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Whanganui National Park |
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| The Whanganui National Park is based around New Zealand’s longest navigable river, the Whanganui, which rises on Mt Tongariro and runs 329 km to the Tasman Sea. The upper reaches are wrapped in a dense mantle of forest, spread over an endless succession of razorback ridges that are largely road less and trackless. This is what makes ‘exploration’ by canoe or on foot so appealing to outdoor adventurers. A float trip down the river from Taumarunui to Pipiriki takes you through wild rapids and majestic river gorges, with moss, ferns and ‘goblin’ forest clinging onto sheer walls laced with |
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waterfalls. An ‘expedition’ on foot along ancient Maori trails penetrates so deep into the forest that transport out usually involves a boat rendezvous at a point where the track meets the river. |
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The 74,231 hectare park borders the Whanganui River. It incorporates areas of Crown land, former state forest and a number of former reserves. The river itself is not part of the park. |
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Several seasonal transport operators as well as all year tourism operators including Forest Lodge provide
a vast myriad of activities in and around the Whanganui National Park including: |
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- Trout Fishing
- Canoeing/Kayaking
- Jet boating
- Mt.Biking
- Hunting
- Scenic rail
- Sight Seeing
- Tramping
- Camping
- Scenic Flights
- Quad Biking
- Trail-biking
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The Whanganui National Park is rich in Maori and colonial history. The river was once the only route into the interior and part of the Wellington to Auckland ‘highway’. History is part of the park experience, and the gateway visitor centres at Taumaranui and Pipiriki give you a taste of this in their displays. |
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If you want to be completely remote from civilization, Whanganui National Park is the largest tract of primeval lowland forest in the North Island. |
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