Whanganui-River-Road-Guide-Web

WHANGANUI RIVER ROAD GUIDE visitwhanganui.nz2 visitwhanganui.nz Haere mai ki Whanganui Welcome to Whanganui A visit to the Whanganui River and the road which winds beside it into the Whanganui National Park is a special and authentic journey for visitors. The Whanganui River, Te Awa o Whanganui, and the Whanganui River Road are two interrelated journeys. The Whanganui River Road follows the lower reaches of the Whanganui River from Pīpīriki to Whanganui and is the only scenic driving route alongside a river in New Zealand with such richness of cultural and natural heritage.3 This intimate and scenic 64-kilometre road leads to the Whanganui National Park, and enables travellers to visit small river communities and experience a pace of life which is unique in contrast to much of the rest of the country. The road is narrower than the main highway and follows a winding route, which requires slower driving speed than usual. There are stunning views of the river along much of the road’s length and of particular interest are the many beautifully preserved marae (gathering places) which are usually visible from the road. Please respect all marae and urupā (cemetery) – entry to view marae must be arranged in advance as permission is required to visit these treasured places.4 visitwhanganui.nz Contents History. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 The Whanganui River Te Awa o Whanganui . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 How the Whanganui River was created . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Our woven rope, our sacred river . . . . . . 9 Whanganui River Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Ways to experience the Whanganui River Road. . . . . . . 10 Mountains to Sea Cycle Trail – Ngā Ara Tūhono . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Te Araroa – New Zealand’s Walking Trail . . . . . . . . . . 11 Whanganui National Park . . . . . . . . . . . 12 5 Whanganui River Road: Points of Interest. . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 SH4 and Whanganui River Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Aramoana Viewpoint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Pungarehu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Parikino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Oyster Cliffs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Ātene (Athens) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Ātene Skyline walk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Downes Hut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Otumaire campsite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Hand dug culvert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Koriniti (Corinth) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Matahiwi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Kawana Flour Mill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Rānana (London) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Moutoa Island . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Hiruhārama (Jerusalem) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Ōmorēhu waterfall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Pīpīriki . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236 visitwhanganui.nz From its origins high on magnificent Mt Tongariro, the awa (river) travels towards Taumarunui, then winds south through the Whanganui National Park. For more than 800 years, Māori have lived here, building marae and kāinga (villages), cultivating sheltered river terraces and engaging with the forests. Numerous marae still exist along the river, and the river is home to many descendants of the original inhabitants. European settlers followed in search of a new life in New Zealand and opportunities and in the late 1800s and early 1900s the river became a major visitor attraction, with people enjoying leisurely river boat cruises. The Whanganui River became internationally known as the ‘Rhine of New Zealand.’ HistoryHistory 7 The Whanganui River Te Awa o Whanganui In Māori culture important geographic features are personified. In Whanganui, the river is revered as a kuia, or grandmother, although the tumbling rapids often reveal her male side. As a woman, she feeds her children and gives them life, drawing them to her and uniting them in times of need. As her children say — “E rere kau mai te Awa nui, mai i te Kāhui Maunga ki Tangaroa. Ko au te Awa, ko te Awa ko au” “The river flows from the mountains to the sea. I am the river and the river is me.” How the Whanganui River was created After stowing away on his older brothers’ fishing expedition, the legendary figure of the South Pacific, Maui-tikitiki, used his grandmother’s sacred jawbone to haul up Hāha-te-Whenua, a writhing landmass which later became known as Te Ika-ā-Māui, The Great Fish of Māui, or the North Island. This fish had great mana (power) and could only be subdued by something of greater mana. Ranginui, the Sky Father, placed Matua te Mana (Mt Ruapehu) in the centre of the great fish, easing its thrashing and struggling.8 visitwhanganui.nz For a long while, Mt Ruapehu stood in solitude, aching with loneliness. Seeing his pain, Ranginui gifted him with two teardrops to flow from his feet, one being Te Awanui-a-Rua, the Whanganui River. This is the reason why Whanganui tribes refer to Ruapehu as the main mountain and Whanganui as their river. But Ruapehu was still lonely, so Ranginui created four Ruapehu companions of his own kind – Te Kāhui Maunga of the Mountain Clan, placing Tongariro, Taranaki, Ngāuruhoe and the mountain maiden Pihanga by Ruapehu’s side. Tongariro then became the guardian of the Whanganui River and Ruapehu the guardian of the second teardrop. Pihanga was given in marriage to Tongariro and from them came forth the remainder of the mountains throughout the North Island. However, Pihanga was tempted by Taranaki, causing Tongariro distress. Consequently, Ruapehu, the grandfather of the clan, instructed Taranaki to leave the area least there be trouble. So Taranaki drew away from the clan, leaving a shadow of his memory on a humble hill in the hinterland, and followed the teardrop of the Whanganui River. As he followed the river downstream, he widened the channel to make it what it is today. When he arrived at the coast he turned northward and settled on the plains where he now stands. These days, from high points around the western half of the North Island you can see Taranaki looking towards the mountain clan he left behind in the centre of the island.History 9 Our woven rope, Our sacred river “He Muka nā te Taurawhiri-a-Hinengākau.” “I am a strand of the sacred woven rope of Hinengākau.” Hinengākau, along with her brothers Tama-ūpoko and Tūpoho, is one of many prominent ancestors on the river. The lower river reaches sit under the mantle of Tūpoho. Whanganui River Road The Whanganui River Road was completed in 1934 following 30 years of construction. It opened the Whanganui River valley to a new world, but changed the river itself forever. Sadly, during construction it desecrated a number of sites sacred to the Whanganui tribes. Originally, many Whanganui River marae were on the true right of the river. These settlements were protected from the elements and enjoyed the warm morning sun. With the opening of the road on the true left, time saw the gradual shift of many marae to the road side of the river. Prior to the 1930s almost all access to these remote settlements was from boats operating along the Whanganui River.10 visitwhanganui.nz Today, the Whanganui River valley is still a major attraction for visitors and locals, and offers unrivalled opportunities for walking, cycling, hunting and tramping in a pristine wilderness, as well as a full range of activities on the water, including jetboat trips and single and multi-day canoeing. The Whanganui River valley offers many places to stay and relax, to experience the relationship of the local people to the river, to learn the stories and enjoy the beauty and serenity of the area. The Whanganui River and Whanganui River Road can be explored in many different ways, by vehicle, bike, jetboat, canoe or on foot. You may want to explore the area in your own private vehicle or join tours run by local operators. Please contact the i-SITE in Whanganui for more information. Ways to experience the Whanganui River Road