Along the road we go…

Palmy to Mangaweka via the Manawatu Scenic Route. What a stunning road this is. Of course it is twisty turny but hey, you knew that! We have a good old look around Palmerston North including the first ever state housing scheme built in 1935 by the Prime Minister Mr Savage. These houses are still is such good condition, some even look relatively new! It looks like a lovely place to live. We also visit the New Zealand Rugby Museum https://www.rugbymuseum.co.nz/ and find Richie McCaw made of toast! It’s a great little museum and we were excited to see exhibits about Don’s relative. Our next stop was to the Manawatu Gorge. There used to be a state highway through the gorge linking Palmerston North to Napier. However this highway has been closed due to continual landslides. The Government has undertaken a huge project to build a new state highway over the Ruahine Range. You can park the car and have a bit of a wander on the old road. So we did. It is now, the road to nowhere. We spend the night in Ashhurst, on a site that is next to a cemetery.

We are heading back up North now and decide NOT to take SH1 (like the M1) but instead take the Manawatu Scenic Route. En Route, we spot two Gatwick Express carriages in a field. Doesn’t seem to be any sign of life at all! We stop in Apiti and have a wander. Strange sculptures, kiwi, moa. A museum that looks abandoned. Great looking little tractor and not much else. Final stop, ish, was Mangaweka where we discover an historic Main Street. All of the buildings have been left as they were when they shut for good. There is lots of street art to encourage people to visit. Our camp is next to a river and in the shadow of huge cliffs!