View source for Whanganui Journey

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox hiking trail
| name        = Whanganui Journey
| embed       = 
| cellstyle   = 
| photo       = Whanganui Journey.jpg
| photo_size  = 270px
| photo_alt   = 
| caption     = Canoes at the confluence of the [[Ongarue River|Ongarue]] and [[Whanganui River]] at the beginning of the Whanganui Journey
| title       = 
| established = 
| began       = 
| completed   = 
| closed_date = 
| length_km   = 145
| location    = [[Manawatū-Whanganui]], [[New Zealand]]
| designation = [[New Zealand Great Walks|New Zealand Great Walk]]
| trailheads  = [[Taumarunui]] to [[Pipiriki]]
| use         = [[Canoeing]] and [[kayaking]]
| elev_change = {{convert|89|m|ft|}} drop
| highest     = [[Taumarunui]]
| highest_m   = 144
| lowest      = [[Pipiriki]]
| lowest_m    = 55
| grade       = [[International scale of river difficulty|Class II]]
| difficulty  = 
| season      = Late October to mid-April
| months      = 
| waymark     = 
| sights      = 
| hazards     = 
| surface     = 
| ROW         = 
| maintainer  = 
| website     = [https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/manawatu-whanganui/places/whanganui-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/whanganui-journey/ Whanganui Journey]
| map         = Whanganui-NP-map.jpg
| map_name    = 
| map_caption = Whanganui National Park
| map_size    = 270px
| map_alt     = 
| route       = 
| route_state = 
}}

The '''Whanganui Journey''' is a [[river journey]] along the [[Whanganui River]] in the [[North Island]] of [[New Zealand]], travelling by [[canoe]] or [[kayak]]. The route runs from [[Taumarunui]] to [[Pipiriki]], is 145&nbsp;km long and usually takes 5 days to complete. It is managed by New Zealand's [[New Zealand Department of Conservation|Department of Conservation]] under its [[New Zealand Great Walks|Great Walks]] programme, and much of the route travels through land that is part of the [[Whanganui National Park]].

==Route description==
The route is broken into sections that are stretches of river between campsites or huts.
* Taumarunui to Ohinepane : 21.5&nbsp;km
* Ohinepane to Poukaria : 14&nbsp;km
* Poukaria to Maharanui : 17.5&nbsp;km
* Maharanui to [[Whakahoro]] : 5&nbsp;km
* Whakahoro to Mangapapa : 10&nbsp;km
* Mangapapa to Ohauora : 15&nbsp;km
* Ohauora to John Coull Hut : 12.5&nbsp;km
* John Coull Hut to Mangawaiiti : 9.5&nbsp;km
* Mangawaiiti to Mangapurua, including the [[Bridge to Nowhere (New Zealand)|Bridge to Nowhere]] : 9&nbsp;km
* Mangapurua to [[Tieke Kāinga|Tieke]] : 10.5&nbsp;km
* Tieke to Ngāporo : 12&nbsp;km
* Ngāporo to Pipiriki : 9.5&nbsp;km

During normal weather conditions the [[rapids]] on the river will not exceed [[International Scale of River Difficulty#Class/Grade II|grade II]]. As a result, there are several tour operators that offer a variety of trip combinations covering all or part of the route.

Although the Great Walk route ends at Pipiriki, the river is navigable for a further 89&nbsp;km and some canoeists continue, to exit at the main bridge in [[Wanganui|Whanganui]], which takes a further two days. Because the river is tidal closer to Whanganui, canoeists doing so need to leave Hipango Park on an outgoing tide.

==Accommodation==
[[Image:John coull hut.jpg|thumb|John Coull Hut]]

Accommodation on the route is in a combination of huts and campsites, which must be booked. River users must purchased a Facilities User Pass (FUP) if travelling on the river between 1 October and 30 April. It is cheaper to purchase the FUP before going on the river. They are available from the various operators, DOC in Whanganui, or from local Visitor Information Centres. There are different rates for different age groups, and for jetboaters.  Most tour operators/canoe hire places will organize camp sites when travellers book with them, and they supply all safety equipment, a map, and transport to/from either end.

==References==
*New Zealand Recreational Canoeing Association Guide to the Whanganui River (16th Edition, November 2005)

==External links==
*[https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/manawatu-whanganui/places/whanganui-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/whanganui-journey/ Department of Conservation information on the Whanganui Journey]

{{NZ Great Walks}}
{{Whanganui}}

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[[Category:Protected areas of Manawatū-Whanganui]]
[[Category:Whanganui River]]