The Whanganui Journey is a 145 km canoe trip down the Whanganui River in the central North Island. You can also do shorter trips.

Trip style options

This trip is very different to other Great Walks – it’s a canoe trip, not a hike. Think carefully about whether you have the skills and experience needed. 

Guided paddling trips

Many businesses run guided paddling trips. These are an excellent option for anyone, and we strongly recommend that less experienced or solo travellers take the guided option rather than paddling independently.

Unguided paddling trips

You can hire canoes and paddle the trip without a guide, but this is only suitable for people with canoeing skills and experience.

To paddle the Whanganui Journey without a guide, you should:

• be a confident swimmer
• have experience in a canoe – this is not a trip for beginners
• be fit enough to paddle for 6 to 7 hours in a day (in low river flows this will be 8+ hours)
• be over the age of 10
• have at least two people in your group, plus enough adults to look after any children and teens if something goes wrong.

If you aren’t an experienced canoe user or are travelling alone, book a guided trip instead. If you can’t swim or aren’t fit enough, don’t risk paddling.

Jet boat tours

You can experience part of the Whanganui Journey and the Bridge to Nowhere without going in a canoe, by taking a jet boat trip. This is a great option for people short on time or who do not have the skills or fitness to canoe the river. Many businesses run jet boat trips.

Trip length options

You can paddle all or part of the Whanganui Journey:

• The full Whanganui Journey is 145 km, from Taumarunui to Pipiriki. It takes an average of 5 days to canoe.
• A popular shorter version is 88 km, from Whakahoro to Pipiriki. This is the most scenic section of the river and takes an average of 3 days to canoe.
• Businesses offer various 2-day and 1-day trips on sections of the river, some including jet boat trips.