We’ve made it to the west coast, to New Plymouth, which has a good vibe.
The Forgotten World Highway, the route for today’s travel, is a stunner. There are parts where you truly feel you are driving through a forgotten world. Most of the road is sealed, except for the shingle bit in the middle, through the Tangarakau Gorge. But, bone-shaker though it is with its corrugations, the views make up for any discomfort. Photos simply don’t do the journey justice. The ferns and bush on vertical cliffs and deep valleys are the original living walls.
Along the way we stopped for shots of canoes negotiating the Whanganui River, at Nevin’s Lookout for views of the King Country and Mounts Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro, and later for a coffee at the pub at Whangamomona. And as we neared the coast, Mt Taranaki loomed into sight.
This afternoon we went to the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery/Len Lye Centre. Boy what an experience that was. The current collection celebrates the gallery’s 50th anniversary by presenting, decade by decade, the contempory art collected over that 50-year period. There are about 300 works on display. The project was developed by New Zealand artist Ruth Buchanan. We were both blown away by the exhibition and the way it is presented. It closes at the end of the month. If you have the chance to see it, grab it. We were fascinated also by the four Len Lye works on show, including a new kinetic sculpture, Sky Snakes. So so impressive. If you can’t get to see it all yourself, check it all out online.
And here’s some snaps from the journey.
Off Highway One 