Newspaper Article 2004 – Brochure brings old Taihape route to life

Brochure brings old Taihape route to life

MARTY SHARPE

A memorial for a horse, a rock that looks like a lizard, a bush called “Blowhard” and place called “Erewhon”- all these and more await a traveller on the Hastings-Taihape Road, the subject of an historic meeting today.

Hastings and Rangitikei District Council officials have agreed to meet halfway along the Hastings – Taihape Road, at Timahanga Station, to celebrate the launch of a new Heritage Trail brochure.

The two councils’ Heritage Trail Committees have spent a year revising a brochure for the old Inland Patea trail, which follows the road from Hastings to Taihape.

The 32-page brochure lists 27 features on the 144km road, 110km of which is unsealed.

Among other sites, the brochure features Sherenden Hall, Willowford, Kuripapango, Timahanga Station, Springvale suspension bridge, Oruamatua and Moawhango.

Hastings Heritage Trail committee member and Hastings District councillor Deborah Turner said tomorrow’s launch will bring “a great feeling of relief” to those who had worked on the brochure from both councils.

Mrs Turner, originally from Hartfordshire and now a Puketitiri resident, said her favourite spot on the road was just after climbing the Gentle Annie hill.

“Suddenly there before you is the snowcapped peak of Ruapehu, rising up from the Rangitikei plains, and it stays there in the foreground as you proceed along the road,” Mrs Turner said.

“Then you enter the high tussock country of the vast Timahanga and Ngamatea Stations.

“It’s an awesome feeling to be surrounded by so much space,” she said.

The brochures cost about $7000, and have been paid for by the two Heritage Trail committees.

About thirty-thousand brochures have been printed, replacing a 1999 edition that had not been available for about a year, Mrs Turner said.

The brochures are available at i-sites, department of conservation offices, and other tourism outlets.

Photo caption – TAKE THE HIGH ROAD: Deborah Turner peruses the new Heritage Trail brochure on the Hastings-Taihape Road. The brochure was launched today.