Whanganui River Canoe Trip
After a year in Wanganui we finally found time to take a 3 day canoe trip down the Whanganui River through isolated areas covered in native bush. Most of the region has never been developed,
while other areas were abandoned years ago as unproductive. The most famous abandoned feature is the "Bridge to Nowhere" built to develop the Mangapurua Valley too late to prevent its terminal economic decline. We had a guide
and his friend with us and met up with a number of people heading the same way (there are very few accomodation options!).
Click on a picture for a larger version.
Day One
Unloading at the last accessable point for a long way
Much of the trip the river cuts through heavily wooded gorges
We reach the DoC's John Coull Hut after a damp day
Day Two
At holiday times these terraces can be full of tents
Lunch
Dazza and John
Tracy did most of the steering
A blind inlet...
featured in the movie the "River Queen"
The sun came out quite a bit today at last
There are a few campgrounds en route, most need a bit of climbing and gear hauling
The old landing stage for the Mangapurua settlement
The Mangapurua River gorge was a major obstacle to supplying the valley from the river
Memorializing some of the families who farmed locally in the 1930s
The road was carved out of the rock in places
Remains of the old wire rope bridge built in 1920
Bridge to Nowhere, built in the 1930s
Bush regrows on an old farm
Friendly local
A great deal of wood comes down the river from the forested upper reaches, lodging at least until the next flood
Tim takes a turn to steer
This site is both a Marae (Maori meeting area) and a DoC hut
There is some more upmarket accomodation across the river, but still only accessible by boat
Don't see many bananas in NZ
There are hot showers if you light the fire
Tracy hauls a couple of our waterproof tubs
A number of deer were out and about in the cleared area across from us
Day Three
The river level has risen overnight
Another deep gorge
Fossils
Pipiriki landing stage
Glad that's not us!
Last glimpse of the river
© Tim Cooke 2008
