forgotten world adventures

We just did the 10 tunnel tour. Which we felt it was enough for a relaxing kiwi day out. It was great to see the back country in a way that you won't driving on the road. We were told to try and get a cart with the new plastic wheels, we were given one with the small old steel wheels which I think was fantastic as we got the clickity clack of the cart riding over the track joints. Bringing back child hood memories for both mean and my wife of train travel as it used to be in New Zealand. It is extremely well organized and run. I would recommend this trip to all. WARNING book well in advance it is booked out will in advance.

Wow! A must do adventure. Self-drive your own golf cart over 70 miles of rail, and through 20 tunnels. Simply fabulous. They supply 2 coffee and goodie breaks as well as lunch. Lots of interesting commentary along the way. Very professionally run with qualified staff. I would repeat this trip. They also have accommodation available that have recently be refurbished.

Jim B, many thanks for your feedback. We agree that there is a lot of scope for further development of the Forgotten World Adventures experience and every year we are adding new options for visitors. Next season these will include refinements to the one day 10 Tunnel Tour plus the exciting addition of rail bike options. We sense you enjoy a much more active experience than the gentle adventure of the 20 Tunnel Tour – we agree, for some people it is a long day but it can be made easier by overnighting in Whangamomona and taking a leisurely return bus trip the next day. The half day River & Rail Run, a six hour combination of rail carting and jetboating back to Taumarunui, may have suited you better. Perhaps next time! Your other suggestions are also sound. We'd love someone to establish a quaint country pub where we could stop for lunch and in time we are sure someone will see an opportunity to do so. The GPS audio guide is a great idea which we have investigated however we feel it completely align with the Forgotten World experience. There are other, similar systems though which we are looking into. It wouldn't replace our fantastic guides but would enrich the experience for visitors, which is always our goal. Thank you for taking the time to comment.

We did the 20 tunnels tour in december 2014, which runs along an old abandoned branch railway line. Much better than expected. A fabulous full day driving our own rail cart through the hills near Taumarunui, NZ. Very scenic. Very friendly staff. A must do attraction for train buffs or anyone wanting to appreciate the unspoilt beauty of NZ.

We did the ten tunnel tour and enjoyed every minute of it. Gave us a country side view and the tour guide added some history of the area as we rode the rails through the tunnels. They provided a sandwich lunch with fresh fruit and squares. Cold and hot drinks as well. Half way through tour more cold drinks and a muffin! Very enjoyable and would recommend!

Dad and I did the trip from Stratford to Taumaranui over the weekend. 140km of rail travel through some amazing countryside.What a great trip! It was well organised and we had awesome guides on both days (Dave and Griff).They were very knowledgable and hospitable and shared a lot of their local knowledge. Griff in particular was a real character.It's a fantastic part of the world and I will definitely be back for a repeat trip.Should also add that the owners of the Whanga pub were very friendly and welcoming and look to be real asset for the village.We stayed at the Whanga Bridge house because the pub was full and it was very comfortable and handy to the pub!

Thank you, Finona68, for your review. We're pleased you found much to enjoy in your Forgotten World rail adventure and we'd like to share some insights that may help explain a couple of your points. Our carts are regularly replaced to ensure they remain reliable and safe for visitors in what is – for the carts – quite a tough environment. As a result, our safety record is impeccable, but we are always looking at how we can improve our visitors' experience. We have had the new, quieter, wheels specially developed as part of that ongoing programme because we agree with you that improving all our visitors' ability to easily hold a conversation if they are in a four or eight seater cart makes using the newer wheels preferable. Some people, however, tell us they prefer the journey with the steel wheels as a more authentic old-fashioned rail experience. On your value-for-money point, we are moderately priced by industry standards. More importantly, we overwhelmingly hear that visitors feel they’ve received great value after enjoying a full day of 'real' Kiwi back country experience. This 142km railway line was traditionally considered to be New Zealand's most expensive line to maintain because of the difficult country, 24 tunnels and 98 bridges. Of course, it's the same country that visitors love for its wonderful scenery and rich history, without needing to realise how much we invest in keeping alive this precious piece of New Zealand history. Finona68, you are obviously a seasoned traveller and we value your feedback. It will be discussed by our team during our next regular review of our operation. Thank you!

The company apparently offer a range of adventure experiences in this part of the central North Island. Ours was an 80 km trip on a disused railway line through remote North Island hill country, riding in self-driven converted golf carts with flanged railway wheels, powered by small petrol engines under the seat. Along the way you travel past hill country farms in varying states of repair, see an amazing range of ramshackle working buildings and a few derelict cars, trucks and earthmoving machines, pass through some beautiful bush, traverse several dozen bridges and go through 22 tunnels, several over a kilometre in length. You drive the carts yourself: there is one large pedal saying "Go" and another saying "Stop". After you get used to letting go of the completely redundant steering wheel and just concentrating on not running into the cart on front of you, the "driving" is actually quite relaxing. The speed is governed to a maximum of 22 kph but most of the time you are rattling along at considerably less than that, with stops for brief talks about local history or points of interest, to buy local produce and souvenirs and enjoy morning and afternoon tea and lunch. It's a long day: nearly seven hours on the railway and then a two hour journey in a rather cramped bus over a very twisty road back to your starting point. We were lucky with the weather: it was brilliantly sunny (with views of Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe in the distance) and in places quite hot. There is good weather protection though on the carts with clear plastic blinds that can be rolled back to enjoy the breeze. It was chilly in the tunnels and in cooler weather some warmer clothing would be essential. The staff were great. Our guide, Griff, had a line in very old jokes but was knowledgeable about local history and kept us well-informed throughout. The history of the district - coal (the reason for the line in the first place), logging and sheep and cattle farming in the rugged hills, together with the sheer backbreaking labour of constructing the line itself, were all fascinating to hear. Full marks too to Van, the engineer, who explained the work involved in keeping this line leased from Kiwirail open by repairing the annual damage from landslips and floods in this unstable country and in saving the carts from being pounded to bits by the journey. The staff who turned up at the right time to meet us with refreshments and lunch (make your own sandwiches but a great array of ingredients) and the bus driver on the return journey who treated us to a chatty run-down on just about every local farm and its family history, all made this a very interesting day. Most of the travellers are apparently New Zealanders and I can understand how foreign visitors might be a bit bemused by the idea of spending seven hours on a rattly golf cart in remote farmland but the mixture of friendly enthusiasm and improvisation the staff bring to this venture made it a very enjoyable day.

The rails and river day out was excellent and just really inspired us to save up and do the rest of the line! Ian and Terry were excellent and knowledgeable guides and Ron was just awesome in the jetboat. All locals who love and enjoy their bit of paradise. Highly recommended for kiwi and international tourists.

Had a fabulous day out with 4 other friends travelling on the golf carts fromDouglas to Whangamomona. What fun we had. Road crossings, six small bridges, three tunnels.Really exciting, well organised, morning tea and toilet stop and we celebrated a friends birthday by having lunch at Whangamona hotel. It really is a way to see rural New Zealand, the farm animals, beautiful tree ferns wonder experience.

Hi Thorty62, thank you for your constructive feedback on your Forgotten World Adventures experience. We're obviously delighted that your 10 Tunnel experience was thoroughly enjoyable overall, but the point you raise about your guide's comments is of real concern to us. Forgotten World Adventures has established a wonderful and close-knit bi-cultural team where there is genuine shared respect and friendship. Any kind of inappropriate jokes, language, or behaviour – regardless of whether it is unintended – has no place in our operation. We consistently receive extremely positive feedback on all our guides, and we are constantly training and reviewing performance to maintain our very high standard. Your helpful feedback is being used immediately as part of that process. I can assure you that next time you enjoy a Forgotten World Adventures experience you will not be troubled by inappropriate jokes and, hopefully, you will want to rave about the experience as so many others do! Our sincere thanks for taking the time to comment.

We visited this attraction having been recommended by others and we were not disappointed. It was unusual to get inside golf buggies but on a rail track but they worked well and took you to places in the area you would not normally be able to access. The two guides we had were excellent very friendly and knowledgeable sand allowed you to go at your own speed. The only weakness was the journey back which we did by road rather than jet boat. The journey in the small coachh was very cramped and for an hour and a half journey uncomfortable.

Using converted golf carts to travel on disused railway tracks, who would have thought. If you a looking for a laid back way to view some lovely New Zealand countryside, this is the trip for you.Highly recommended for adults. The kids may find the pace a little slow.

We booked the river and rail trip which began by travelling down the Whanganui River by jetboat from Taumaranui and then returning to Taumaranui by railThe immediate impression on arrival was of a well run professional tourWell organised and friendly staffThe jetboat ride was fun and the "Hamilton spins" were excitingThe rail cruising was great as I had always wanted to ride the rails on one of the old "jiggers" and this was pretty closeThe history of the area was interesting and quite movingWe are returning to do the run through to Whangamomana

What a great way to spend a day, riding the rail lines through bush country and through rail tunnels on modified golf buggies. The organization is excellent. Lunch and morning tea is included. Like any outdoor activity, the weather makes a huge difference to your enjoyment but if you make allowances for this, a warm jacket helps as it is draughty in the carts, then this is an experience not to be missed. We did the 20 tunnel tour but have had good reports from other options.