Intro

Whanganui River Trip

If you have a spare 3-4 days and want to do something different, try the Whanganui River Trip. The Whanganui River winds its way from the mountains of the central North Island out to the West Coast at Wanganui. With huts and campsites conveniently located along its banks and some impressive scenery the river is ideal for canoe travel. With just enough rapids to keep it interesting this  is a safe, but fun, trip. So get a group together, grab a tent and some supplies, and start paddling.

Highlights

• Great scenery
• Lots of rapids
• A real wilderness adventure
  

How Long:

There are 1-5 day options but 3-4 days are recommended to really get a feel for the river and it’s surroundings.

Taumarunui is the obvious starting point for any trip down the Whanganui River. In terms of driving Taumarunui is 3.5 hours from Auckland. Leave super early in the morning, this will allow you to get a full day on the river the first day - sweeeet! 

The paddling season:

Trips down the Whanganui can be run from September to May but are dependent on river and weather conditions.

Note: for obvious reasons this trip is best done in summer but it is also possible in the fringe seasons. Just remember to take lots of warm clothes and be prepared for the shorter day light hours. Summer trips are easier, more relaxing and hence more fun.

Canoe Hire

There are a number of operators in the area but we recommend Blazing Paddles Canoe Adventures. They are one of the cheaper providers but their gear is still good quality and their service excellent.

You can either use canoes or kayaks for this trip. We would highly recommend that you go for a canoe. Although slightly slower, canoes can carry more gear, are more social and also allow you to move around. Kayaks can become very cramped after hours on the water. CANOE IT!

The START

• Just south of Taumaranui (this is the last opportunity for a supermarket shop) is Blazing Paddles (look out for the Blazing Paddles sign). They are located on the left hand side of the highway just before Piriaka.
• Unload your gear here and pack it into the barrels provided. Your car will stay here for the duration of your trip as the cost of hireage includes transport to and from the river.
• If you are coming from Auckland give yourself 3.5 hours to get to the Blazing Paddles Canoe Adventures base. Therefore either depart Auckland very early in the morning, or alternatively leave the day before and find somewhere to stay on the way down (there is bunk room accommodation at the Blazing Saddles base).

Stay/Eat/Drink

Accommodation

There are DOC huts and campsites along the river. The huts have bunks (with mattresses), tables and cooking facilities while the campsites are more basic with toilets, shelters and water provided.

From October 1 to April 30 you need to purchase a hut/campsite pass before beginning your journey. These are available from either your local DOC office or from the company that you rent the canoes or kayaks off.

In terms of the huts - these are the options:

• Whakahoro Hut - an old school house that sleeps 10. A nice place but a long walk from the river and no fire.
• John Coull Hut - excellent traditional DOC hut. Sleeps 20 and has a great fire place which warms up the whole place.
• Tieke Mare - large spacious hut with seperate sleeping and cooking/lounge area. Excellent fire and loads of room. Sleeps 24 easy. Funky marae next door.

Food and drink

There are no shops along the way, except for the Bridge to Nowhere Lodge (at Ramanui) which sells beer by the can, so make sure you have stocked up before you arrive. Thankfully, if you are travelling by canoe they can hold a lot of gear, so you don’t need to worry about packing as light (as you would if you were going hiking). Water is provided at all the huts and campsites along the river.

What to DO

Which trip to do?

There are a number of options of trips to do. For a full on experience we recommend the 4 day/3 night trip. This amount of time allows you to fully experience the wilderness but ends before you get bored or too stinky. In saying that any of the other options, from 1-5 days are fun. The other thing you need to think about is whether you want to camp or stay in huts. If the weather is good go for camping as this gives you more options and takes the pressure off trying to get to set places. In saying that the huts are cozy and warm (2 of the 3 have fires - Whakahoro does not).

The remainder of this description is for the 4 day/3 night trip, but can be easily adapted for any of the other trips.

A paddling tip

When paddling always paddle into the vee! (this refers to the V made by the whitewater as the water moves downstream).

Paddling

Blazing Paddles will drop you and all your gear off by the river at Ohinepane. Take your time packing everything carefully and make sure that everything is tied down securely. It is unlikely that you will capsize in the early part of the river but it does happen.

• Head off into the river and go with the flow.

 

 

Suggested overnight stops would be:

• Night 1: Maharanui campsite (if you want to stay in a hut you will need to continue to Whakahoro Hut).
• Night 2: John Coull Hut campsite (both camping and hut options)
• Night 3: Tieke Mare campsite (both camping and hut options)

 

 

 

 

Note: these are merely suggestions and there are lots of other options along the way. However to make the (typically) 1pm pick up time you wouldn’t really want to be too much further north on night three.

There are 150 rapids between Ohinepane and Pipiriki so enjoy the ride. There are also long periods of flat water so be prepared for some “serenity”. The biggest rapids are on day 4 so if you have managed to stay in your boat until then we wish you “good luck” with the last leg on the journey.

At Pipiriki the Blazing Saddles bus will transport you and the canoes back to their base where you can freshen up before returning to Auckland.

Head for home

• Return to Auckland the same way.

What to TAKE

The canoe hire company will provide you with:

• Life jackets
• Plastic drums (for food and clothes)
• Dry bags
• Maps
• Paddles
• Canoes

You need to take:

• Sleeping bag
• Food for x number of days (plus 1 extra day just in case)
• Pots, pans and cutlery
• Cooking stove (you can hire these) and a lighter/matches
• One litre water bottle (at least)
• Shoes to wear around the camp
• Warm clothes and a jacket
• Sun block
• Insect repellent
• Tent and sleeping mat (if you intend to camp).
• A rubbish bag
• Spare plastic bags
• First Aid kit
• Torch
• Extra rope for tying things down

Don’t forget

• Book canoes/campsite passes well in advance – this is a very popular trip over extended breaks (such as Easter).
• There are no rubbish bins provided along the river – so what you paddle in you must paddle out (think about this before you pack)
   

The NZ Canoe Association have put out an excellent “Guide to the Whanganui River” (which is available at most DOC offices) for only $9. Pick one up before you go.

GOOT Deals

The following appear in this GOOT Route offering great deals to GOOT Passport holders. Open links to view details.   Blazing Paddles

We are adding new GOOT Partners all the time so check back for more.

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