From Chasms to Coast

A landscape less often travelled

THE landscape north of Wellington, on the west side, is often overlooked by tourists and travellers. But it shouldn’t be.

The south-western part of the North Island of New Zealand, north of Wellington. Abbreviations are PN for the city of Palmerston North, and T for Mount Tongariro, N for Mount Ngāuruhoe and R for Mount Ruapehu. Green shows forested areas. North at top.

Check out this scene, for instance. Is it the Bastei, outside Dresden?

Rangiwahia Track Bridge in the Iron Gates area. Image reproduced from the media gallery of CEDA, the Central Districts Economic Development Agency, ManawatuNZ.co.nz

No: it’s part of a similar jumble of rock pillars and chasms called the Iron Gates, near the tiny town of Mangaweka, north-east of Palmerston North. From the Iron Gates you can look out over all the plains, with stunning views recorded on this website.

If a spot like this was in Europe or Asia it would be packed, just like the Bastei. But because it’s in the middle of nowhere, even by New Zealand standards, it might just be you and your friends.

And there are other mighty gorges, such as the Manawatū Gorge that I mentioned in an earlier post. Here’s an excellent video by Johnny Hendrikus: