.7km.
The longest tunnel is 1.5km long.
The only mechanical aids used to build the tunnels were concrete mixers. In later years air compressors to bore the holes for the dynamite.
Engineers ensured the tunnels were built on a slight slope causing a pressure difference.
At the entrance to each tunnel is a small placard made of cement with the year the tunnel was completed.
However, they miscalculated and did not make enough “2” so some of the tunnels used 9s which they tried to make into a 2.
Imagine my surprise when I saw a tunnel with 1999 (it was supposed to be 1929)!
Inside each tunnel you will find an alcove spread out every 100 meters. These alcoves protected workers when maintaining the train tracks.
The workers would celebrate with a bottle of whiskey at the completion of each tunnel. This was huge considering it was during prohibition (1868-1958).
They took the empty whiskey bottle and embedded it into the thick concrete.
The Bridges
Most of the bridges of significant size had timber rather concrete piers.
They also had 12-meter steel span beams. They had to use short spans because they had no cranes.
Engineers only used concrete when the bridges were particularly high or when there was a chance of erosion due to the river.
Most of the bridges had no side rails so the carts looked right over the edge.
The Trains Ceased Running
The trains transported people, coal, and farm trade. It brought great prosperity to small towns along the track.
However, the trains stopped running in 2004.
The train company left the tracks, tunnels, and bridges to rot for over 10 years. During that time they were completely ransacked and anything of value was stolen.
But a man named “Ian Baum” had a dream to make something of this legendary train track. At the same time his friend started importing golf carts and an idea was born.
In 2011, Mr. Baum signed a 30-year lease with the train company.
The first thing they did was have each bridge inspected by a civil engineer and then carry out the repairs and maintenance.
The Rail Carts
They changed out the wheels on the golf carts to accommodate the train tracks. They also added “governors”, disconnected the steering and you have a rail cart.
Even though you have a steering wheel there is no steering. You just put it in “forward” and step on the gas.
They have a forward light, rear light, and a yellow blinking light on the roof. Going through the tunnels you can turn the lights off and travel in pitch blackness.
There is a window at the front that flips up or down and side panels to protect you from the rain. They even provide a nice blanket as it does get really cold along the way.
One of the golf carts died along the way. But, Forgotten World Adventures had another one brought out and swapped at the next stop.
The Forgotten World Rail Cart Adventure
The Forgotten World team offers several excursions.
We take the full day adventure which is a self guided rail cart tour along 82km of railroad tracks.
We go through 21 of the 24 hand-cut tunnels including the longest 1.5km tunnel.
Traveling through breathtaking scenery, over hand-made bridges and through 6 townships (Matiere, Ohura, Tokirima, Heao, Tangarakau, Whangamomona).
These are photos from the tour office.
Be sure to check in on the next blog post as we share our adventures along the track.
Our blog posts run 6 weeks behind actual live events. We did the Forgotten World Adventure in early February 2026.
