Blazing Adventures – Whanganui River Canoe Adventures Self Guided
Blazing Adventures - Whanganui River Canoeing Trips
Make your own amazing trip down New Zealand's famous Whanganui River.
Our Taumarunui base, located on the Whanganui River in New Zealand’s Central Plateau, provides a great picturesque environment with canoe trips to fit your schedule. Contact us to book your Whanganui River trip and enjoy our complimentary door-to-river transfer shuttle service, from our super short splash and dash to the memorable Ohinepane to Pipiriki four day voyage or the ultimate five day expedition.
Glenn and Raewyn Martin own and run Blazing Paddles Canoe Adventures. The company has relocated 200 metres north to 985 State Highway 4, Piriaka.
We’ve earned a reputation for arriving early and getting you home faster than other operators. We offer new trailers, excellent canoes and kayaks, drums, and dry bags.
Whanganui Canoeing Trip Options:
All Canoe Tours include:
- Personal Locator Beacon
- Storage drums and dry bags
- A hot or cold refreshment at the end of your journey
.
- Secure vehicle storage
- Hot shower on return to base
Cooking and camping equipment is available for hire.
Blazing Paddles - Splash N Dash
Price: $125 per person
Departs: 8:30 am
Duration: one day
Starting in Cherry Grove in Taumarunui (known to the local Maori as Ngahuinga), you’ll paddle up the upper Whanganui River to Ohinepane, encountering several rapids along the route. For those with limited time, you may also stop at the lavender farm along the road for a cup of tea! A fantastic day of canoeing may be enjoyed by starting at Cherry Grove in Taumarunui and ending at Ohinepane, with over 50 of the 249 designated rapids on this segment. Another one-day trip is possible from Ohinepane to Whakahoro (about six hours).
Blazing Paddles - Overnighter Two Day Paddle
Price: $200 per person
Departs: 8:30 am
Duration: Two days / One night
A two day paddle, starting at Cherry Grove, Taumarunui (known to the local Maori as Ngahuinga) you’ll paddle along the upper Whanganui River to Whakahoro. Overnight camping at the beautiful Ohinepane Camping Ground (Toilet facilities at site).
Whanganui National Park Highlights
Price: $225 per person
Departs: 8:30 am
Duration: Three days / 2 nights.
Our most popular activity. Starting at Whakahoro, you’ll paddle through the spectacular Whanganui National Park, enjoying the rapids and mirror pools of the Whanganui River all the way to Pipiriki.
Includes one night’s accommodation at River Rock Cottage near the Whanganui River at the Blazing Adventures base before to your trip.
Blazing Paddles - Awesome Ohinepane
Price: $200 per person
Departs: 8:30 am
Duration: Four days / Three nights
A four day paddle, starting at Ohinepane you’ll travel though the beautiful Whanganui National Park experiencing the rapids and mirror pools of the Whanganui River through to Pipiriki.
Includes one night accomodation prior to your experience at River Rock Cottage beside the Whanganui River at the Blazing Paddles base.
Whanganui River Ultimate Experience
Price: $225 per person
Departs: 8:30 am
Duration: Five day 4 nights
A five day paddle, starting at Cherry Grove, Taumarunui (known to the local M?ori as Ng?huinga) you’ll travel though the beautiful Whanganui National Park experiencing the rapids and mirror pools of the Whanganui River through to Pipiriki.
Includes one night accomodation prior to your experience at River Rock Cottage beside the Whanganui River at the Blazing Adventures base.
Blazing Paddles - Te Araroa Walkers
Price: $300 per person
Departs: 8:30 am
Duration: six to eight day paddle.
A six, seven or eight day paddle, starting from your choice of either Taumarunui, Ohinepane or Whakahoro you’ll travel though the beautiful Whanganui National Park experiencing the rapids and mirror pools of the Whanganui River through to Wanganui.
Includes one night accomodation prior to your experience at River Rock Cottage beside the Whanganui River at the Blazing Paddles base.
Client pickup available from iSite or New World in Taumarunui or from National Park. Pack/Food storage available.
Accommodation on the Whanganui River:
The Whanganui River has only campsites from Taumarunui to Whakahoro, with the exception of the John Coull Hut and Tieke Marae, which are augmented by campsites. Whakahoro has a hut, however it is solely for sleeping, with separate cooking shelters outside. Canoeists must bring their own pots, plates, and dining utensils to cook on at John Coull Hut.
Every two hours after Ohinepane, there is a campsite with a shelter that serves as a water catcher and a toilet. Each campground has a storage capacity of around 5000 litres of fresh water. It is not feasible to free camp alongside the Whanganui River, and DOC hut or campground reservations must be obtained prior to navigating the river.
It is now possible to book a bed in the DOC huts and at the Tieke Marae. We request you make your own DOC bookings online.
You can also book into the private Whio Lodge or Steele’s shearing quarters at Whakahoro and they will help you transport your gear up from the river.
The private Ramanui Campsite opposite Tieke Marae has a 6-bed hut, or campsites. The hut can be booked directly with the Bridge to Nowhere Lodge at 0800 480 308 or by email.
From Pipiriki onwards you can organise your campsites as you go with a variety of options available, Whanganui River Adventures have Camping and cabins in Pipiriki, further down is Jerusalem, then a campsite at Ranana, The Flying Fox, Koriniti, Downes Hut, Atene, Parekino and Finishing at the Top 10 Holiday Park in Whanganui.
If you require further information please contact us on
Phone: o800 485 584 Email: info@mustdonewzealand.co.nz
