Please Note: Mangapurua / Bridge to Nowhere Track is closed - Reopens 21 October 2022
Grade - Level 3
- Full Day
Mountain Biking
Mangapurua / Bridge to Nowhere Track
Whanganui National Park
“If you only have the chance to do one adventure ride this year,
this is the North Island’s best.
There are several ways to tackle this ride.
We really enjoyed the full round trip.”
Simon, Jonathan and Paul Kennett
These trips have been developed and packaged by Bridge to Nowhere with track information provided by the Kennett Brothers.
For other books on other great mountain bike rides visit www.kennett.co.nz
This is a really big day so best to start early around 8.00 am. Leave your vehicle safely parked at the Raetihi Holiday Park. Cycle 40km down a back country road to the start of the track. The first half to the Ruatiti Domain is mostly downhill-fast fun on a sealed road. Then the road narrows and breaks into gravel. Allow yourself 1.5 – 2 hours to reach the signpost start of “Mangapurua Road”. Alternatively for a shorter ride, Bridge to Nowhere Tours can drop you and your bike off at the start of the Track.
All going well, it should take you about 3 – 5 hours to ride the next 38km along the Mangapurua Track to the Bridge to Nowhere. From the start of the track head left through a gate and cruise up a well graded 4 km climb. Look over your shoulder at the second gate – the views are stunning on a clear day! This is the one big climb of the day but it’s a piece of cake really. After an hour you will reach a letterbox and see a “National Park” sign ahead. The track is a paper road so it’s OK to continue riding.
About 2km from the letterbox, you will reach a Y-intersection and must go left. Continue rolling along the ridge and you’ll soon reach a sign posted walking track on your left that goes up to the Mangapurua Trig.
Prepare for the technical downhill into the valley. Make sure you veer right at the “Stafford” sign. Half an hour after that sign you will reach a large clearing in the valley that is a good place for a rest and regroup. From this point on it is all basically flat riding to the river. You will pass sites of abandoned farms that are signposted with the names of the original settlers. These names also serve as an indication of where you are on the track map we supply you, and how far you have to ride!
The Bridge itself quite aptly appears out of nowhere. There is a lookout track 100 metres on from the bridge and then toilets a few hundred metres further on. The ride down to the Mangapurua Landing and the Whanganui River takes about 15 minutes.
From the Mangapurua Landing catch the yellow Bridge to Nowhere jet boat this will take you down to Pipiriki. You can ride back to Raetihi or Bridge to Nowhere can organise a shuttle back up to Raetihi and your vehicle.
- Full Day
Mountain to Sea
$95 per person
Minimum numbers apply and group discounts are available
Have a great day riding the Mangapurua Track. At a pre determined time we will pick you and your bike up at the Mangapurua Landing and jet boat you down river to Pipiriki. You can then carry on to your next destination!
Part of what is the Mountain to Sea cycle-way trail this track is a fantastic one or two day trip.
Depending on fitness levels and group size, this track takes between 5 and 7 hours to cycle.
We’ve got a range of options available including transport and accommodation to assist in organising your trip. With accommodation bases in both Raetihi (Raetihi Holiday Park 0800 40 88 88) and at the river end of the bike trail, (Bridge to Nowhere Lodge 0800 480 308) and a jet boat transfer service we are able to look after all your transport and accommodation requirements.
Trips arranged through us depart from our base at the Raetihi Holiday Park on SH4 top of the Parapara Scenic Highway.
At the start of the ride you will be given a tour map indicating approximate times, places of interest and historic sites to see. Later that day at a pre determined time, Bridge to Nowhere Tours will meet you at the Mangapurua Landing and transport both you and your bikes back to Pipiriki or the lodge if you wish to stay the night. Our jet boats have been specially modified to carry your bikes safely!
- Full Day
Butt Buster
$125 per person
Minimum numbers apply and group discounts are availableLeave your vehicle safely parked at the Raetihi Holiday Park. Ride from there 40km through back country roads down the Ruatiti to the start of the Mangapurua Track. At the end of the track meet the Bridge to Nowhere yellow jet boat at the Mangapurua Landing and we will jet boat you and your bike down river to Pipiriki. Our shuttle van will then take you back to your vehicle at the Raetihi Holiday Park. You will be riding 75 km with this option.
- Full Day
The Rambler
$160 per person
Minimum numbers apply and group discounts are availableLeave your car safely parked at the Raetihi Holiday Park and along with your bike, catch our shuttle bus down the Ruatiti Valley to the start of the Mangapurua Track.
At the end of your ride meet our big yellow jet boat at the Mangapurua Landing and we will jet you and your bike back down river to Pipiriki. From Pipiriki you will then transported back to your car at the Raetihi Holiday Park.. You will be riding 35 km with this option.
