Overview
Take a real vacation minus the TV and telephone on a 5 Day Guided Whanganui National Park Canoe Safari from Ohakune, New Zealand. Bring the kids along if you like. In this highly popular trip taking 5 days, the starting point is either Ohinepane or Whakahoro depending on river levels.
On the night before the trip, we meet you at Ohakune base to introduce you to your guides and to sort out river gear. Our base has 6 motel units where you can stay the night before the trip and the night after the trip. Doing so makes it easy for you and gives you plenty of time to get packed for the trip and ensure you have everything you need in your river barrels before we leave. We also have ample safe parking off-street, so it’s more convenient and quicker for you to get packed once you arrive.
Apart from your personal gear, we suggest you bring a sleeping bag. We take care of all the other things like tents and sleeping mats, as well as wine, food and cooking gear.
Tour Grading: B
Details
Difficulty: 2
Start: Ohakune
Finish: Ohakune
Overview
Take a real vacation minus the TV and telephone on a 5 Day Guided Whanganui National Park Canoe Safari from Ohakune, New Zealand. Bring the kids along if you like. In this highly popular trip taking 5 days, the starting point is either Ohinepane or Whakahoro depending on river levels.
On the night before the trip, we meet you at Ohakune base to introduce you to your guides and to sort out river gear. Our base has 6 motel units where you can stay the night before the trip and the night after the trip. Doing so makes it easy for you and gives you plenty of time to get packed for the trip and ensure you have everything you need in your river barrels before we leave. We also have ample safe parking off-street, so it’s more convenient and quicker for you to get packed once you arrive.
Apart from your personal gear, we suggest you bring a sleeping bag. We take care of all the other things like tents and sleeping mats, as well as wine, food and cooking gear.
Tour Grading: B
Itinerary
Open AllDepart Ohakune between 7.30 and 8.00am for the river. At Ohinepane we unload canoes and barrels and show you how to pack your canoe.
The first day includes lunch at Poukaria Campsite, we paddle past the old riverboat landing at Kirikau and take a short walk at Marae Kowhai. View the Ohura falls, and the War and Peace Poles that were erected by the Hau Hau warriors. It's then a short paddle to the first nights camp at Maharanui.
The gorge starts to narrow and we leave the last road access point behind at Whakahoro—the second and final mooring point for the Houseboat. We pass Laceys and Wades landings and several old maori Kaianga.
Later in the morning we pass Mangapapa campsite, Man of War Bluff, Kirikiriroa where the river does a huge horseshoe turn, the Verandah, the Whirlpool and on down to Tamatea's Cave and a possible lunch stop at Ohauora campsite.
There is plenty of time for stops and there are safe places to get out and swim. Camp at John Coull Hut and campsite.
Breakfast and on the river at 9am. A morning paddle past the Tangarakau and Whangamomona rivers, Mangawaiiti campsite, and Otumangu landing - one of the post WW1 faming settlements. Shortly afterwards we see the first pine trees since Whakahoro (planted by the early settlers), and we stop at the Mangapurua for lunch and a walk to the Bridge to Nowhere (45 min each way).
After the walk there is time for a swim before we paddle the last 1.5hrs down to Bridge to Nowhere Lodge. If the weather and time allows we also take a short walk at Tangahoe landing to the Tangahoe waterfall. Dinner and hot showers at the lodge or cabins. (Please note - book early to ensure a bed at the lodge)
After a leisurely breakfast there is a walk to the Matemateonga track and up to the Puketotara hut. View across to Mt Ruapehu. After returning to the lodge we are back on the river for a short paddle until lunch.
We pass Kahura landing and one of the locations for the filming of "River Queen". It is an hours paddle through the steep gorge until the river cascades through Ngaporo rapid and down to Ngaporo—our final campsite.
There is a big eddy to swim in, or a short paddle across the river to a waterfall for a cold shower! Dinner overlooking the river.
After breakfast we paddle past the Mangaio stream and Mangaio rock where several of the early eyebolts can still be seen that were winching points for the riverboats. Next it's the Pururoto caves and then Autapu rapid.
From Autapu there are several small rapids before the Paparoa rapids swings the canoes past the old eel traps and down to the landing at Pipiriki.
It's a fantastic trip for all ages—perfect for families and the kids will always have something to do.
Itinerary
Open AllDepart Ohakune between 7.30 and 8.00am for the river. At Ohinepane we unload canoes and barrels and show you how to pack your canoe.
The first day includes lunch at Poukaria Campsite, we paddle past the old riverboat landing at Kirikau and take a short walk at Marae Kowhai. View the Ohura falls, and the War and Peace Poles that were erected by the Hau Hau warriors. It's then a short paddle to the first nights camp at Maharanui.
The gorge starts to narrow and we leave the last road access point behind at Whakahoro—the second and final mooring point for the Houseboat. We pass Laceys and Wades landings and several old maori Kaianga.
Later in the morning we pass Mangapapa campsite, Man of War Bluff, Kirikiriroa where the river does a huge horseshoe turn, the Verandah, the Whirlpool and on down to Tamatea's Cave and a possible lunch stop at Ohauora campsite.
There is plenty of time for stops and there are safe places to get out and swim. Camp at John Coull Hut and campsite.
Breakfast and on the river at 9am. A morning paddle past the Tangarakau and Whangamomona rivers, Mangawaiiti campsite, and Otumangu landing - one of the post WW1 faming settlements. Shortly afterwards we see the first pine trees since Whakahoro (planted by the early settlers), and we stop at the Mangapurua for lunch and a walk to the Bridge to Nowhere (45 min each way).
After the walk there is time for a swim before we paddle the last 1.5hrs down to Bridge to Nowhere Lodge. If the weather and time allows we also take a short walk at Tangahoe landing to the Tangahoe waterfall. Dinner and hot showers at the lodge or cabins. (Please note - book early to ensure a bed at the lodge)
After a leisurely breakfast there is a walk to the Matemateonga track and up to the Puketotara hut. View across to Mt Ruapehu. After returning to the lodge we are back on the river for a short paddle until lunch.
We pass Kahura landing and one of the locations for the filming of "River Queen". It is an hours paddle through the steep gorge until the river cascades through Ngaporo rapid and down to Ngaporo—our final campsite.
There is a big eddy to swim in, or a short paddle across the river to a waterfall for a cold shower! Dinner overlooking the river.
After breakfast we paddle past the Mangaio stream and Mangaio rock where several of the early eyebolts can still be seen that were winching points for the riverboats. Next it's the Pururoto caves and then Autapu rapid.
From Autapu there are several small rapids before the Paparoa rapids swings the canoes past the old eel traps and down to the landing at Pipiriki.
It's a fantastic trip for all ages—perfect for families and the kids will always have something to do.
