Mountain Biking the Mangapurua/Bridge to Nowhere Track
Bridge to Nowhere
Whanganui National park
Grade 4
If you only have the chance to do one adventure ride this year, this is the North Island’s best.

The Track
This is a really big day so best to start early around
8.00am. From Raetihi Holiday Park cycle 40km down a back country road to the start of the track. The first half to Ruatiti Domain is mostly downhill-fast fun on a sealed road. Then the road narrows and breaks into gravel. Allow yourself 2 – 3 hours to reach the signpost start of “Mangapurua Road.”

All going well, it should take you about 4 – 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 its 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. Quad bikes have done some serious damage so if the track is wet you are likely to get bogged down in places. Otherwise it’s a real hoot. 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.

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 steep ride down to the Mangapurua Landing and the Whanganui River takes about 15 minutes. There is a shelter 200 metres before the landing (not a bad place to camp if need be)

The Lodge and  River
From the Mangapurua Landing we caught a Bridge to Nowhere jet boat down to Bridge to Nowhere Lodge and stayed the night before canoeing down to Pipiriki. It meant we could travel without camping gear and enjoy a big dinner and breakfast at the Lodge. The paddle down the river takes about 5 hours from the Lodge if you allow plenty of time for photos.

After your ride down the Mangapurua Valley, we meet you at the river landing and jet boat you and your bikes down to our home Bridge to Nowhere Lodge for a hot shower, great food and a well deserved rest. An awesome ending for an unforgettable day. This is the only accommodation of its kind inside the Whanganui River National Park. Privately owned and operated, totally unique.
 
Next morning , board your canoe and paddle through some of the most stunning scenery NZ has to offer inside the Whanganui River National Park back to Pipiriki. Paddle time is approx 3 hours and is classed as easy. Bikes jet boated out. For those that don't wish to canoe we jet boat you and your bikes out to Pipiriki.
 
If there is one ride you need to do, then this is it.
Having grown up in the Mangapurua/Whanganui River region and locally owned and operated, we are your preferred operator/supplier. Come cycle the Mangapurua Track with us.

For more information and pricing on both our Bridge to Nowhere Lodge and Raetihi Holiday Park Accommodation contact us today.
Bookings are essential. 

Excerpts from
Classic New Zealand Mountain Bike Rides
by Simon Jonathan and Paul Kennett.
Thanks Guys