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Home > Mangapurua/Kaiwhakauka Track |
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Mangapurua/Kaiwhakauka Track |
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| Tramping Track; Time 3 days (14-18 hours) |
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| This track can be walked from either direction and when combined with a jet boat ride on the Whanganui river creates a unique tramping/boating circuit. It follows two quite different valleys; the Mangapurua with its many open flats and the narrower Kaiwhakauka, which especially in the middle reaches, has many patches of relatively undisturbed native forest. The track follows old road lines and makes for easy walking. |
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| To reduce the pressure of rushing to meet a jet boat |
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on the last day of a leisurely tramp, it is a good idea to take a jet boat from Whakahoro Hut down the historic Whanganui river to the Mangapurua Landing to start your walk up the Mangapurua Valley. River transport is necessary to and from the Mangapurua Landing and jet boats can be hired from the transport operators listed. |
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Whakahoro can be reached from road from SH4, turning off at either Owhango or Raurimu. Alternatively, walking access to the Mangapurua Trig may be gained off the Raetihi-Ohura road, north of Raetihi. Approximate walking times for the 40km track are 8 hours from Mangapurua Landing to the Mangapurua Trig and a further 6 hours to Whakahoro. All these times allow for leisurely walking and viewing of historic features. |
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Both the Mangapurua and Kaiwhakauka Streams are tributaries of the Whanganui River. These Valleys were rehabilitation settlements where land was offered to soldiers following World War 1. The endeavours of these pioneers have provided a unique historical quality to this area. The pioneer settlers cleared the land of much of its virgin native forest and transformed it into farmland. At the peak of settlement there were 30 farms in the Mangapurua and 16 in the Kaiwhakauka. |
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Today only chimney, exotic trees and hedges mark the remains of the house sites. Problems such as poor access, erosion and falling stock prices during the Depression years forced most of the settlers to abandon their farms. The few remaining farmers were forced to leave the valley in 1942 when the Government refused to maintain the flood damaged road. |
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Hunting is permitted in most of the Whanganui National park throughout the year but no hunting is permitted within 200 metres of tracks between the 20th of December and the 20th of February, or at Easter Weekend. Permits are issued by DOC Whanganui. |
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Mangapurua Landing to "Bridge to Nowhere" - 40 minutes |
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The Mangapurua Landing was the main access point to the Mangapurua Valley during the early years of settlement when the paddle steamer provided the only transport option. The landing is still used by jet boaters and canoeists. This section of track is formed to walking track standard and is often used by river travelers to visit the Bridge to Nowhere. |
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The track follows the true right bank of the Mangapurua Stream to the historic "Bridge to Nowhere". This is a large concrete bridge completed in 1936 but now stands abandoned in bush in the middle of "Nowhere". By the time the bridge was constructed, the lower valley (below Bennett's) had been abandoned by the settlers including by the Morgan brothers after whom the bridge was named. From the concrete bridge the remains of the old swing bridge used between 1920 and 1936 can be seen. This old bridge and its predecessor wire cages were vital to the initial settlers for the transport of all supplies. |
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Other Section Walks |
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- "Bridge to Nowhere" to Battleship Bluff -1.5 hours.. more info
- Battleship Bluff to Bettjeman's -3 hours.. more info
- Bettjeman's to Johnson's - 1 hour.. more info
- Johnson's to Mangapurua Trig - 2 hours.. more info
- Mangapurua Trig - Kaiwhakauka Valley - Whakahoro Hut - 6 hours.. more info
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Camping |
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Apart from the 12 bunk hut at Whakahoro, there are no huts along the track. There is an abundance of ideal campsites on open grassy flats and small side streams provide ample water. |
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Where practical and to minimize impacts the Department of Conservation recommend camping at sites where toilets are provided. |
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Staying overnight in Whakahoro Hut costs $10 for adults, unless you have a Whanganui Journey or Annual Hut Pass. For additional information visit www.doc.govt.nz |
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Map Download |
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Click Here to download (PDF 480 KB) |
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