Whanganui to Bulls

Walking this section

Introduction

Whanganui City to Turakina River - 25km

After crossing Cobham Bridge on SH3, take a right onto Wikitoria Rd at the first roundabout.  Follow the footpath for about 1km to the intersection with Landguard Rd where you'll veer right.  Landguard is a quiet gravel road with minimal traffic, but does currently have some large construction trucks using it, so stay aware.

Follow Landguard Road for 1.8km to an intersection just before you reach the Whanganui Airport, where you'll see signage for "South Beach" pointing right.

Follow this road for 1.6km to reach the beach.  Keep an eye out for signs pointing you towards "South Beach." This area is the material loading and storage area for a large civil project and is changing on a regular basis, but there will always be a marked public access way to the beach.

Once you've made it to the coast, continue south on the beach for 11km to the mouth of the Whangaehu River.  The beach is generally pretty easy to walk regardless of the tide, but you will have access to firmer sand with a lower tide.  There is one minor stream crossing just after the airport.  If you do find yourself in a situation with a unusually high tide, there are a variety of vehicle tracks through the dunes and above the cliffs that can be used.  These are not marked, but they are on public conservation land and are visible on most maps.

When you reach the mouth of the Whangaehu River, turn inland to the dunes and look for a post with a large orange triangle to find the start of the track through the Whitiau Scientific Reserve.  Follow orange pole markers, winding your way through the dunes and cabbage trees for 2.5km to reach the Whangaehu Bridge, a remarkable 120m suspension bridge built by Te Araroa Trust with donations and opened in September 2026.

Cross the bridge to reach the farm land on the south bank.  Follow the markers along the edge of this working farm for 1.5km to reach Whangaehu Beach Rd, a sandy 4WD track that will lead you back to the beach. You'll find a toilet here, installed by Te Araroa Trust in collaboration with the Rakautaua No 9 Trust who owns this land.  Please use it.

Continue South along the beach for another 4km to reach the Turakina River.

Turakina River - Koitiata 

The Turakina River changes regularly, as does the best location for walkers to get across.  Given these frequent changes, the crossing is not marked, as the markers can quickly become misleading and/or disappear into the sea.  The instructions provided here are valid at the time of writing, but good judgement and careful analysis of the river will be of utmost importance.  Take your time to identify a safe crossing. Check the tide and only cross at low tide.

Updated October 2025 -

• An alert has been created to accurately show a good crossing point on the map.  Photos are included in the description of the Alert. 
• At low tide, this crossing was below knee height with slow water. 
• Even in cloudy water, this area was visibly shallower than other parts of the river.
• Crossing at the mouth of the river (where it hits the sea) is also doable as an alternative, but was about a meter deep.

Santoft Route - 15.5km / 7-8 hours

Head south along the beach. Look for two orange markers by a stream bed after approximately 13.5km, at km 1,444. There are other tracks entering the forest that do not fit the current Te Araroa route. You will see a fire lookout on top of the dunes in the near distance. If you get to the fire lookout you have gone too far by about 1km, go back, do not enter the bomb range. 

Then turn left and follow the blaze markings to the forest road. Follow the forest road which leads southeast for approximately 2.5kms until you come across Raumai Road

Raumai Road to Bulls - 15.5km

Walk for approximately 11km on Ruamai Road and 4km on Parewanui Road to Bulls Township.

Fire is serious threat to these forests.  For safety reasons camping and fires are not permitted on the beach and through the exotic forest.

Getting there

Northern Start: City Bridge, Whanganui

Southern End: Junction of High Street (SH1) and SH3, Bulls

Track conditions

Potential hazards

• Vehicles on road or track. Take extreme care on SH3, and heading into Bulls
• Farming operations
• Forestry operations
• Track exposed to sun, wind or cold
• Few water sources
• Fire danger in forests

Transport

Bulls

• InterCity - P: 09 583 5780 - E: info@intercity.co.nz
• Fielding Taxis - P: 06 323 7117 

Accommodation

Koitiata Village

• Koitiata Camp Ground — End of Te One St, Koitiata — M: 027 662 9040, P: 06 327 3733 — Campsites (powered and unpowered) and coin-operated hot showers — your hosts are Maree and Chaddy. 

Bulls

• Lancewood Lodge — accommodation available on the trail at 170 High Street, Bulls 
• 3br self-contained cottage accommodation, 63 Johnson St (just off High St on the way into Bulls) — Mary and Paul Sharland — P: 06 3221789 — E: paulsharland@xtra.co.nz
• Bridge Motor Lodge and Caravan Park — Also has cabins and self-contained motel units — 2 Bridge St, Bulls — P: 06 322 0894 — E: bullsmotel@infogen.net.nz 

Bulls Trail Hosts

• Mayhem Roost a safe and clean TA only campsite. Located 480m off trail at 48 Brandon Hall Road, Bulls.
  2 small huts, plenty of room for tents, a camp kitchen equipped with the basics, warm shower, swimming pool and power for charging devices.
  If possible knowledge of arrival would be good, but appreciate the limited service along the coast.
  • $20.00pp/night
  • Mike and Jo 027 322 1040

Food and supplies

Bulls

• Rangitikei Junction has a foodcourt, toilets and Four Square minimarket. 
• Platts Pharmacy is open 8.30-5.30 weekdays and 9-12 Saturday.
• Evening meals available at the Rangitīkei Tavern.
• Four Square Supermarket - 144 Bridge St - P: 06 322 1236 
• The Dairy Bulls - 113 High St, Bulls - P: 06 322 1218 

Alerts