Bridge to Nowhere @ Top Tracks.info

The walk can be accessed from either end, but will require either a canoe or jet boat at the Wanganui end, or a three to four day tramp from the other end. The site has a single lane concrete bridge built to be part of a grand central highway linking among other places, Whangamomona and Raetihi. Floods and slips saw the ambitious project shelved, leaving the bridge inaccessible, except by foot, literally in the middle of nowhere.

Where is it?

From the Whanganui River, 30 kilometres upstream from Pipiriki is Mangapurua Landing, the same place the settlers used to unload their supplies from Hattrick’s river boats.

The track climbs gently up the papa bank to a shelter, and continues mostly under cover of bush and pine trees the rest of the way to the bridge. At the three quarter mark are toilets. You will notice a sign ‘Hunters’. This is not instruction to hunters to carry out their ablutions separately! The sign indicates where the Hunter family had their farm. Further on you will see the Morgan farm location, and 15-20 past the bridge is the Bennett’s block, where a large grassy paddock is still clear of scrub. Look for the large English conifers that surround part of this.

Other artifacts and remnants can still be found and seen, but that will depend on the time you have.

Features

Bridge, farm remains, nature’s reclamation

Track Surface

From the river the track is in excellent condition, is wide and smooth and after the climb up from the river is flat.

Accessibility

It is an easy walk restricted only by the time you have.

Dangers

If you keep to the tracks you should be fine. There are some impressive drops into the river valleys to be aware of.

Additional Notes

DoC have two useful pamphlets, one has the location of all the farms, the other has more background to the area. Each cost a dollar or two.


Bridge to Nowhere
DoC recommended times and track type:
40 minutes each way
walking track
This place is historically significant (in post Treaty terms). Land was given to returned soldiers from World War One in a ‘sink or swim’ scheme. Nature and the weather won the battle to keep the land from permanent occupation. Some tried for close to thirty years to break the land in and farm it. The fascinating story can be read in Arthur Bates’ book ‘Bridge to Nowhere’. Puke Ariki in New Plymouth has several copies in the Research Centre.

The walk can be accessed from either end, but will require either a canoe or jet boat at the Wanganui end, or a three to four day tramp from the other end. The site has a single lane concrete bridge built to be part of a grand central highway linking among other places, Whangamomona and Raetihi. Floods and slips saw the ambitious project shelved, leaving the bridge inaccessible, except by foot, literally in the middle of nowhere. Where is it? From the Whanganui River, 30 kilometres upstream from Pipiriki is Mangapurua Landing, the same place the settlers used to unload their supplies from Hattrick’s river boats. The track climbs gently up the papa bank to a shelter, and continues mostly under cover of bush and pine trees the rest of the way to the bridge. At the three quarter mark are toilets. You will notice a sign ‘Hunters’. This is not instruction to hunters to carry out their ablutions separately! The sign indicates where the Hunter family had their farm. Further on you will see the Morgan farm location, and 15-20 past the bridge is the Bennett’s block, where a large grassy paddock is still clear of scrub. Look for the large English conifers that surround part of this. Other artifacts and remnants can still be found and seen, but that will depend on the time you have. Features Bridge, farm remains, nature’s reclamation Track Surface From the river the track is in excellent condition, is wide and smooth and after the climb up from the river is flat. Accessibility It is an easy walk restricted only by the time you have. Dangers If you keep to the tracks you should be fine. There are some impressive drops into the river valleys to be aware of. Additional Notes DoC have two useful pamphlets, one has the location of all the farms, the other has more background to the area. Each cost a dollar or two.
This information was gathered while on site in 2004.