Whanganui River Road

Whanganui River Road Review

For those without the time or inclination to travel by kayak or jet boat an excellent option is to explore the river's lower reaches by following the Whanganui River Road from the city of Wanganui. Built in the 1930s to provide access to communities otherwise reliant on the then-less-frequent riverboat services, the road runs for 79 km (49 mi) north, as far as Pipiriki. It's a narrow backcountry road that is unpaved in stretches, although there are ongoing upgrades. Paved or not, be sure to keep left and take it slowly.