Off the beaten track

Wednesday, 28 November 2012
What a stunning day! The tarmac melting from the heat of the sun beating down from the bluest skies since winter departed - a perfect day to get off the highway and check out what's available around Taihape. First stop - Mokai Gravity Canyon. The first signpost after the State Highway turnoff says it's a 15 minute drive but if your a lover of scenery and snapping your holiday pics give yourself about 30 minutes! The road to Gravity Canyon is a good, sealed country road and has some amazing scenic views on the way in. Make sure you allow enough time to spend at Gravity Canyon. As well as the activities that provide the adrenaline rush of a lifetime, for the faint-hearted is the viewing platform offering stunning views of the Rangitikei river and an excellent vantage point to witness the flying fox, bridge swing and bungy in action. The Gravity Canyon complex is clean, tidy and well laid out, offering a fully licensed cafe with good food and refreshments, a place for self-contained motorhomes and recently a walking track down to the river. One of the best things about Gravity Canyon however is the Crew - people always make the place, no matter where you go! Check them out at www.gravitycanyon.co.nz

Leaving Gravity Canyon mid afternoon left plenty of time to travel the unsealed 6kms further down Mokai Road to visit Tarata Lodge. Wow! No amount of pictures taken could do justice to the simply beautiful setting of Tarata Lodge. There are several luxury accommodation options available with various activity options. The scenery is breathtaking, unforgettable. There is something to suit a fisherman wanting to spend a quiet day on the river, a family who have come to fish, raft or just take time out from a busy city lifestyle or a getaway for newlyweds in the secluded River Retreat with a private spa offering fabulous views of the river. Find our more at www.tarata.co.nz

Leaving Tarata Lodge later in the afternoon, the short drive back to the State Highway presented more spectacular scenery including the still snow capped Mt Ruapehu under the clearest blue skies. So take time to see what's around Taihape, this detour is definitely worth the turn off the very beaten track of State Highway 1!