From rapids as well as canoeing to experiencing untamed nature firsthand these are exactly some of the things you’ll experience on your Whanganui Journey In New Zealand.
New Zealand has move a mecca for outdoor adventurers.
We’ve never been anywhere inward the Earth where’s it’s therefore slow to teach out into the wilderness independently.
Want to canoe downwardly a beautiful as well as remote stretch of river for v days without a guide? Sure.
No experience inward canoeing?
No worries – the someone y'all rent the canoe from volition give y'all a few pointers earlier y'all laid off.
Sounds similar your form of adventure?
Here’s everything y'all postulate to know near paddling the Whanganui Journey, i of the nine Great Walks of New Zealand.
Introduction To Paddling the Whanganui Journey
Set inward the ticker of the North Island, the Whanganui Journey is a 145 km canoe trip downwardly the Whanganui River.
It gained Great Walk status for beingness a important Maori journeying as well as it’s the only Great Walk where y'all tin remain inward a Marae (a traditional coming together the world as well as focal indicate for Maori communities).
Whilst the total 145 km journeying takes v days, if this sounds similar it’s a combat much y'all tin paddle the most beautiful department inward exactly 3 days (a total of 87 km).
There are a multifariousness of campsites as well as huts (and fifty-fifty i lodge) that y'all tin remain at along the way.
If y'all similar solitude y'all tin take away the campsites that differ from the original route that most people take, that we’ll outline below.
There are a few companies who tin organise everything including canoe hire, dry out barrels for all your clothe as well as food, transfers to as well as from the ‘track’, as well as a total briefing on the route as well as conditions on the river.
Whilst at that topographic point are a couplet of notorious rapids (one nicknamed the 50/50 for obvious reasons) on the route it’s possible fifty-fifty for beginners to grapple the total v days.
Until the Whanganui Journey, the longest nosotros had ever kayaked for was 2 hours, therefore nosotros definitely believe it’s possible for anyone with a sense of adventure to manage.
The bulk of the journeying is on flat, placid H2O or pocket-size rapids as well as y'all pass near v hours paddling per day.
You before long teach into a steady musical rhythm as well as the fourth dimension goes chop-chop every bit y'all take away inward the views as well as relish a really unique experience.
Whanganui Journey Overview
Days required: 3 – 5
You start from Taumarunui to practise the v solar daytime version, or Whakahoro for the 3 solar daytime version.
Best Time To Do It
The New Zealand summertime is the best fourth dimension for warmer temperatures as well as to a greater extent than stable weather condition (some companies halt operating inward the winter, if y'all autumn inward it’s going to last freeeezing).
We’d recommend avoiding the schoolhouse as well as populace holidays every bit it tin teach busy.
The official Great Walks flavor runs from 1st Oct to 30th April.
Costs
This tin vary depending on which companionship y'all use, but – similar most of New Zealand – it isn’t cheap.
Canoe hire starts at $180 NZD per someone for the 3 solar daytime version as well as $190 NZD per someone for the v solar daytime version (this includes barrels, transfers, life jackets, paddles, emergency beacon, maps as well as a briefing).
Accommodation
Most people remain inward the DOC administered campsites as well as huts, although at that topographic point are 2 society options for your 2nd as well as quaternary nighttime if y'all choose.
The campsites as well as huts are fairly basic, with the campsites offering running H2O (which needs to last purified) as well as long drib toilets.
The huts offering these every bit good every bit gas stoves as well as bunks.
The cost is betwixt $20 – 32 NZD per someone per nighttime (with camping ground beingness the cheaper of the two) betwixt Oct as well as April.
If y'all desire to process yourself on the finally nighttime of the trip at that topographic point is also a gorgeous society with hot showers as well as gratis homemade muffins.
We were therefore happy that nosotros decided to move for a combat lux after 4 company days paddling, 2 of which had been inward torrential rain.
Less people know that y'all tin also remain inward the Blue Duck Station on nighttime 2 if y'all would similar a individual room.
Food
There are a couplet of cafes along the way (day i as well as two), but aside from that y'all volition postulate to convey all of your food.
This tin last packed inward barrels which are tied to the canoe, you’ll postulate nutrient that volition move along exterior of a refrigerator for upwards to v days.
We’d recommend cereal bars or porridge for breakfast, snacks for dejeuner as well as package nutrient similar pasta for dinner (we enjoyed pesto pasta with cheese for dinner most nights).
Canoe Companies
There are 3 companies that tin aid with the logistics of the Whanganui Journey as well as there’s non much divergence betwixt them.
We chose Whanaganui River Canoes based inward Raetihi, but alternatively there’s Tauamrauni Canoe Hire inward Taumraruni or Yeti Canoes inward Ohakune.
Which companionship y'all take away may depend on which surface area y'all desire to remain inward earlier as well as after your adventure which was our argue for choosing Whanganui Rivers Canoes.
Rapids
The initiative of all 2 days take away maintain a succession of pretty fast rapids, but at that topographic point is only i where y'all powerfulness teach thrown out.
We came closed but managed to exactly near remain in, therefore falling out is all the same quite unlikely.
The tertiary as well as quaternary days are every bit apartment every bit they come, minus i whirlpool at the get-go of solar daytime three.
We did view someone tip hither but champaign this isn’t common.
It is the terminal solar daytime which has the exciting rapids with 2 at the rattling halt which are therefore bumpy that 50% of people come upwards out of their canoe.
However, most of the faster rapids are narrow, pregnant y'all tin paddle to the side as well as avoid the worst of them if y'all desire to (but therefore you’ll last missing out on some of the fun!).
What To Pack
- Rain Coats
- Thermals
- Food: Breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks as well as tea/coffee
- Toilet Paper (none of the huts or campsites take away maintain this)
- Gas burner as well as matches for the campsite sites
- Drinking H2O – at to the lowest degree for the start. Afterwards you’ll postulate to boil some H2O or piece of occupation purification tablets
- A camping ground kitchen laid – pot to boil, plate, cutlery as well as mug
- A warm sleeping handbag (even inward summertime it tin drib to unmarried digits)
- Battery pack to accuse photographic television camera batteries
- Ear plugs/head phones – You haven’t experienced snoring until you’ve stayed inward a DOC hut
- Sun cream as well as insect repellent
- Torch
- Rubbish bags – All that y'all take away in, must exit with you
- Wet wipes – To move along a semblance of hygiene
The Whanganui Journey Itinerary
Day 1: Taumaranui to Ohinepane, 22km (about 3.5 hours)
Not also many people take away to practise the five-day version, skipping the initiative of all 2 days as well as starting at Whakahoro.
This way you’re probable to take away maintain these stretches of river all to yourself, as well as that makes it pretty special.
The initiative of all solar daytime is short, but it for sure lets y'all start with a bang.
The Great Walks guide describes it exactly every bit “a solar daytime of rapids”!
We were novices when it came to canoeing, therefore were pretty nervous near fifty-fifty controlling the canoe, allow solitary navigating the rapids.
In the initiative of all 4 bends y'all human face upwards 2 pretty turbulent rapids that throw y'all around, baptizing y'all inward the Whanganui River.
After the initial bumps, things teach a combat easier as well as to a greater extent than straightforward.
There are enough of fast rapids on corners to move along the excitement upwards as well as you’ll practise good if y'all don’t teach stuck inward the eddys (the other side of a rapid which flows inward the contrary administration to the river, spinning y'all around).
It’s fair to state nosotros spent a fair amount of fourth dimension on solar daytime i as well as 2 spinning uncontrollably but e'er beingness spat out inward the end!
The river hither is primarily through the farmlands as well as rolling hills, it feels similar you’re gliding through Hobbiton.
It’s a fun stretch of paddling with some beautiful landscapes that are punctuated with some rapids for excitement.
A top tip is to expect out for the lavander farm (there is a pocket-size sign) on the right-hand side of the river, around eighteen km in.
There’s a pocket-size sandbank to moor at as well as a stairway leading upwards to the farm.
They take away maintain a java store hither which makes for a blissful break.
They don’t take away unusual cards, therefore brand sure y'all convey cash.
The homemade muffins were delicious.
After 3.5 hours of paddling you’ll brand it to Ohinepane Campsite.
The local chickens are a piddling over friendly as well as volition last pecking around your tent most of the nighttime earlier waking y'all upwards initiative of all affair inward the morning! It’s a lovely spot though, with a pocket-size cooking surface area as well as toilet.
Day 2: Ohinepane – Whakahoro, 35km (about 5.5 hours)
The 2nd solar daytime may take away maintain changed recently, but when nosotros paddled (in Apr 2018) at that topographic point had been a huge tempest which created many slips inward the area.
This meant that trees had come upwards downwardly from the tops of the valley into the river, creating to a greater extent than obstacles.
This may take away maintain changed since, but last prepared for this department to take away maintain to a greater extent than obstacles than the maps volition show!
As y'all laid off, you’re faced with a biggish rapid to ease y'all into the day!
The balance of the solar daytime volition take away maintain quite a few rapids to speed y'all along as well as move along things interesting.
You exceed past times a lot to a greater extent than beautiful scenery as well as y'all experience similar y'all are get-go to caput away from civilization.
The 2nd one-half of the solar daytime is the department that leads to Whakahoro as well as requires the most attending every bit several trees take away maintain fallen into the river as well as lodged there.
This inward turn created rapids that flowed through them as well as – if you’re non careful – could take away y'all direct into a tree.
You’ll postulate to last prepared to paddle rattling difficult every bit before long every bit y'all view them.
The solar daytime finishes at Whakahoro: a campsite as well as bunkhouse that is 400m upwards a steep hill!
Lugging the barrels upwards had exactly near everyone cursing the location, but i time at that topographic point it is a really gorgeous spot.
However, the biggest vantage is the Blue Duck Station, a guesthouse where y'all tin pay for a hot shower ($4NZD) as well as dig into pipage hot nutrient (including bacon as well as egg brekkies) as well as hot drinks.
Pop along every bit before long every bit y'all tin every bit the dinner (served communal style) does require booking.
It’s exactly a few minutes from the campsite to the Blue Duck.
The Whakahoro is the best campsite on the Whanganui Journey, assault the top of a cliff alongside farmland looking downwardly to the Whanganui River. It’s a really picturesque vantage point.
Day 3: Whakahoro – John Coull Hut, 37.5km (about 5.5 hours)
Day 3 is where the scenery steps upwards a gear every bit y'all come inward the Whanganui Gorge as well as the start of the National Park.
This is when all route access stops as well as y'all really come inward the wilderness.
Immediately you’ll last dwarfed past times huge cliffs either side of you, the only sounds are that of your paddle as well as the early on morning time aeroplane song.
Whakahoro is where most people start the Whanganui Journey, choosing to avoid the rapids of the initiative of all 2 days.
However, those rapids were skillful grooming for what volition last coming on solar daytime five!
The department from Whakahoro to John Coull is non exactly rattling picturesque, it is also an incredibly calm department of the river.
At points nosotros chose to halt paddling entirely, drifting inward consummate quiet as well as taking inward our surroundings.
If you’ve had pelting at that topographic point volition last enough of waterfalls on this stretch.
The only obstruction to navigate is a whirlpool that aims to propel y'all into a cave!
So long every bit y'all paddle difficult as well as wide, you’ll last ok.
We tried this as well as cleared it safely (well, apart from beingness spun backwards).
As the river is rattling still, solar daytime 3 requires a lot to a greater extent than paddling as well as crusade than the initiative of all two.
It is only when y'all take away maintain a completely all the same river that y'all realise how much the fast-flowing rapids really helped!
This is the initiative of all indicate that y'all tin take away to remain inward a hut rather than camping.
Day 4: John Coull Hut – Bridge to Nowhere Lodge, 29km (about 5 hours)
Day 4 was our favorite solar daytime of the whole of the Whanganui Journey.
There’s a gamble to halt at the mysterious Bridge to Nowhere, the scenery is stunning as well as if y'all decided to process yourself, at that topographic point is the Bridge to Nowhere Lodge (more on that later).
The solar daytime started with 2 hours of heavy pelting (standard inward NZ) paddling through the thick soupy H2O to the landing for the Bridge to Nowhere walk.
We’d recommend going early on every bit this is a pop solar daytime trip inward the surface area (you tin take away a jet boat to it from a town farther upwards the river), therefore you’ll desire to avoid the crowds as well as last able to abide by mooring for your canoe.
After a brusk walk you’ll teach to the Bridge to Nowhere –quite literally what it says on the tin. It’s a remnant of a projection to convey access for vehicles to the Whanganui River as well as assistance the edifice of a small town for returned soldiers from the First World War.
However, the dry soil was non conducive for farming as well as settlement, as well as it was abandoned.
The span remained, it’s right away covered inward ferns as well as regenerated bushland.
It’s a really spectacular sight as well as non to last missed.
You tin walk across it or take away it inward from the viewpoint above.
We really enjoyed getting out of the canoe as well as exploring this area.
Just brand sure y'all convey some shoes that practise good inward mud. Flip flops would last tricky along this path after rain.
After the Bridge to Nowhere it’s a gentle three-hour paddle to your accommodation for the day.
If y'all move with the DOC choices, y'all tin campsite or remain at a traditional Marae.
Here y'all tin experience a glimpse of the indigenous civilization of New Zealand.
Whether y'all teach a traditional Maori greeting depends on their plans for the day, it didn’t hand on our trip, but we’ve heard it ofttimes does.
On the contrary side of the river is to the Bridge to Nowhere Lodge.
Tucked on the top of a hill, this identify has a stellar view.
But fifty-fifty better, it has hot showers, individual comfortable bedrooms as well as – best of all – a bar!
After 4 days paddling, nosotros idea a drinking glass of vino was good deserved.
You tin also teach a homemade dinner (we cooked for ourselves every bit the dinner was pricey) as well as breakfast.
It was pure bliss.
There’s a lounge with board games as well as books to read therefore it could last quite a social identify depending on who’s at that topographic point at the time.
Day 5: Bridge to Nowhere Lodge – Papriki, 21.5km (about 4 hours)
The terminal solar daytime is a brusk stretch of river earlier hitting the 2 roughest rapids of the whole journey, as well as the ones that throw out 50% of people who endeavor them.
The solar daytime starts out on calm river again, earlier reaching Ngāporo where the initiative of all large rapid is.
The rapids are exactly earlier the campsite as well as y'all tin take away to plow direct through the middle for ultimate adventure or circular the exterior for the to the lowest degree gamble of capsize.
It’s non long earlier y'all hitting the 2nd rapid.
We watched 2 really nifty canoers move caput on into the rapid, as well as were before long tipped out into the river!
Having lost to the rapid they swam to grab their canoe as well as spent the side past times side v minutes bailing H2O out, they were inward the unlucky 50%!
Once more, y'all tin take away to move through it, or paddle broad as well as through the safer section.
There’s a terminal rapid that is exactly earlier the landing at Pipriki as well as is some other fun i to navigate.
If y'all practise it right, y'all tin teach propelled to the finish, barely having to paddle!
By the fourth dimension y'all arrived at Pipriki you’ll take away maintain paddled 145 km of the Whanganui River through the beautiful New Zealand countryside.
It’s an epic adventure as well as i nosotros loved all the to a greater extent than for the fact y'all are able to move it solitary without a guide.
Don’t immature lady the most unusual Great Walk of New Zealand.
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