Step back in time and into nature as we venture deep into the heart of Whanganui National Park for a truly unforgettable experience – A visit to the legendary Bridge to Nowhere.
Soldiers returning from WWI were balloted land in the isolated Mangapurua Valley. But with no road access the hard life and meagre income that the rugged land offered up was near impossible to endure. Through the 1920s many of the families up the valley simply walked off their land. And by the time the government got around to completing the promised permanent bridge across the stream in 1936, finally giving road access, there were few families left farming there. When funds for the maintenance of the road to the bridge were declined in 1942 the remaining families packed up and left. In the decades since, the bush has reclaimed the farmland and the road in as well. Only the bridge itself, now seemingly sitting in pristine wilderness, remains as a reminder of human occupation. Here’s a summary of our trip into this ‘other-worldly’ place;
Day 1: Our adventure begins with a leisurely drive to Ohakune, taking in morning tea at Kuripapango, a delicious lunch stop at Flat Hills, and a pause at the poignant Tangiwai Memorial before settling into the elegant Powderhorn Chateau.
Day 2: Today we journey by jet boat up the Whanganui River, with its steep banks of native bush, to the start of an easy 50-minute guided walk to the mysterious bridge that stands as a monument to dreams abandoned and communities lost to time. After a picnic lunch beside the bridge, when we’ll hear stories from our local expert whose family were involved in its construction, we return via river to Pipiriki and drive the River Road to visit the beautiful historic church of St Joseph’s at the isolated riverside settlement of Jerusalem before returning to our accommodation in Ohakune.
Day 3: On our final day, we collect a sweet treat from the iconic Johnny Nation’s Bakery in Ohakune, to enjoy with our picnic lunch beside Lake Taupō, and journey home, full of stories and memories.
