Following the "main" road south from Mangarakau to it's end one has to open and close gates to stop cattle from straying onto neighbouring properties. The there is the ford....the day I took this a truck went through with water well over its axles.

Wisely I decided that this was far enough to travel. To define this  area as isolated seems such an inadequate term, you do NOT want to run out of petrol here nor should you imagine that roadside cafes exist here.

The unforgettable scenery, the unspoilt beauty, the majesty of the country makes it all worthwhile.