Tēnā koe,
This is an important message to advise you that DOC has announced the closure of many of our visitor facilities, including the ones you have booked.
The government has announced that New Zealand is now at alert level 2 for COVID-19. This means the disease is contained but the risks of community transmission are growing. The Ministry of Health have provided measures for New Zealand to follow in response to the alert level.
The risk of potential community transmission at any one of these facilities means the department will not allow visitors to be in locations which mean people are in close proximity.
Therefore, the decision has been made to stage the closure of visitor facilities inline with alert levels.
The following DOC visitor facilities will be closed to the public from Monday 23 March 2020:
As of Monday 23 March 2020, you will not be able to begin your Great Walk.
You will need to manually cancel your booking online to receive a refund.
is a growing, locally owned and operated business based in Raetihi at the Raetihi Holiday Park.
Ben and Rebecca will be your hosts, along with our children Jasmine, Blake and Hunter – our aim is to make your stay at our Holiday Park and your trip on the Whanganui River an amazing experience.
We are the only canoe hire operators on the Whanganui River that own a Holiday Park so be assured that you will have a comfortable night’s sleep in our range of accommodation options the night before your trip – your comfort is our priority. After meeting us at the Raetihi Holiday Park we will shuttle you and your group to whichever canoe destination you have chosen. You can be assured that your cars will be securely parked at our base (for free) while you are paddling on the Whanganui River. And enjoy a free warm shower, drink, and snack when you get back to our base after the trip.
I am not sure which direction you plan to travel from, but please keep in mind if you are travelling from the South, the State Highway 4 has had a large slip – it has been temporarily fixed at the moment, but we are advised to check NZTA for up to date information r.e if it is open or not.. If the road is closed; the alternative routes are State Highway 1, which is a fairly quick route. Or a scenic drive up the Whanganui River Road, which has plenty of stops to see the NZ of yesteryear
Our trips include 3 to 5 day guided canoe experiences as well as freedom hire for you to explore the Whanganui River at your leisure. We can cater for any type of group, and are Safety Audited as required by the Adventure Activity Regulations. Choose Whanganui River Canoes for your next school camp, family reunion, guys or gal’s trip away or team building activity.
We purchase new equipment each year, and being one of the newest operators on the Whanganui River – having the best equipment and transport options is our priority. The Whanganui River meanders it’s way from the mountains of the Central North Island down to the west coast before finally emerging at Wanganui.
The river provides a safe but fun trip that is ideal for canoe travel and has “just enough” rapids to keep things interesting with incredible scenery along the way. There are huts and campsites conveniently placed on route. Your trip will finish in Pipiriki, and we are the closest operator to this spot.
Why not get a group together and discover our latest Trips and fantastic offers for yourself?
Please be sure to read our Terms and Conditions before making a booking.
