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Experience one of New Zealand’s Great Walks from the water, with this thrilling 3-day canoeing expedition along the Whanganui River, a region of special importance the Maori people.
Discover the beauty, history and culture of the mighty Whanganui River (Te Awa o Whanganui). Located in the North Island’s southwest, the river – New Zealand’s longest navigable river – begins on Mount Tongariro and travels deep into the heart of Whanganui National Park. For more than 800 years, Maori have lived here, building marae and kainga (villages), cultivating sheltered river terraces and engaging with the forests. Numerous marae still exist along the river, and the river is home to many descendants of the original inhabitants. Due to its cultural and spiritual significance to the Maori, the river became the world’s second natural ...
Discover the beauty, history and culture of the mighty Whanganui River (Te Awa o Whanganui). Located in the North Island’s southwest, the river – New Zealand’s longest navigable river – begins on Mount Tongariro and travels deep into the heart of Whanganui National Park. For more than 800 years, Maori have lived here, building marae and kainga (villages), cultivating sheltered river terraces and engaging with the forests. Numerous marae still exist along the river, and the river is home to many descendants of the original inhabitants. Due to its cultural and spiritual significance to the Maori, the river became the world’s second natural resource to be given its own legal identity, with the rights, duties and liabilities of a legal person.
Over 3 exhilarating days, paddle through a landscape of towering cliffs and deep valleys, calm waters and foaming rapids, on an unforgettable journey through the most spectacular stretches of the river. You will visit sacred Maori sites and walk to the famous “Bridge to Nowhere” in the middle of lush native forest. Along the way, you will learn about Maori culture, history and tradition such as the tikanga (protocol) of the marae. You will also have the opportunity to spot native wildlife in its natural habitat including the elusive kiwi.
This fully guided 3-day canoeing expedition includes 2-nights’ camping accommodation in a Department of Conservation hut or campground. These “billion-star” accommodations are made more comfortable with tents and sleeping mats (sleeping bags, liners and other gear are available at an additional cost). All meals and transport are included, and a knowledgeable and experienced guide will accompany you throughout the trip.
Discover Whanganui’s rich natural beauty and Maori history, with this 3-day canoeing expedition. You will feel as if you have stepped back in time!
This tour is eligible to earn ONLYLUXE reward points.
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Canoeing Information: 37km/23mi | 6hrs
Begin your canoeing adventure in the scenic middle reaches of the river, featuring numerous waterfalls after heavy rain. Past Mangpapa Campsite, take a long loop around the Kirikiriroa Peninsula, pass the Tarepokiore (whirlpool) rapid and then the large overhang known as Tamatea’s Cave. Named after a Maori chief and great explorer of the river, the cave is considered wāhi tapu (a sacred place).
Ōtaihanga Reach leads you to your overnight stop at John Coull and Campsite and John Coull Campsite. In this remote setting, you will be able to look and listen for kereru, tui and fantail, while brown kiwi can often be heard at night. At dusk you may also see bats. The forest is a mix of rata, rewarewa, rimu, tawa and kowhai trees.
Canoeing information: 29km/18mi | 5hrs
Follow the river as it winds its way through bush-covered hills, passing the mouths of the Tāngārākau and Whangamōmona rivers where they join the Whanganui. Perched high above the river, Manga-wai-iti is an attractive spot to camp or stop for lunch.
At Mangapurua Landing, where the old riverboats used to tie up, hop out of your canoe and take the 40-minute (one way) Bridge to Nowhere Walk. Located deep in the forest, this concrete road bridge looks ridiculously out of place. There is no road either side, and no signs of construction or civilization. It is truly the ‘Bridge to Nowhere’.
The story behind this bridge dates back to 1919 when the remote Mangapurua Valley was opened up to provide farms for soliders returning from World War I. A wooden swing bridge for horses provided access to the valley until a more robust road bridge was constructed in 1936. However, it was only used for 6 years. The Mangapurua Valley Soldiers walked off their land in 1942 after decades of battling hardship caused by the valley’s poor soils. The forest grew back, obliterating all signs of habitation except for the bridge.
After the walk, continue your trip downstream to Tīeke Kāinga where you can examine the intricately carved pou whenua and learn about the history of Tīeke and the tikanga (protocol) of the marae. You may be asked to participate in a powhiri (welcome ceremony) if whanau are present (it is customary to leave a koha (donation) during powhiri.
Canoeing information: 21.5km/13mi | 4hrs
Pass through the scenic gorge of the Manganui o te Ao River, where it enters the Whanganui after its journey from the slopes of Mount Ruapehu. The Ngāporo and Autapu rapids will provide plenty of excitement and perhaps a cool dip on a hot day.
As you close in on Pīpīriki, the landscape changes to exotic trees and farmland. Pass an eel weir on your left, shoot the Paparoa rapid and you will see the boat ramp below Pīpīriki village up ahead.
Upon arrival at Pīpīriki, meet your transport, which will take you back to the Adrift Tongariro Base by 5:00pm.
NOTE: This itinerary is provided as an example only – prevailing conditions and local arrangements may cause variation.
Please contact us for group bookings and private tours.
The start and finish point of this package is the base office at the National Park Village. The closest major airport is Taupo Airport (TUO) located approximately 1-hours’ drive north of the base. Trip departures available Summer only (1 October - 31 May) on request. Meet at the Adrift Tongariro Base: 9:00am. Return: 5:00pm. Your vehicle can be left at our base whilst canoeing.
Whanganui has a pleasant temperate climate, with 4 distinct seasons. The town enjoys an average of 2055 sunshine hours per year and only 917mm of annual rainfall, making it the second driest town in the North Island. During summer maximum temperatures average 23 degrees Celsius.
Nevertheless, New Zealand weather is extremely changeable and thus impossible to forecast accurately. Adrift Tongariro have the right to cancel an adventure should they consider the weather to cause too high a risk. Adrift Tongariro guarantees a departure in all weather conditions, provided they can offer one safely
Adrift Tongariro thrive and excel in the wind, rain, sleet, snow and even hot and humid conditions. Their guides are fully qualified and have the experience to handle all conditions. For all tours decisions are made at the meeting time for that tour at the Adrift Tongariro base.
It is possible to hire personal equipment to supplement that which you don’t have and need including boots, socks, thermal longs, fleece longs, waterproof pants, thermal tops, fleece tops, waterproof tops, warm gloves, warm hats, sun hats, sunglasses, backpacks, walking poles and sleeping bags and liners
Onlyluxe Travel acts as travel agency and work with different tour operators.Payment DetailAll pricing is in Australian dollars and are quoted on a per person twin share basis. A supplementary price is available (see below). Bookings are not confirmed until full payment and the signed Booking Form has been received by Onlyluxe Travel.A non-refundable 30% deposit is payable within 7 days of your booking, with the final balance due 60 days prior to departure. If a booking is made 60 days or less before departure, the full payment is payable immediately. Last minute bookings are payable before arrival. Failure to pay on time may result in automatic cancellation of a booking with cancellation penalties payable to Onlyluxe Travel. If you pay by credit card or PayPal a surcharge will be added to the total price.Single SupplementAll accommodation is twin share. Single guests will share with someone of the same gender. If a single room is demanded, a supplementary price of will apply. The supplementary price refers to our quotation and needs to be stipulated at the time of booking.General Cancellation Policies- Outside of 60 days monies will be refunded less 30% of full fee- Within 60 days prior to arrival all monies will be forfeited- No refunds will be given in the event of non-arrival, any unused services or unused nights due to flight or weather disruption- We strongly recommend guests protect themselves with travel insurance and medical insurancePlease Note: Cancellations must be advised in email and will take effect from the date they are received.LiabilityThe participant agrees to indemnify Onlyluxe Travel, and its servant, tour operator and agents, in relation to any liability, loss and damage which the tour operator, or its servants and/or agents may incur as a result of the participants, negligence or misconduct during the tour.Smoking is not permitted on the bus, or in tents or in other accommodation being used by tour operator at the time that a trip is being conducted.Child PolicyPlease consult travel consultant on age limit.Changes to ItinerariesLocal conditions may necessitate changes to sightseeing, walking and driving routes, camping and accommodation locations. While every effort will be made to provide the services and experiences as offered in our brochure, on our website, and in our trip letters, we reserve the right to vary your itinerary. In the event that we are forced to change your arrangements, substitute arrangements of a similar standard will be provided. The tour operator will not be liable where interruptions to itineraries are caused by weather conditions, technical problems to transport used by the tour operator, industrial action, political or civil commotion or other circumstances beyond our control. We refer you to the conditions regarding travel insurance.Changes in PricesWhile we will do its utmost to honour its pricing unforeseen circumstances may mean that prices may be subject to change without notice.Pre-Existing Medical Conditions and Age LimitsYou need to advise Onlyluxe travel and the tour operator on any pre-existing medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability that might reasonably be expected to increase the risk of your requiring medical attention, or that might affect the normal conduct of a trip and the enjoyment of other trip members. Onlyluxe Travel and the tour operator may require an assessment of your medical condition from a qualified medical practitioner. If you fail to adequately notify the tour operator of any pre-existing medical conditions and/or disability, the tour operator reserves the right, at its reasonable discretion, to cancel your participation in a trip at any time, including after the commencement of your trip, with no right of refund if your medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability could be reasonably expected to affect the normal conduct of the trip and the enjoyment of other trip members.Cancellation by The Tour OperatorThe walks take place in very special wilderness settings. The tour operator is at the mercy of nature in all her beauty and all her fury. The tour operator will under no circumstance knowingly place at risk the health and well-being of our guests and guides. In the case of natural threats, acts of God and the like (e.g. bushfires, impassable snow, etc) the tour operator may need to cancel a walk with very little notice. In some cases, this can occur after the walk has commenced. The tour operator reserves the right to cancel any walk up to 60 days prior to departure if a minimum of 4 walkers are unable to meet for a tour. If the tour operator needs to cancel for any reason, the cost of the walk or any other costs associated with travel to the designated pick up point, overnight accommodation, meals, etc will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore we strongly recommend travel insurance be taken out prior to travel.Force Majeure'Force Majeure' means (without restriction) any event which Onlyluxe Travel or its third party providers could not, even with due care, foresee or avoid. Force Majeure covers events such as, but not limited to, adverse weather conditions, fire and all similar events beyond our control. In the case of Force Majeure Onlyluxe Travel will not accept liability, and reserves the right to change and cancel trips.EvacuationsIn rare circumstances, due to injury or unforeseen illness, the tour operator may need to evacuate you from a remote part of the walk. Helicopter evacuations are expensive and in most cases will be at a cost to the customer.For Australian residents, under the Australian Government Medicare Act, it is prohibited for any domestic travel insurance product to provide any financial reimbursement with regard to ambulance or air ambulance services. We therefore strongly advise our customers to take specific ambulance cover through their health insurance provider. Evacuation cost will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore it is also strongly recommended that our customers take out travel insurance to cover (amongst other things) the costs associated with evacuation.Travel InsuranceIn view of the heavy cancellation penalties applied to cancelled reservations in certain circumstances, we strongly recommends suitable travel insurance be purchased at the time the holding deposit is paid. We recommend insurance cover that covers any loss which may be suffered due to cancellation. We also strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance against loss of baggage and medical expenses.