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Home , Koriniti, Manganui o te Ao River, Matahiwi, Mount Ruapehu, Moutoa Island, Parikino

enjoy the beauty andserenity ofthearea.enjoy thebeauty relationship ofthelocalpeopleto theriver, to thestories and learn River valley offers many places to stay and relax, to experience the canoeing.boat andsinglemulti-day trips The as well onthewater, asafullrange ofactivities includingjet walking, cycling, hunting andtramping wilderness, inapristine for visitors andlocals, andoffersfor unrivalledopportunities Today, the Whanganui Rivervalley isstillamajorattraction . remote settlements was from boats that operated alongthe flooding andslips. Prior to the1930’s almostallaccess to these to construct. The was project delayed many timesdueto The Whanganui was River Road firstopenedin1934 and took 30 years ofNewZealand.River becameinternationally astheRhine known withvisitorsattraction, enjoying leisurely river boat cruises. The Whanganui and inthelate 1800’s 1900’s andearly theriver becameamajorvisitor European settlersfollowed insearch ofanewlife opportunities andfarming descendants oftheoriginal inhabitants. Numerous stillexist alongtheriver, andtheriver ishometo many (villages), cultivating sheltered river terraces andengaging withtheforests. Park. For over 800years, have Maori lived here, buildingmarae andkainga towards , thenwindssouththrough the Whanganui National From itsorigins highonmagnificent Mt Tongariro, the awa (river) travels The Whanganui River, holds theirancestry. relationship of Whanganui Maoriwiththeriverwhich These wordsembodythespiritual,culturalandhistorical river isme”. “Ko auteawa,koawaau” and authenticjourneyforvisitors. beside itintothe Whanganui NationalParkisaspecial A visittothe Whanganui Riverandtheroadwhichwinds these treasuredplaces. be arrangedinadvanceaspermission isrequiredtovisit marae andurupa(cemetery) –entrytoviewmaraemust are usuallyvisiblefromtheroad. Pleaserespectall beautifully preservedmarae (gatheringplaces)which road’s lengthandofparticularinterestarethemany There arestunningviewsoftheriveralongmuch slower drivingspeedthanusual. highway andfollowsawindingroute,whichrequires of thecountry. The roadisnarrowerthanthemain of lifewhichisuniqueinitscontrasttomuchtherest small isolatedrivercommunitiesandexperienceapace Whanganui NationalPark,andenablestravellerstovisit This intimateandscenic64kmroadleadstothe heritage. New Zealandwithsuchrichnessofculturalandnatural and istheonlyscenicdrivingroutealongsideariverin the Whanganui RiverfromPiprikito Whanganui The Whanganui RiverRoadfollowsthelowerreachesof Whanganui RiverRoadaretwointer-relatedjourneys. Introduction History T e AwaO Whanganui, andthe “Iamtheriverand Whanganui River Road Ways to experience the in Whanganui, travelling through Tongariro and Whanganui National Ara Tuhono Ruapehuandendsat onMount theriver mouth starts oftheNewZealand National stunningsection Our Cycle Trail, Nga Mountains toCycle Sea Trail, NgaAra Tuhono com for more information. www.whanganuiriver.co.nzwww.whanganuinz.or Visit Whanganui run by localoperators. Contact ‘Journeys onthe Whanganui’ may want to explore thearea inyour own private vehicle orjointours many different ways, by vehicle, bike, jetboat, canoeoron foot. You The Whanganui River and Whanganui canbeexplored River Road in e Cce ri visit Trail w Cycle Sea to Mountains the information about more For travelled overtwodays. Whanganui RiverRoadsectiontobe Overnight accommodationisavailabletoenablethe Mountains toSeacycletrail. River meetsthe , thefinalpointof workshops totheNorthMole,where Whanganui through thecentreoftown,pastartists’ studios and cycling throughparksandalongtheboardwalks through smallsettlements.Continueonto Whanganui history asyoucyclealongsidethe Whanganui River settlers. Engagewithlocals,absorbtheserenityand and culturalheritageoftheMaoriearlyEuropean Whanganui RiverRoad,revealingarichnessofnatural From ,followthetraildownscenic the way.Thefulltrailcanberiddenoverfourtosixdays. and culturalheritage,enjoyingstunningsceneryalong Riders traversetwonationalparksthatarerichinnatural the CentralVolcanicPlateautoseainWhanganui. roads andajetboattotakeridersfromthemountainsof a combinationoflocalmountainbikingtrails,public The MountainstoSeaCycleTrail(NgāAraTūhono)uses z w .mountainstosea.co.n Parks, includingthe Whanganui from River Road Pipiriki to Whanganui. The trail takes4to 6days andcovers a variety ofterrain; the variety is Whanganui section River Road Sea Cycle Trail Sea Cycle classified aseasy.Overnight accommodation is available to enable this section to betravelledto enablethissection over two days. Mountains to Te Araroa –’s Walking Trail Te Araroa, NewZealand’s Trail, isacontinuous 3,000 km walking track from walking Cape to Reinga Bluff,3,000 km connecting settlements,connecting towns andcities. The Whanganui River Road section ofthetrail hasa Whanganui section River Road recommended timeof3days. walking www.mountainstosea.co.nz visit food. Visit www.whanganuiriver.co.nz for more information. or jet-boat, staying inriverside accommodation andenjoying locallyproduced the they journey Whanganui RiverandNational Park oronfoot, by cycle by canoe European settlerswhofollowed themto thisland, are shared withtheirguestsas andthe andunderstanding. ofbothMaori, of discovery Stories ofthehistory offer theirvisitors a way ina remoteto participate andadventurous journey ‘Journeys onthe Whanganui’ isacollaborative group oftourism operators who G C A B D E F Whanganui River Adventures Whanganui Regional Museum Operators Email: [email protected] www.wrm.org.nz Email: [email protected] or: 063853246 Phone: 0800862743 www.whanganuiriveradventures.co.nz Email: [email protected] Phone: 0800408888 Mobile: 0273048995 www.whanganuirivercanoes.co.nz Whanganui River Canoes Email: [email protected] Phone: 0800 WAIRUA (924782) Mobile: 0275554201 www.whanganuiriverboat.co.nz Whanganui Riverboat Services Email: [email protected] or: 063425599 Phone: 0800945335 www.whanganuiscenicjet.com Whanganui Scenic Experience Jet Email: [email protected] Phone: 063453475 Mobile: 0272012472 www.whanganuitours.co.nz Whanganui Tours Email: [email protected] Phone: 0800480308 www.bridgetonowhere.co.nz Bridgeto Nowhere JetBoat Tours Journeys onthe Whanganui Members of Members

River Road M G N H K L J Lodge Rivertime Email: [email protected] Phone: 063428178 Kohu Cottage Accommodation See contact underOperators contact See Whanganui River Adventures Phone: 063450303 Marae Email: [email protected] Phone: 063476300 www.tamaralodge.com The Tamara Lodge Backpackers Email: [email protected] Phone: 063428160 Mobile: 021466486 www.theflyingfox.co.nz The Flying Fox Email: [email protected] Phone: 063428190 Email: [email protected] Phone: 063854622 www.bridgetonowhere.co.nz Bridge to Nowhere Lodge Email: [email protected] Phone: 063425599 www.rivertimelodge.co.nz Jerusalem Convent

C MYK C MY C MYK C MY C MYK C MY C MYK C MY C MYK C M 1. SH4 and Whanganui River Road - 0 km 11. Koriniti 33km M This tour is designed as a

Before you begin your journey up the Whanganui River brief guide to the sites and Koriniti is a beautiful example of a small local marae C Road, take time to stop at the display at the information features of the and features two traditional wharenui (Poutama and Te kiosk to understand a little more about the history and Waiherehere) as well as a small museum, “Hikurangi”.

Whanganui River Road. K The Bridge to Nowhere spiritual and cultural significance of the Whanganui More detail is online at Poutama was moved from a site upriver to its current River to its local people. location. A popular stop for cultural tours and overnight WhanganuiNZ.com. stays, access must be booked in advance. Y 2. Aramoana Viewpoint - 3km Set your odometer to 0 at the fork in the road

before turning left onto Whanganui River Road 12. 40km M A popular stop, the Aramoana viewpoint showcases Tieke Marae views of the river valley, Pungarehu and Mount J (see the flag “Start here” below). Matahiwi is the hub of a small farming community. In 1923, Ruapehu. Aramoana means “the path to the sea”. The distance to each point of interest is shown a building was transported by riverboat from , 46km C after the name. upriver, to Matahiwi, and was used as the local school for 3. Pungarehu - 6.3km many years. Today it is the local café and gallery open during the summer. Little remains of the original pa built on this o te Ao River site, however over the years the meeting house, 13. Kawana Flour Mill 41.5km Y Maranganui, has been extensively restored. Mangaio stream

The Kawana Flour Mill was constructed in 1854. It is now a M 4. - 8.5km Drop Scene F great example of a rebuilt water-power mill, and features its original waterwheel and grinding stones. It was first built The present Parikino settlement is located on the site with the help of Governor Grey to grind the wheat grown by C of a former village named Kaitangata. The original Puraroto caves local farmers and was one of several built in the Whanganui B Pipiriki Parikino Pa was located across the river. river valley in the 19th century. Now a museum, there is also K G a restored miller’s colonial style cottage alongside the mill. 18 Drinking water and a toilet is available here.

5. Shellrock Cliffs - 13.5km Y

The Whanganui region was once sea bed that has 17 Omorehu waterfall lookout 14. 45km been uplifted. A fascinating showcase for this fact M can be found in the cliffs which are in fact layers of Ranana is sheltered by the hills and has become one of the fossilized oyster shells. 16 Jerusalem larger settlements along the Whanganui River Road. As well C

St Joseph’s Convent K as a century old catholic church, the settlement also features 6. Atene - 21km a beautiful marae. The local school for the Whanganui River W h Valley is located here. A campsite with toilets is located next 15 a This settlement was named by the missionary Reverend ng anu to the river past the marae. i R Ranana Richard Taylor. Prior to a flood in 1904, the settlement iv e Y 14 r

was closer to the river than present day. The small R

o

o 15. Moutoa Island - 46km a

Atene meeting house was constructed in 1886. Just a

d d south of the Atene settlement marks the entry to the This small island was the scene of a short and fierce battle in M 13 Kawana Mill . 1864 between Whanganui Maori and an invading Hauhau

12 Matahiwi force. The battle helped establish a close bond between C local and European settlers. A monument to the memory 7. Atene skyline walk 21.5km Matahiwi track of the fallen was erected in Pakaitore/Moutoa Gardens in L H K Part of the Whanganui National Park, the Atene Whanganui. On the 100th anniversary a memorial cairn was skyline track rises to a height of 523m above sea 11 Koriniti Marae N 10 Koriniti placed near Moutoa Island itself. level and offers views over the region and an Y 9 7 unusual land feature called a “meander”, where the river 8 6 16. Hiruharama (Jerusalem) 53.5km once flowed in a near circle and now has cut through to Atene M create a shortcut to the sea. The Atene Viewpoint walk Hiruharama is home to a century old catholic church and takes 1-2 hours and follows the ridge of the old river convent built in the 1890s. The church features a beautifully valley, and the skyline track takes 6-8 hours (note, a 5 Shellrock cliffs carved alter of Maori design and kowhaiwhai panels adorn C D good level of fitness is required to attempt the skyline 4 Parikino the walls. Once the home of an orphanage, the convent today Hipango Park 3 track). 2 Aramoana viewpoint hosts retreats and offers accommodation, and the rosary way START garden offers peace and serenity. The impact and history of 8. Downes Hut - 21.9km Kemps Pole HERE the mission and its founder Mother Aubert in the Whanganui Y 1 region is immense. In the 1970’s Hiruharama was also the On the riverbank opposite the road is location of poet James K Baxter’s community, which closed

Downes Hut. This small hut was built by Thomas D Shell rock soon after his death in 1972. M Downes during his time as the River Foreman in the quarry 4 early 1920s and later bequeathed to the Whanganui 3 On a clear day the approach to Hiruharama offers a stunning C River Trust Board. The Department of Conservation is St Mary’s Church photo opportunity with the settlement reflected in the river. now the custodian and the hut is used by canoeists and Whanganui other recreational groups. The hut is Riverboat Centre 17. Omorehu waterfall - 59km K built on a former kaianga site known A C Sparrow cliff The waterfall offers a great photo opportunity and is an example as Pukupuku. A magnificent puriri E M Y tree planted by Downes still flourishes. of the many waterfalls that fall into the Whanganui River.

9. Otumaire campsite - 23.5km Fordell 18. Pipiriki 64km M Pipiriki is the end of the Whanganui River Road journey.

Otumaire is a free camp site with drinking water and 3 C toilets. WHANGANUI Today Pipiriki is the gateway to the upper Whanganui River and the Whanganui National Park. Many canoe and jet boat trips start and finish here. The Department of Conservation 10. Hand dug culvert 26.6km has a shelter at Pipiriki with toilets, water and a camping area, and a story board display of the history and cultural

This large hand-built culvert can be found down a short Y track from the road. It was built when the Whanganui significance of the Whanganui River. River Road was constructed. KEY Details of accommodation, camping, tours and food and M 1 Number icons refer to tourist destintations. refreshment availability are listed separately.

A Letter icons refer to operators and C accommodation providers under

‘Members of Journeys on the Whanganui’. K visit Y M C