Bridge to Nowhere Tour

Join your local guide as they deliver the mail up the Whanganui River Road.  Stop to chat to locals and grab some morning tea.  Visit some of our special places along the way.

Rich in history and culture, you will learn about local Iwi (tribe), Te Awa Tupua – their River of Sacred Power and why the river was vitally important for transport, food and spiritual wellbeing for local Māori.  Hear stories of the early settlers and the paddle steamers that plied the river, deep into the interior of the Whanganui.

Upon your arrival in Pipiriki you will join Whanganui River Adventures on the “Bridge to Nowhere” tour, departing from Pipiriki, we jet boat upriver for 32kms (55 mins) through fern & flax cloaked gorges, along the way your local driver/guide will stop and share with you historical and scenic points of interest.

The scenery through the river valley is spectacular and mystical.  Along the way you are bound to spot canoeists making their way down the final sections of their Whanganui River Journey - NZ's only Great Walk on water.

On arrival at the Mangapurua Landing, you'll walk 40 mins along a relatively flat track up the valley to the spectacular Bridge to Nowhere.  A Bridge that stands testament to an ill-fated and some would suggest poorly planned post war farm settlement programme.  Today it is host to regenerating ngahere (forest), birds and other wildlife.  During the Summer you'll also surely see cyclists appearing out of the valley on their Mountains to Sea - Nga Ara Tūhono adventure.