3 Day Whanganui River Guided Canoe Group Tour

Experience one of New Zealand’s Great Walks by canoe. Paddle 4 – 6 hours each day through the scenic middle reaches of the river, Whakahoro to Pipiriki.

The Whanganui River is rich with Maori and European history, the largest reminder of which is the famous ‘Bridge to Nowhere’. Just as the early explorers did, you will see and experience the NZ wilderness, pondering if you have taken a step back in time. Pass through deep gorges, stunning native forest, cascading waterfalls, Tamatea’s Cave and hopefully hear a Kiwi calling, while eating dinner under the stars. For a unique cultural experience, spend the night at Tieke Marae / Kāinga, a functioning marae and hut.

The Canadian Canoes used, are well suited to negotiate the 3 largest rapids of the journey including the Ngaporo Rapid and the Autapu Rapid. No canoeing experience is necessary and all training is given on the day for a fantastic experience, suitable for the whole family and all abilities.

Emerald Lakes in Winter
Tongariro in Winter
Mt Ngauruhoe
Blue Lake

Tour Times

Summer 1 October – 31 May

Meet at the Adrift Tongariro Base: 9:00am
Return: 5.00pm

Tour starts and finishes at the Adrift Tongariro Base 53 Carroll St, National Park Village.

Trip departures available summer only (1 October – 31 May) on application and confirmation.

We endeavor to remove the risk of clients not having adequate clothing and equipment for the conditions. To achieve this we request clients to meet at the Adrift Tongariro base to improve both safety and service as this is outfitted with all equipment and clothing needs for the conditions of the day. Adrift Tongariro provides our vehicles to transport you and the guides from the Adrift Tongariro base in National Park village to the river put in, and at the end of the tour we transport you from the river take out back to the Adrift Tongariro base in National Park Village. Once you arrive back at our base you then return in your vehicle back to your accommodation. You can park your vehicle outside the Adrift Tongariro base safely, at no cost for the day.

Included

  • Guide/s
  • Transport. Between the start and end of the tour and the Adrift Tongariro base included.
  • All canoe equipment. Canoe, dry barrels for your gear, PFD’s, paddles.
  • Accommodation. Department of Conservation camping passes
  • All meals. All meals (vegetarian available on request at time of booking), nourishments and basic needs whilst on tour.
  • All cooking and camping equipment. Including tents and sleeping mats

Not Included

Accommodation transfers are not available with this tour. We recommend that clients with their own vehicles self drive to our shop. Clients can park their vehicle outside the Adrift Tongariro base safely, at no cost for the trip.

Clothing and gear hire is not included in this tour. See Fitness & Gear Requirements tab for recommended gear list and clothing and equipment available for hire from Adrift Tongariro.

Fitness Requirements

A basic level of fitness is required for this tour, no canoeing experience is required however you do need to be confident in the water. This section of the Whanganui River has 3 grade 1.5 rapids, all of which are easily navigable with directions and instructions from your guide.  There is however always a chance of a capsize which is not common but not outside our day to day management of the tour. Our guides are professional, qualified and experienced and are used to handling this and any other event we may encounter during the day. We do give a safety briefing, and paddling training, and information about what to do if you do fall out. You are wearing a life jacket so keep calm.

Gear Requirements

Summer

  • Water bottle
  • Personal medications (e.g. Asthma Inhaler, blister protection etc)
  • Sun hat, sunscreen, sunglasses
  • Covered sandals
  • Shorts
  • 1 light top and 2 warm top layers (wool, merino, thermals, fleece, soft shell etc. are good layers)
  • Waterproof raincoat
  • 1 set of spare warm clothing to change into at the end of the day (including underwear, 1 x spare warm top ,1 x pair longs and 2 pairs of socks)
  • Sleeping bag

Please be careful not to pack too much but please feel free to bring with you what you think you may need and we can scrutinize and advise that which we think is superfluous to requirements. This can then be stored securely at our base.

Gear Hire

Adrift Tongariro has available for hire personal equipment, footwear and clothing to supplement that which you don’t have and need.

Pricing

  • Boots: $20
  • Clothing items: $10 each (thermal longs, fleece longs, waterproof pants, thermal tops, fleece tops, waterproof tops)
  • Clothing accessories: $5 each (socks, gloves, warm hats, sun hats and sunglasses)
  • Day backpacks: $10 each
  • Walking poles: $5 each

Safety regarding weather, river levels and conditions are taken into consideration when allowing clients to participate in this tour. A minimum of two people are required to offer this tour. See Terms and Conditions.

3 Day Whanganui River

PREMIUM

Guided Canoe Group Tour

$ 1,495 per adult
$1,036 per child

REFUNDS AVAILABLE*

Reschedule for up to 12 months

*Subject to Terms and Conditions

Canoe equipment included
Canoe, dry barrels for your gear, PFD’s, paddles

All additional clothing hire
Available as an optional extra

Transport
Between the start and end of the tour and the Adrift Tongariro base included

Accommodation transfers
Not available with this tour

All meals, nourishments and basic needs included
All cooking and camping equipment included
Camping passes included

Interested in a private 1 day tour?
Find out more

Reconfirmation

We like to meet clients the evening prior to the trip at our base at approx 5.30pm to give them their barrels to pack their gear into. It is essential all clients phone the Adrift Tongariro base between 10:00am – 5:00pm the day prior to the trip date to confirm the tour departure time and discuss exact timings. +64 7892 2751.

What to expect on the day

Call the day before to reconfirm your tour and start time. Meet the team at the Adrift Tongariro base the evening prior to the trip at approx 5.30pm to collect your dry barrels to pack your gear into. Please note these are not guaranteed waterproof. 

The morning of the tour, clients can park their vehicle outside the Adrift Tongariro base safely, at no cost for the trip. When you arrive, our guides will check everyone in, go over the trip conditions and assess and provide the required equipment, and additional clothing and boots if needed. Once we meet you, you are under our guidance so you can then relax and enjoy the journey with Adrift. 

We will then transport you and the guides from the Adrift Tongariro base in National Park Village to the river put in. Here we give a safety briefing, and paddling training, and information about what to do if you do fall out. 1 hour after arriving we start the journey. See below for a description of the journey. 

At the end of the tour we transport you back to the Adrift Tongariro base in National Park Village. Once you arrive back at our base you then return in your vehicle back to your accommodation.

Adrift Tongariro Base
53 Carroll Street
National Park 3948

River information

Total distance: 88km (54.7 miles)
Paddling time: 4 – 6 hours each day
Rapid grading: 3 grade 1.5 rapids including Ngaporo Rapid and Autapu Rapid

River Section: Whakahoro to Pipiriki

Route Description 

Day 1 – Whakahoro to John Coull Hut: 6 hours, 37.5 km
Long stretches of the middle section of the river are calm and still. You’ll travel through towering gorges, the sides dripping with moss and ferns and past numerous waterfalls. After navigating the Tarepokiore (whirlpool) rapid we will be passing the large overhang known as Tamateas Cave at approx 4 hours.  Please do not enter the cave as it is wāhi tapu (a sacred place).

Day 2 –  John Coull Hut to Tīeke Marae:  5 hours, 29 km
The Tāngarākau and Whangamōmona rivers join the Whanganui on this stretch. Continue your trip downstream stopping at the Mangapurua Landing to walk to the Bridge to Nowhere (1.5 hour return walk). Afterwards, you’ll continue on to Tīeke Kāinga. Learn about the history of Tīeke and the protocol of the marae.

Day 3 –  Tīeke Marae to Pipiriki:  4 hours, 21.5 km
We will successfully negotiate the 3 largest rapids of the journey including the Ngaporo Rapid and the Autapu Rapid. At Pipiriki, we will be met by our transport which will take us back to the Adrift Tongariro base by 5:00 pm.

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