3 ½ hours to the Mangapurua Trig.
12 hours from the Trig to Mangapurua Landing.

Partially a combined walking/cycleway, this track follows former roadlines and makes easy walking. It leads up to the Mangapurua Trig then descends through the Mangapurua Valley to meet the Whanganui River at the Mangapurua Landing.

From Ruatiti Road, the track heads west for approximately 10kms before reaching the junction of the old Kaiwhakauka, Mangapurua and Ruatiti/Ohura Roads. Keep to the west to drop down into the Mangapurua. 
A side track leads to the Mangapurua Trig, the highest point in the area.  On a fine day there are sweeping views of Tongariro National Park to the east and Mt Taranaki / Egmont to the west. 
From here the track winds steadily down into the valley where the track meets and stays on the true left bank of the Mangapurua Stream. 
Continuing along the old roadline, the track crosses numerous side streams and the valley progressively closes in (often the track is hewn into almost sheer papa bluffs which are slippery when wet. Care should be taken in negotiating these sections and watch for falling rocks).

At the lower end of the valley the track crosses to the true right bank of the stream over the historic "Bridge to Nowhere”.  This is a large concrete bridge built in 1936, but is now standing abandoned in the bush in the middle of “Nowhere”.
This last section of the track is formed to walking track standard and is often used by river travellers to visit the Bridge to Nowhere. 
Beyond the bridge, it’s another 40 mins as the track follows the true right bank of the Mangapurua Stream and then leads along the true left bank of the Whanganui River to reach Mangapurua Landing. 

DOC Great Walk facilities must be booked and tickets purchased before departure via www.doc.govt.nz or Dept of Conservation offices.

Note: jet boat pick-ups or kayak drop-offs must be pre-booked.