We stopped for a picnic lunch a little past Waiouru, at the Tangiwai disaster memorial. Hard to believe that one of Aotearoa’s biggest disasters happened at this lovely peaceful place.

For those who don’t know, late on Christmas Eve 1953 a crowded passenger express train crashed here. A lahar from nearby Ruapehu caused a flash flood which took out the railway bridge and several carriages went into the flood. 151 people died.

#AlisHoliday #Tangiwai