Whanganui River Tours and Accommodation
Embark on an exhilarating adventure tour along the Whanganui River and immerse yourself in the rich natural and cultural heritage of the Whanganui National Park.
With four decades of intimate connection to this area, our team boasts a profound understanding of the Whanganui River, its surrounding tracks, and their hidden treasures.
Explore the wonders of the Whanganui River with us, and allow us to unveil our world to you.
Bridge to Nowhere Jet Boat Tour
“Bridge to Nowhere Tour”. Duration: 4 hours. Departs Pipiriki, Whanganui River.
Travel 30km (1 hour) upstream into the middle reaches of the Whanganui River. Pristine native bush cloaks the banks and you will see deep gorges covered with ferns, caves, rapids and other unique and amazing scenery. See the world famous Drop Scene, the Dress Circle and the ancient pegs used by the river boat crew to help them negotiate these waters over 100 years ago. Continuing on deeper into this wilderness area you’ll arrive at the Mangapurua Landing.
Your walk to the Bridge to Nowhere begins here. The easy walk follows an old road and takes approximately 40 minutes. Continue on through the bush until you arrive at the historic “Bridge to Nowhere” – gateway to the “Valley of Abandoned Dreams”.
Bring a picnic lunch to have at the Bridge and enjoy tales of the historic Mangapurua Valley and its pioneering people. A return walk to the boat and trip down river to Pipiriki completes this unique experience.
Suitable for all ages.
Bridge to Nowhere Lodge Accommodation
Located deep in the Whanganui National Park wilderness region, we are the only Whanganui River accommodation of this kind in the area.
The Bridge to Nowhere Lodge is a unique place to stay.
Perched high above the river and surrounded by native bush the only access is by the lodge’s jet boat service, canoe, by foot or helicopter.
The Lodge offers comfortable double/twin share accommodation along with family bunk rooms.
For groups we have the capacity to accommodate 25 people.
In addition to the Lodge, we have our own private campsite.
We are 9km or 1 1/2 hours paddling below the Mangapurua Landing where you probably stopped to walk into the Bridge to Nowhere.
The campground is about 100 meters up stream from our Bridge to Nowhere Lodge on the same side of the river, so if you are canoeing you will see it first. The campground was fully upgraded in 2014.
4 Cabins with awesome THICK mattresses, picnic tables, cook house, bbq’s and more…
Campers are welcome to come and visit us up at the Lodge and enjoy a drink or two from our fully licensed bar. It is a 5-10 minute walk up from the campground, just follow the track and go up the steps! If you would like to stay at the Lodge please book in advance by emailing us or ring us on 0800 480 308.
Bridge to Nowhere Package
All our trips can be extended to allow you to experience an overnight stay at the unique and secluded ‘Bridge to Nowhere Lodge’.
Package includes; dinner, accommodation, breakfast, “Bridge to Nowhere Tour” and all jet boat transfers between Pipiriki and Lodge return.
Whanganui River Jet boat and Canoeing (unguided)
Express, Half and Full Day Adventures
Freedom kayak hire, 2 hours to 2 day adventures. Explore the Whanganui River.
If you only have a day up your sleeve but want to experience canoeing the Whanganui River we have some great options available. We’ll ensure your adventure will take you into the most scenic parts of the Whanganui River where you can explore the sights and sounds of the river at your own pace. Take a picnic, relax, and enjoy the peace and tranquillity as you float down this majestic river.
Hiking/ Tramping in the Whanganui National Park
Bridge to Nowhere Lodge is ideally situated at the bottom of the Matamateaonga track. You can walk directly to the Lodge where you can enjoy a cuppa, hot shower or comfortable bed should you wish to stay.
A 10 minute jet boat ride from the Mangapurua Track (Bridge to Nowhere) will get you to the Lodge. We can orgainise jetboat transfers or canoeing and we can cater for both small and large groups.
You may wish to stay at the Bridge to Nowhere Lodge at the start or end of your trip.
Our pick up and drop off base is at Pipiriki and at the Lodge located on the Whanganui river. For transfers to/from Pipiriki we’ll provide you with information on organising these.
