Mangapurua/Kaiwhakauka valleys
Introduction
Historic bridge, grassy flats and old chimneys stacks. These, along with small stand of exotic trees which mark the sites of settlers homes are revealed to visitors of these valley settlements.
The popular Mangapurua and Kaiwhakauka tracks provide an interesting three day tramp through the area.
Location
The Mangapurua/Kaiwhakauka valleys are located in the Whanganui National Park.
Getting there
The best way is to take a jet boat from Whakahoro down the historic Whanganui River to the Mangapurua Landing and begin the walk up the Mangapurua Valley from here. At the end of the valley follow the Kaiwhakauka Valley back to Whakahoro.
Features
Historic Mangapurua Valley
Visit this valley where a rehabilitation farming settlement was established for returned serviceman.
Both the Mangapurua and Kaiwhakuka valleys were rehabilitation settlements where land was offered to returned soldiers following World War 1. The endeavours of these pioneers have provided a unique historic quality to this area. The pioneer settlers cleared the land of its forest and transformed it into farmland. At the peak of settlement there were 30 farms in the Mangapurua and 16 in the Kaiwhakauka.
Problems such as poor access, bad erosion and falling prices for stock during the Depression years forced most of the settlers to abandon their farms. The few remaining farmers were forced to leave in 1942 when the government, short of money, refused to maintain the flood damaged road.
Today this isolated valley is regenerating in native forest, but there are still signs of the original settlement for visitors to the area to see.
Bridge to Nowhere
Bridge to Nowhere, Mangapurua Valley
This large concrete bridge is an icon within the Whanganui National Park and a major visitor destination.
The bridge was constructed in the mid-1930s to provide road access to the lower and middle valley farms known as the Mangapurua Valley Soldiers Settlement.
By the time it was completed these areas of the Mangapurua Valley were deserted, the bridge rarely used and the construction of the road to the Whanganui River abandoned.
The “Bridge to Nowhere” is the largest and most intact structure relating to the former Mangapurua Valley Soldiers Settlement and has an Historic Places Trust Category I listing. The bridge remains as a trampers’ bridge at the southern access point to the Mangapurua Valley.
There are two ways to access the bridge site, either by a gentle 40 minute walk from the Mangapurua Landing on the Whanganui River, or by a two day tramp from Whakahoro Hut to the north via the Kaiwhakauka and Mangapurua Valleys.
Tracks and walks
This track leads from Whakahoro up the Kaiwhakauka Valley past the Mangapurua Trig and then descends through the Mangapurua Valley to meet the Whanganui River at the Mangapurua Landing, 30km upstream from Pipiriki.
The 3 km Bridge to Nowhere Walk takes about one and a half hours return. It follows the Mangapurua Stream to the bridge from the Mangapurua Landing on the Whanganui River.
Places to stay
This is a 10-bunk bunkroom associated with Whakahoro Campsite located on the Whanganui Journey in the Whanganui area.
Whakahoro Hut at the northern end of the Kaiwhakauku Valley is the only hut in the locality.
Although no there are no other huts in these valleys, there is an abundance of ideal campsites on open grassy flats and small side streams provide ample water.
Where practical and to minimise impacts we recommend camping at sites where DOC has provided toilets.
Plan and prepare
This area only has one hut so you need to be equipped for camping and weather changes.
If you are accessing or exiting walks from the southern end, you will need to make arrangements with one of the jet boat operators for transport.
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