Home Whanganui River Trout Fishing Jet Boating/Rafting/Canoeing Tramping/Hiking Mangapurua Track Matemateaonga Track Hunting Points of Interest Regional Map Accommodation Information       Home > Tramping/Hiking       Tramping/Hiking       The Whanganui River winds its way from the mountains to the Tasman Sea through countless hills and valleys. Lowland forest surrounds the river in its middle and lower reaches - the heart of the Whanganui National Park.   The Whanganui National Park offer superb access to some of the most breathtaking scenery on the planet. This complex landscape is covered in the largest tract of lowland forest in the North Island. Primarily a Broadleaf/Podocarp forest; Rata, Rewarewa, Rimu, Tawa, Kamahi and Kowhai are all present with beech dominant on the ridge tops. Tree ferns and plants that cling to the steep riverbanks are another distinctive feature.   Whether it be 5 minutes or 5 days, there is something suitable for everyone. Forest Lodge is ideally situated as a gateway and staging point for those venturing into the Whanganui National Park. Also in close proximity is the Whanganui River which is an exclusive member of the "Great Walks" system. Fascinating relics of early Maori settlement can be seen along the way, including;   ancient fortified village (pa) sites, historic churches, old villages (kainga) and unusual war and peace poles ('niu' poles). At Mangapurua Landing, a short walk takes you to the famous ‘Bridge To Nowhere’, the legacy of a farming development scheme that failed.       The Matemateaonga Track and the Mangapurua/Kaiwhakauka Track are the two major tramping opportunities available in the Whanganui National Park . Transport by jet boat must be arranged either to pick up or drop off your party at the river end of the tracks.