It’s a long, long way from anywhere else along the North Island’s remote Forgotten World Highway, but despite its location – nearest town an hours’ drive away – the Whangamomona Hotel has been doing quite well through Covid times.
Just 10 or so people live in the tiny Taranaki settlement and the historic pub serves as something of a community and events gathering centre for the 120 or so people living in the surrounding farms within a 30-minute radius. The chef turns out great pub food and it’s a wonderful gathering place.
Originally built in 1902 as a train stop in the middle of nowhere, between Stratford and Taumarunui, the Heritage 2 building burnt down and was rebuilt in 1911, making it almost 111 years old this year.
An hours’ drive from Stratford, and 90 minutes’ drive from both Taumarunui and New Plymouth, the Whangamomona Hotel with its refurbished accommodation for 40 and newly-built, ensuited lodge accommodation, is well off the beaten track.
However, Kelsey Pratt, whose parents Richard and Vicki Pratt own the hotel, says they have been surprisingly busy with Kiwi visitors stopping by during Covid times. “We’ve been able to claw our way through,” she says.
The Forgotten World Highway is a scenic drive but not all sections are for the faint-hearted. The Forgotten World Adventures rail trail tours attract good business and The Forgotten World Highway itself is a magnet for bikers and road enthusiasts, but it’s not an easy road to drive.
In times gone by when international visitors frequently travelled the road Richard says many would be caught short of petrol, not realising it was such a long way from any town or petrol station. Frequently he’d have to help out with fuel and has even been known to turn to the lawnmower supply to help stranded passers-by.
The hotel drops to winter hours in the quieter months with some bad slips and weather events making it hard to maintain access year-round. “The locals are prepared but the tourists often aren’t,” says Kelsey.
“There’s always someone in a gully or situation that they shouldn’t get themselves into, but we’ve had less of those since the international borders have been closed,” says Richard. Once they endured no power for five days and power cuts used to occur reasonably frequently until a power upgrade recently.
“Once we had quite a major flood and the roads collapsed so we had a lot of tourists staying with us. We are the centre of First Response for the local community.”
Taking over the quaint, historic pub was a far cry from Richard and Vicki’s past lives in Auckland. Neither had any hospitality experience – Richard worked in construction, agriculture and woodworking and Vicki had been busy raising the couple’s five kids, some of whom have been helping in the pub during Covid times.
“We were looking for a challenge and we jumped in cold,” says Richard. “We’d always talked about hospitality and we’d missed an opportunity to take over a business in Glenorchy.”
It’s been a fun nine-season ride and adventure but for Richard and Vicki, who are nearing retirement age, it’s time to move on. Their son, and fiancé, have been managing the property for a while. “We’ve got 3.6ha that looks at Mount Taranaki and the sea so we’re working on a project,” says Richard. “I’m 63 so I can be afforded a break.”
Their Whangamomona Hotel business is now on the market ready for the Pratts to open a new chapter in their lives.
