Fern is the trademark logo for New Zealand and whole forests of fern can be found along the Forgotten World Highway, especially through the Tangarakau Gorge. Because Janet and I visited New Zealand in their spring time, the fern were just starting their new growth. Last seasons limbs were a beautiful rusty brown giving the spring green contrast and depth.
The Taumarunui and Stratford ends of the Forgotten World Highway were being grazed and worked by the people that lived there but the middle section was a one lane gravel road that was surrounded with pristine condition forest. New Zealand has made several parks along the river bank in this area. Pureora Forest Park is one of those parks. The dense overgrowth is similar to a rain forest. If New Zealand had snakes, I wouldn't go near it. There is a small sign for the Arapuni Swing Bridge , a historical bridge built in 1925, so construction workers could get across the deep gorge to work on the power station on the other side of the Waikato River.
The "Forgotten World Highway has rest stops and pull outs for viewing, summits on saddles with 360 degree views. For our visit, their spring time of the year, it was nothing but layers of spring green, forest green, Christmas green and more green hills backed up by mountain peaks that meet the horizon.
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