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Canoe
Journey
Distances
Beginning
at
Pipiriki
this
narrow
winding,
scenic
64km
road
winds
it’s
way
along
the
river
to
Whanganui
city
-
it’s
a
stunning
drive
combining
the
richness
of
New
Zealand’s
natural
and
cultural
heritage.
The
road
follows
the
lower
reaches
of
the
Whanganui
river
and
gives
travellers
an
opportunity
to
slow
their
pace
and
visit
some
of
the
small
isolated
river
communities,
unique
to
this
part
of
the
country
and
before
the
road
was
built
in
the
1930s,
only
accessible
by
river.
In
partnership
with
Flying
Fox
Lodge,
we
offer
a
one
day
tour
of
this
spectacular
route
as
well
as
bike
hire
for
those
who
like
to
travel
independently.
Explore
the
Whanganui
River
Road
Matahiwi
Cafe
and
Art
Gallery
This
Iwi-owned
gallery
and
cafe
is
the
central
point
between
Whanganui
and
Raetihi.
Housed
in
an
old
schoolhouse
the
cafe
operates
seasonally
and
it
is
a
good
idea
to
call
ahead
to
be
sure
they
are
open
Poukaria
Can
have
20
campers
A
small
and
basic
DOC
Campsite
on
the
river,
this
has
a
cooking
shelter,
long
drop
toilets
and
Rain
Water
Tank.
Mangawaiiti
Can
have
36
Campers
-
This
is
my
favourite
spot
to
stay
on
the
river.
If
you
are
doing
the
trip
from
Whakahoro
to
Pipiriki
over
four
days
it
is
a
lovely
spot
–
it
makes
you
feel
really
like
you
are
in
the
middle
of
nowhere.
You
feel
a
real
connection
to
the
river,
and
an
eerie
connection
to
the
past.
Tieke
This
is
a
great
spot
to
stay,
if
you
are
looking
for
a
little
bit
of
Culture.
This
is
the
site
of
a
Marae,
a
Traditional
Maori
Meeting
House.
You
may
be
involved
in
a
Powhiri,
traditional
Maori
Welcoming
When
you
arrive
–
and
you
may
share
meals
with
other
campers
as
Maori
People
traditionally
do.
Please
note
that
this
does
not
ALWAYS
happen,
and
if
you
do
not
want
to
share
your
food
and
stories
–
you
do
not
have
to.
If
you
want
to
have
a
nice
quite
night,
you
can
do
that
too.
A
nice
spot
with
an
even
amount
of
paddling
between
John
Coull
and
Pipiriki.
Here
there
is
a
hut
warden,
with
an
emergency
radio
–
so
a
really
good
place
to
stay
just
in
case
you
need
to
get
help.
This
Spot
has
Gas
Cookers
(I
like
to
bring
my
own
still
as
I
don’t
like
waiting
for
food
when
I
am
Hangry
:/)
You
will
need
your
own
pots
and
pans,
cups
and
plates
to
do
your
cooking.
There
are
Shelters,
Long
Drop
Toilets
and
a
Rain
Water
Tank.
Hut
Can
sleep
20
This
is
a
basic
DOC
Hut,
with
Bunk
Beds,
which
have
mattresses.
You
need
your
own
sleeping
bag.
Camping
-
Can
have
36
Campers.
Mangapurua
Can
have
20
campers
A
small
and
basic
DOC
Campsite
on
the
river,
this
has
a
cooking
shelter,
long
drop
toilets
and
Rain
Water
Tank.
This
can
be
a
tricky
spot
to
stay
at
–
if
you
do
choose
to
stay
here,
do
the
walk
into
the
Bridge
to
Nowhere
first.
The
Mangapurua
Campsite
is
on
the
opposite
side
of
the
river,
a
little
further
downstream.
Staying
here
is
a
six-hour
paddle
to
Pipiriki
–
so
if
you
choose
to
stay
here
on
the
last
night
of
your
trip,
you
will
have
an
early
morning
to
reach
our
shuttle
at
2pm.
Bridge
to
Nowhere
Lodge
A
lovely
spot
if
you
want
something
more
than
a
DOC
hut.
With
hot
showers,
flushing
toilets,
comfy
beds,
private
bedrooms
-
and
the
opportunity
to
pre-book
Dinner
and
Breakfast
(must
be
booked
when
booking
your
accommodation)
it
is
a
lovely
choice.
To
top
it
off
–
you
can
sit
on
a
deck
soaking
in
the
views
of
the
Whanganui
River,
with
a
beer
or
wine
from
their
bar.
To
book
with
the
Bridge
to
Nowhere
Lodge
contact
info@bridgetonowhere.co.nz
Bridge
to
Nowhere
Campground
A
step
up
from
a
DOC
Campsite,
this
little
Kiwiana
Campground
is
a
beautiful
spot.
With
a
few
private
cabins,
Gas
Showers,
and
a
rustic
cooking
shelter
if
you
are
looking
for
a
unique
spot
on
the
river,
here
it
is.
To
book
with
the
Bridge
to
Nowhere
Lodge
contact
info@bridgetonowhere.co.nz
Pipiriki
The
ending
point
of
the
Whanganui
Journey.
At
Pipiriki
you
will
see
a
Concrete
Driveway/Landing
area.
Pull
your
canoes
out
of
the
way
so
that
the
drivers
can
all
drive
down
with
trailers
to
load
Canoes.
At
Pipiriki
you
can
walk
up
the
hill,
and
there
is
a
bathroom
and
a
shelter.
From
there
you
can
see
Drivers
driving
down
to
the
Landing
–
so
walk
back
down.
Otherwise,
sit
down
at
the
landing
with
your
canoe.
To
be
ready
for
the
driver,
if
all
OUR
paddlers
could
work
together,
getting
life
jackets
into
a
pile,
removing
ropes
and
bailers
from
the
canoe
and
putting
into
a
pile.
Please
do
not
mix
Whanganui
River
Canoes’
gear
with
other
operators.
Ngaporo
Can
have
20
campers
–
A
nice
little
campsite
only
two
hours
paddle
from
Pipiriki.
Remember
our
Pick-up
time
is
2pm,
so
if
you
book
here,
you
need
to
plan
a
relaxing
day.
We
can
pre-arrange
earlier
pick-ups
–
if
you
have
a
larger
group.
Maharanui
Can
have
24
campers
A
small
and
basic
DOC
Campsite
on
the
river,
this
has
a
cooking
shelter,
long
drop
toilets
and
Rain
Water
Tank.
Access
can
be
difficult
when
the
river
is
higher,
as
there
is
not
a
large
beach.
Bridge
to
Nowhere
A
Full
Day
bike
ride,
you
can
hire
our
bikes
or
use
your
own
-
and
we
can
provide
your
transport
to
and
from
the
track,
and
help
to
arrange
your
jet
boat
transport
too.
Old
Coach
Road
A
half
day
bike
ride,
you
can
hire
our
bikes
or
use
your
own
-
and
we
can
provide
your
transport
to
and
from
the
track
Ohauora
Can
have
20
campers
A
small
and
basic
DOC
Campsite
on
the
river,
this
has
a
cooking
shelter,
long
drop
toilets
and
Rain
Water
Tank.
This
is
a
five-hour
paddle
from
Whakahoro.
A
good
spot
to
stay
if
you
plan
to
do
your
trip
from
Whakahoro
over
four
days,
and
it
is
less
congested
than
other
spots.
John
Coull
This
is
a
great
spot
to
stay.
A
nice
spot
with
an
even
amount
of
paddling
between
day
one
and
two.
Here
there
is
a
hut
warden,
with
an
emergency
radio
–
so
a
really
good
place
to
stay
just
in
case
you
need
to
get
help.
Here
there
is
a
large
tree
at
the
back
of
the
campsite
–
if
you
look
up
at
the
right
time
in
the
evening
you
will
see
some
Native
NZ
Bats
flying
around
the
tree.
This
Spot
has
Gas
Cookers
(I
like
to
bring
my
own
still
as
I
don’t
like
waiting
for
food
when
I
am
Hangry
:/)
You
will
need
your
own
pots
and
pans,
cups
and
plates
to
do
your
cooking.
There
are
Shelters,
Long
Drop
Toilets
and
a
Rain
Water
Tank.
Hut
Can
sleep
24.
This
is
a
basic
DOC
Hut,
with
Bunk
Beds,
which
have
mattresses.
You
need
your
own
sleeping
bag.
Camping
Can
have
36
Campers,
here
you
can
use
the
Gas
Cooker
too.
John
Coull
is
named
after
one
of
the
first
members
of
the
Whanganui
River
Trust
Board.
Mangapapa
Can
have
20
campers
–
A
small
and
basic
DOC
Campsite
on
the
river,
this
has
a
cooking
shelter,
long
drop
toilets
and
Rain
Water
Tank.
Can
be
tricky
to
get
into
at
higher
river
levels,
as
there
is
not
much
of
a
landing.
Easiest
entrance
is
just
past
the
stream,
there
will
be
a
small
eddy
you
can
paddle
up.
Atene
Skyline
Walk
Taking
1-2
hours
to
the
viewpoint,
this
track
rises
to
523m
and
has
fabulous
views
over
the
Whanganui
River
National
Park
and
the
surrounding
area,
including
an
unusual
land
feature
called
a
“meander”,
where
the
river
once
flowed.
The
entire
Skyline
track
takes
6-8
hours
to
complete.
Flying
Fox
Lodge
Set
in
lush
organic
gardens
with
a
backdrop
of
the
Whanganui
River
National
Park,
Flying
Fox
Lodge
is
accessible
only
by
aerial
cable
car
or
boat.
It
offers
a
range
of
unique
accommodation
options.
Kawana
Flour
Mill
Originally
built
and
operated
by
Maori
in
1854,
the
Kawana
waterpower
mill
ground
flour
from
locally
grown
wheat
for
more
than
50
years.
Now
a
musuem,
the
mill
was
rebuilt
in
the
late
1970’s
and
together
with
a
restored
miller’s
cottage,
were
opened
to
the
public
in
1980.
Jerusalem/Hiruharama
Now
a
tiny
settlement,
Jerusalem/Hiruharama
was
originally
one
of
the
biggest
settelements
on
the
Whanganui
River.
In
1892
Mother
Suzanne
Aubert
started
the
Catholic
Sisters
of
Compassion,
a
highly
respected
charitable
nursing
and
religious
order.
The
original
Catholic
church
and
convent
feature
a
Maori-designed
altar
and
beautiful
kowhaiwhai
panels
on
the
walls.
This
is
our
easiest
trip,
which
starts
right
in
the
heart
of
the
Whanganui
River
National
Park
and
takes
you
paddling
through
the
park’s
amazing
gorges
for
which
it
is
renowned.
This
Campsite
has
a
cooking
shelter
and
Long
Drop
Toilets.
Up
the
Road,
you
can
walk
to
the
Blue
Duck
Café
and
order
a
nice
Hot
Coffee,
or
some
Toasted
Sandwiches.
This
campsite
can
be
a
little
bit
of
a
long
walk
carrying
your
barrels,
but
is
well
worth
it
once
you
get
there
(you
may
want
to
just
pack
your
lightest
gear
for
this
night).
It
can
sometimes
be
hard
to
paddle
to
the
Whakahoro
Landing.
–
Hut
Can
sleep
10
This
is
a
basic
DOC
Hut,
with
Bunk
Beds,
which
have
mattresses.
You
need
your
own
sleeping
bag.
There
is
no
Cooker
in
this
hut.
Camping
Can
have
36
Campers
–
A
nice
campsite
with
plenty
of
space
to
find
your
own
little
space.
This
has
a
cooking
shelter
and
Long
Drop
Toilets.
Up
the
Road,
you
can
walk
to
the
Blue
Duck
Café
and
order
a
nice
Hot
Coffee,
or
some
Toasted
Sandwiches.
This
campsite
can
be
a
little
bit
of
a
long
walk
carrying
your
barrels,
but
is
well
worth
it
once
you
get
there
(you
may
want
to
just
pack
your
lightest
gear
for
this
night).
Tour
1
-
Whakahoro
to
Pipiriki
3-4
day
canoe
trip
87.5km
Ohinepane
is
a
DOC
campsite.
It
has
a
large
grassy
camping
area,
a
cooking
shelter,
and
long
drop
toilets.
There
is
Road
access
to
Ohinepane.
This
spot
does
have
a
lot
of
campervans
parking
here.
Has
space
for
36
Campers.
This
trip
starts
right
on
the
rapids,
so
you
need
a
degree
of
paddling
skill
and
experience.
After
the
first
day
you
will
be
paddling
through
native
forest
on
either
side
of
the
river
in
Whanganui
River
National
Park.
Tour
2
-
Ohinepane
to
Pipiriki
4-5
day
canoe
trip
125km
The
beginning
of
the
Five-Day
Canoe
Trip
to
Pipiriki.
There
is
no
camping
at
Cherry
Grove.
For
more
experienced
paddlers.
This
section
starts
in
a
shallower
section
of
the
river
and
has
plenty
of
rocks,
logs
and
rapids,
before
you
enter
the
beautiful
scenery
of
the
Whanganui
River
National
Park.
Tour
3
-
Cherry
Grove
5-6
day
canoe
trip
145km
Our
base
at
the
Raetihi
Holiday
Park,
is
where
your
adventure
begins!!
In
Summer,
we
have
some
beautiful
tent
sites,
glamping
tents
and
cabins
too.
Our
canoe
hire
prices
include
the
transport
from
the
Raetihi
Holiday
Park
to
the
Whanganui
River
and
back,
and
you
can
leave
your
car
here
while
you
are
on
the
river!!
Raetihi
Holiday
Park
Map
Legend
Places
and
Tour
Info
Scenic
Drive
Campsites
Canoe
Distances