Paddled by canoe or kayak from Ohinepane or Taumarunui down to Pipiriki, this 145km route is the only one of New Zealand's nine Great Walks that travels by water rather than on foot. Most of the river is gentle Grade I-II rapids, manageable for beginners on a guided trip, and a 3-5 day itinerary is typical. The Whanganui River holds deep significance to the Whanganui iwi, who secured legal personhood for the river itself (Te Awa Tupua), and the journey passes historical settlement traces including the Bridge to Nowhere.
