It's almost one hundred years since the first car crawled its way along the Parapara.
And on April 1 more than 30 vintage cars will leave Whanganui to commemorate the trip.
Today the trip takes just over an hour now but a century ago it was a three to four hour journey.
The vintage cars will join with at least 80 classic Norton motorcycles which will also make the trip to a weekend rally at the Raukawa Adventure Camp about 30 minutes from Raetihi.
The bikes, vintage cars, drivers and passengers will be met in Raetihi by a street parade with bands, food and dancing children.
Raetihi Promotions spokesman Geoff Anderson said the day was going to be very special especially with the history of the road, aka as State Highway 4.
"The Parapara road is very important to people in the Waimarino."
The actual first journey by car through the Parapara was on March 25, 1917, Mr Anderson said.
"But because the Norton motorcycle rally is on April 1 we decided to combine the celebration and have it on April 1."
The vintage cars from Whanganui will drive to Raukawa where the motorcycles will ride ahead of them and escort them into Raetihi.
"It will be a marvellous day" he said.
The Wanganui Chronicle on March 27, 1917 ran a story headlined Pioneer Motor Trip to Raetihi.
It was described as a" quick and safe" trip in a Studebaker.
"The undertaking was rather a severe test for the car...there was no or any special overhauling for the journey preparation," the story says.
"But the splendid achievement of the car in covering the distance of over 60 miles in four-and-a- half hours going to Raetihi, and three and three-quarter hours on the return to Wanganui, gave further demonstration of the great qualities of the Studebaker."
"It was an auspicious commencement of through traffic between Wanganui and Waimarino, and the incident should serve the purpose of stirring up local authorities to greater activity in the effort to get the road completed with expedition."
"That the journey can be accomplished in from three to four hours under present conditions, gives some idea of the great possibilities ahead when the Parapara road is made completely fit for traffic and regular services are established between Wanganui and Raetihi."
At the helm of the Whanganui leg of the April 1 celebration is Visit Whanganui conference and marketing support officer Louise Follet.
Mrs Follet said it was very early days yet.
"But we'll all be making sure it will be an event to remember."