The Bridge to Nowhere: A journey through Whanganui river history

You may have seen the iconic image of the Bridge to Nowhere in the build up to your Whanganui River Canoe Tour. Join us as we uncover the secrets of this hidden gem and find out how you can experience this slice of history for yourself.

Alternatively, you could take a private group river trip and customise the adventure to your group’s liking. By doing so, you can explore the rich history of the Whanganui River on your own terms!

The History of the Bridge to Nowhere

During World War one, the New Zealand government offered land in the Mangapurua and Kaiwhakauka valleys to returned servicemen as part of a soldier settlement scheme. Untouched Forest was then cleared, farms were established and in 1917, the first pioneer settlers started taking up the available plots of land. Initially, a wooden swing bridge was was constructed across the Mangapurua stream in 1919 whilst the settlers waited for a more solid bridge. In the meantime, this temporary bridge helped to connect the settlers and their families to the riverboats bringing goods, cattle and mail upstream. Remnants of the old swing bridge (Morgan's bridge) can still be seen from the concrete bridge today.

The rise and the fall of the Mangapurua valley

At it’s peak, there were 30 farms in the Mangapurua valley and 16 in Kaiwhakauka. For a number of years, these farms and the community as a whole, Thrived.  But life was hard for the settlers, and although they persevered, the terrain was unstable, the weather unpredictable, the land mostly infertile and physical labour was tough. Along with the remoteness and isolation causing a lack of access.  The brief postwar recovery in New Zealand sharply declined in 1921 and then followed the economic hardship that came with the great depression. All of these factors caused hardworking families to begin to leave the area.

Construction of the concrete bridge

Meanwhile, local Raetihi firm Sandford & Brown were still getting to work on the much anticipated concrete bridge to replace the wooden swing one. When it was finally completed in 1936 at the labour cost of 598 pounds, 11shillings and 7 pence, it was 130ft long and sitting proudly 125ft above the Mangapurua Stream. The bridge got 6 more years of use before the government officially abandoned the whole settlement in 1942 after a storm badly damaged local access roads and they decided they could no longer pay for the upkeep.

The valley of abandoned dreams.

This haunting nickname was given to the area as the native forest grew back and other than the Bridge itself, there were no obvious signs the area was ever occupied. Many years later, and In the present day it is now a major tourist attraction. In a cruel sense of irony, it gets more use now that when it was first built.

How to get to the Bridge: Canoe Tours, bikes and jetboats

Visitors nowadays are spoilt for choice when it comes to experience this unique piece of history for themselves. The full day Mangapurua mountain Bike track starts at either Whakahoro or just outside of Raetihi and leads you into the Mangapurua valley to the Bridge itself. This logistically has many components with having to organise shuttles and jetboats.  Alternatively you can seek out a jetboat company to take you there and back from Pipriki taking approximately half a day.

Bridge to Nowhere Canoe tours

Why not mix history with a little bit of adventure and relaxation?  Paddle your way to the bridge whilst learning about the rest of the rich history of the Whanganui River as you make your way there. By the time you arrive at the bridge, it will have been referenced by your guide many times over already, you will have spoken about it over a glass of wine or cup of tea at the end of the day with your campmates and the sense of accomplishment when you arrive together will be unparalleled. All of Canoe Safaris Whanganui River Tours include a stop at the Bridge. In fact, we plan it perfectly by choosing to camp directly opposite the Mangapurua landing the night before, so we are primed to be the first people there the following day to avoid the crowds!

Choosing the right canoe tour for you.

Our 4 and 5 Day Whanganui River Tours are taken at a more relaxed pace than our 3 Day Tour, so we recommend the 4 Day Whanganui Tour if you want to cover 90km in the heart of the national park, or we recommend the 5 Day Whanganui River Trip if you want to make the most of your time on the whole Whanganui Journey and really learn about ALL of the history. We also offer a 2 Day Jetboat and canoe combo for those short on time!

Visiting the Bridge and what to expect

When you paddle your canoe up to the Mangapurua Landing, your guide will direct you where to pull your canoe in, then you will walk the 40 minutes along an easy, flat and well maintained Department of conservation (DOC) track to the awe inspiring concrete structure. Take some time to read the information boards here, listen as your guide regales you with further stories and facts. Look over the sides to the 125ft drop to the Mangapurua stream below. And then simply stop for a moment, close your eyes and imagine the lives of the hardworking settlers many moons ago and how they waited so long for this bridge to be built.

Best times to visit the Bridge to Nowhere 

Weather and river level dependent, The Bridge can be accessed year round via jetboat. We recommend waiting for the The Whanganui River Canoe Season which starts in October and ends in April each year.

Why visit this historical landmark? 

Maintaining a link to our past is essential, going out of your way to learn about what has shaped the Whanganui River, and New Zealand ensures that future generations will continue to do the same. This simple concrete bridge symbolises a failed attempt at back country pioneering by community of returned WW1 servicemen and their families. When we not only think about their hardship it gives us a whole new appreciation for life, but seeing in person adds a whole extra level of appreciation.

See History Like Never Before with Canoe Safaris

The Whanganui River is filled with stories and history, So come with Canoe Safaris and experience the history of the Whanganui River from a different perspective.

Whether you are a history buff, or an outdoor enthusiast, joining a Whanganui River Canoe Trip with Canoe Safaris including a stop at the mesmerizing Bridge to Nowhere will definitely be a trip that goes down in your own history books as one to remember.

Get in touch and Book your tour today.

Posted by Canoe Safaris on November 01, 2024