What are the key culture & heritage places to visit on the Whanganui river road?
A rich legacy of Maori architecture, 19th & mid 20th century farming activities and glorious church communities
- Hiruharama (Jerusalem)
- Kawana Four Mill & Cottage
- Pipiriki provides access to Jet boat tours and is a launching place for exploring the Bridge to Nowhere
- Ngāti Pāmoana, Koriniti Marae
- Original hand cut culvert to an exquisite mossy stream
- Matahiwi cafe and riverboat
Authentic road trips don’t come any better than Whanganui River Road as gravel road wends its way alongside the Whanganui River. The Whanganui River Road carves a narrow winding route from the lower reaches of the Whanganui River from Pīpīriki to Whanganui. The road offers an intimate embrace of lower North Island lush verdant bush and forest. The route is a scenic 64 km journey through quiet uncrowded places.
The beautifully preserved marae (gathering places) which are usually visible from the road. Please respect all marae and urupā (cemetery) and read the welcoming information plaques before entering private property.
Koriniti Marae
The Marae has a number of beautifully carved traditional buildings. There are two traditional wharepuni (Poutama and Te Waiherehere, large tribal Maori meeting halls) as well as a small museum, “Hikurangi”. One of three ancestral houses here, Te Waiherehere has tukutuku panels designed by the late Cliff Whiting, a New Zealand internationally respected Māori artist and heritage advocate.
Kawana Flour Mill
Fascinating insight into life in the 1850’s. The refurbished water-power mill has an original massive water wheel and wheat grinding stones. Governor Grey initiated the concept of wheat growing in the area and the four mill was one of several built in the Whanganui River valley in the 19th century. Now a museum, there is also a restored miller’s colonial style cottage alongside the mill. Drinking water and a compostable toilet is available here.
Hiruhārama Jerusalem
Hiruhārama was originally called Patiarero and was one of the biggest settlements on the Whanganui River in the 1840’s with several hundred Maori inhabitants whose roots reach back centuries. The settlement has a beautifully maintained century-old Catholic church and convent built in the 1890s, when Suzanne Aubert (known as Mother Mary Joseph) established the congregation of the Sisters of Compassion. The church features a beautifully carved altar of Māori design and kōwhaiwhai panels decorate the walls. Read the information plaques describing the life of its founder Mother Aubert in the Whanganui region.
Walk to the church through a compassionate way and relax into the peace and quiet of the church garden.
In 1970, Hiruhārama was also the home of the poet James K Baxter’s community. His poem is named “Jerusalem sonnets”, describing some of his daily life at the commune.
Accommodation
The Convent offers dormitories, however pre-booking is essential.
MATAHIWI CAFE, WHANGANUI RIVER ROAD
A former school is now called Matahiwi Cafe & Gallery. Outside the cafe is the wooden boat used in the movie River Queen which was filmed on the Whanganui River. A quirky place full of memorabilia, photographs of the district and delicious biscuits. The cafe is mainly open during the summer months. Classic fare such as scones, lamingtons and sausage rolls were available. The cafe has a modern coffee machine for coffee drinkers along with tea and water. Souvenirs such as postcards, T shirts printed with slogans and images of the area were on sale. Telephone ahead outside the peak season.
Observe and learn — Marae visits
Thank you for welcoming visitors into your private spaces. Stepping in the cultural space of locals is a highlight. Ranana (London) and Koriniti both have Marae’s which welcome visitors. Signboards explain guidelines. If you are lucky a local inhabitant could even explain the significance of places, objects and meaning of the landscape for
HAND CUT CULVER, WHANGANUI RIVER ROAD
Just past the free campsite OTUMAIRE is a road sign ‘Hand Cut Culvert. Check for passing cars and pull into the narrow parking space. A short boardwalk leads into a little valley stream and native vegetation. Diffused, dappled light and a hand cut culvert is a photo moment. The culvert was cut during the road construction to minimise water flooding. New Zealand scenery in a postcard snapshot.
It is a ten minute very easy walk from the River Road signpost.
FESTIVALS – WHANGANUI CULTURE & HERITAGE
- Annual spring festival – October heritage month
- Whanganui summer programme – January
- Whanganui vintage weekend – Wellington Anniversary weekend dates
TRAVEL PACK INFORMATION
“It came as no surprise when fighting broke out in the company’s second settlement, Whanganui, in 1847. This conflict also involved long-standing rivalries between upper and lower Whanganui River Māori.
By early 1847 Whanganui was a garrison town. The Rutland Stockade dominated the landscape, its presence angering the upriver chief Tōpine Te Mamaku. In April 1847 tensions increased when a young Māori man was accidentally shot in the face by a British sailor. The murder of Mary Gilfillan and three of her children a few days later created panic in the settlement. Five of those responsible for the killings were captured by lower-river Māori and handed over to the British military. Four were executed. Te Mamaku responded with a blockade of the town. Two months of minor skirmishes followed before the blockade was lifted in July 1847…SOURCE https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/wanganui-war
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