Whanganui National Park, the largest lowland native forest in the North Island, cloaks the impressive Whanganui River. After years of erosion, stunning gorges and v-shaped valleys adorned with native ferns and variations of podocarpus have emerged.
Throughout the forest there are a host of short and long walks; most popular is the ancient trail of the Matemateaonga Track which takes four to five days to complete.
Whanganui River
From its source at the base of the Tongariro Mountains the river flows into the Tasman Sea, creating the longest navigable waterway in New Zealand.
This great body of water was an important transport route for first the M膩ori and then the European settlers, but these days the sedate river is a popular place for kayakers to enjoy the peaceful forest fringe.
The Bridge to Nowhere
An unusual feature of the Whanganui River region is the famous 鈥楤ridge to Nowhere鈥. In the early 1900s, settlers struggled for many years in an attempt to create viable farmland, and built an impressive bridge to connect the remote Mangapurua valley with the road.
However, their attempts failed, and the forest soon reclaimed the land and the track leading to the bridge. Today it remains as a testament to the determination of these first settlers.
Trips take you by road up to Pipiriki, then by jet boat up to Mangapurua Landing, accessible only from the river, where a guided walk through the lush native bush explores the 鈥榁alley of Abandoned Dreams鈥; home of the forsaken bridge.
who's been there
Start planning your tailor-made trip to Whanganui National Park by contacting one of our New Zealand specialists
- 617-223-4580
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Places near Whanganui National Park
- Tongariro National Park 89 kilometers away
- The Kapiti Coast 106 kilometers away
- Taranaki & New Plymouth 129 kilometers away
- Greytown 133 kilometers away
- Wairarapa & surrounds 140 kilometers away
- Martinborough 148 kilometers away
- North Island 150 kilometers away
- Wellington 153 kilometers away
- Hastings 158 kilometers away
- Marlborough Sounds 158 kilometers away
- Lake Taupo 165 kilometers away
- Napier 168 kilometers away
- Hawke's Bay 171 kilometers away
- Picton 176 kilometers away
- Waitomo 186 kilometers away
- Blenheim 200 kilometers away
- Abel Tasman National Park 209 kilometers away
- Nelson 211 kilometers away
- Collingwood & Farewell Spit 218 kilometers away
- Rotorua 225 kilometers away
- Kahurangi National Park 259 kilometers away
- Tauranga 269 kilometers away
- Bay of Plenty 270 kilometers away
- Waikato 285 kilometers away
- Eastland & Gisborne 294 kilometers away
- Kaikoura 298 kilometers away
- Thames & Kauaeranga Valley 314 kilometers away
- Coromandel Peninsula 342 kilometers away
- Hanmer Springs 344 kilometers away
- Auckland 345 kilometers away
- Devonport 347 kilometers away
- Waiheke Island 349 kilometers away
- Warkworth 395 kilometers away
- Punakaiki 395 kilometers away
- Great Barrier Island 418 kilometers away
- Arthur's Pass National Park 444 kilometers away
- Christchurch 448 kilometers away
- Hokitika 461 kilometers away
- Akaroa & Banks Peninsula 465 kilometers away