2 minute read
Stratford Must-Do's
The Stratford Glockenspiel
Check out the figures of Romeo and Juliet when they pop out to perform a scene from Shakespeare’s tragedy at 10am, 1pm, 3pm and 7pm daily.
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Stratford at night © Rob Tucker
Taranaki Pioneer Village
Appreciate the life of early settlers by stepping inside the recreated heritage buildings; ride the ‘Pioneer Express’ train around the village.
Hollard Gardens
Learn how to grow your own food at Bernie’s Home Garden, enjoy free barbecues in the Family Corner and drop by The Hollard Centre to use the gardening library and to help yourself to a free cuppa.
Te Popo Gardens
Seventeen minutes from Stratford, picturesque woodland walkways are freckled with animal sculptures; suitable for wheelchairs and mobility scooters.
Rotokare Scenic Reserve
Explore stunning wetland and lowland forest, home to native flora and endangered wildlife and serving as a safe haven for kiwi.
Rotokare and Rotorangi Lakes
Meander along the various tracks around these lakes. It’s a 20-minute drive from Stratford to Lake Rotokare, a one-hour drive to Lake Rotorangi.
Tangahoe Tunnel
Close to Lake Rotorangi, this tunnel is 160m-long and narrow, requiring a fair amount of courage to creep through.
Percy Thomson Gallery
A captivating gallery and shop supporting local artists.
Eltham Murals
There is hardly a wall left in Eltham that hasn’t been transformed into a bright, uplifting mural. Ten minutes from Stratford.
Fenton Arts Collective
Step inside this elegant heritage building and find an emporium of good food and coffee, unique gifts, an art collection and superb gin tasting.
The Forgotten World Highway
Weaving between Stratford and Taumarunui is a remote and highly intriguing, 150km route with a creaky, single lane mountain tunnel and concertinaed landscape. Unforgettable.
Whangamōmona
Centred around Whangamōmona Hotel, this quirky village declared itself a republic in 1989, complete with its own passport). Election day, biennially in January, is a lot of fun.
Whangamomona Hotel, Forgotten World Highway © Venture Taranaki
Forgotten World Adventures
These unique rail cart tours utilise converted golf buggies – transformed into leisurely vehicles that ride the original railway track between Taumarunui and Stratford.
