Take the Bridge to Nowhere

Whanganui National Park's Pristine Tourist Attraction

May 6, 2007 Crysta Parkinson

Seventy years ago, a bridge was built to link farmers to the riverboat traffic of Whanganui. Now the bridge serves as a beautiful place for visitors.

The North Island of New Zealand is yours to explore. But you want to see something unique – something with a little history. A fair distance off the beaten path, in Whanganui National Park, a stretch of concrete called the “Bridge to Nowhere” awaits.

It’s a tourist attraction now, but once – if only for a brief time – the bridge had a very important role. Kiwi soldiers returning from the first World War were given pristine rural land to farm, but access was incredibly difficult. A wooden swing bridge allowed farmers with horses to get from their farms to the Whanganui River’s riverboats, but vehicular access was needed.

In response, the Public Works Department ordered the concrete bridge, which was started in 1935. Construction reached completion in 1936, but the added convenience was not enough to save a settlement which was simply not meant to be.

According to a sign placed on the bridge itself to welcome visitors: “Virgin forest was cleared, and a total of 35 holdings developed. A school was opened, and for some years the valley prospered. However economic hardship, and problems associated with the remoteness and difficulty of access, resulted in many families abandoning their farms.”

The last three families walked off the land in 1942, the forest grew back, and all signs of habitation – save the bridge – disappeared from the face of the earth. The structure truly became a “Bridge to Nowhere.”

More than 70 years after its completion, the bridge is now a popular spot for hikers (called trampers in New Zealand), boaters and the like. It serves as a monument to those tough pioneers who fought the impossible battle against that remote land, and as a serene get-away for travelers.

Located deep in the bush of Whanganui National Park, access to the bridge is no easy task. Two options prevail – a boat or canoe trip along the river followed by a 40-minute walk from the Mangapurua Landing on the Whanganui River, or a two- or three-day tramp.

Once you’re there, though, it all becomes completely worth the effort. The view from the bridge is simply breath-taking. You won’t see any signs of civilization as you stand on the bridge, which is 130 foot long and 125 feet above the river. There’s not a road or building as far as the eye can see. Instead, you’ll have amazing and unencumbered views of the steep forest valley and the pristine bed of the Whanganui River. Beautiful native forest surrounds you, and for a brief moment in time, it’s as though the hustle and bustle of the real world has completely disappeared.

To experience this place for yourself or to book a tour, visit Bridge to Nowhere Tours. The experience is certain to be a memorable one.

The copyright of the article Take the Bridge to Nowhere in Aus/NZ/Oceania Travel is owned by Crysta Parkinson. Permission to republish Take the Bridge to Nowhere in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.