10 Day Guided river tour (234km) with Yeti Tours

Have you ever wanted to follow in the footsteps of great explorers in history?

Well now you can by canoeing the entire length of the Whanganui River with Yeti Tours

Starting: Cherry Grove, Taumarunui
Ending: Whanganui
Distance: 234 kms
Number of days: 10 days
Running 10th January - 10th February and the 10th March (minimum numbers required)

What to Expect:

Upper Section

During the first few days you will experience some exhilarating grade 2 rapids as this part of the river has slightly more gradient. You will pass by a lot of rural farm land and through some deep gorges. During the first few days you will see/visit:

Laurens Lavendar Farm, where you will be able to have a glorious afternoon tea in the beautiful surroundings of the lavender
The Nukunuku Museum which houses a collection of artefacts obtained from the river, some of which date back 100s of years
The Maraekowhai Niu Poles that were erected during the times of the Hauhau wars, there is one war pole and a peace pole
Groyne Walls are still abundant in this section of the river from the days when the river boats used to travel from Whanganui to Taumaranui.

Middle Section

On this section you will be paddling through the Whanganui national park, there is not a road in days and the river bank is cloaked in dense native bush. The river easies off a little here and although there are still a few rapids, you will have more time to absorb your surroundings as you paddle down the river. On this section you will see/visit:

Kirikiriroa was one of many old Maori village sites that you will pass on your journey down the middle section
Tamatea Cave where the great explorer Tamatea sheltered from a storm
John Coull Hut
Bridge to Nowhere full of history from early settlers in that area
Tieke Kainga, one of many Maraes on the river
The “Drop Scene and Puraroto Caves
Pipiriki Marae complete with traditional welcome and a nights stay there

Bottom Section

This dramatic landscape opens out in the lower reaches of the river to follow rolling farmland and open valleys to the coastal dunes and cliffs which border the Tasman Sea to the west. Here you will visit/see:

Jeruslaem – The Old Roman catholic mission church. This was a mission headquarters of mother Mary Aubert and the home of a
commune led by the late James K Baxter (a famous writer)
Pass the battle site of Moutoa Island
Kawana flour mills which were restored in 1980
Koriniti – Formerly a large settlement