Bridge To Nowhere Whanganui

Planning for the new bridge started when the timber bridge began to rot. In 1936 the new steel-reinforced concrete bridge was finally opened. It was an impressive sight at nearly 40 metres above the river within the steep ravine walls. Today, you can still see the remains of the old swing bridge from the concrete Bridge To Nowhere that replaced it.

By the time construction of the Bridge To Nowhere was finished, many of the Mangapurua settlers had abandoned their holdings. The physical labour and economic hardship had taken their toll on the returned servicemen and their families. Serious erosion (caused by the clearing of bush), flooding and poor road access were other obstacles that the settlers could no longer overcome.

By 1942 only three of the farmers remained in the valley. They were eventually forced to leave when the government decided that road access would no longer be maintained. By 1944, everyone had gone. Not only that, they left virtually penniless.

The Bridge To Nowhere gets more use now than it did when it was first built. It is the unofficial flagship of Whanganui National Park and a major visitor attraction on the Whanganui Journey – one of New Zealand’s Great Walks.

There are two ways to access the Bridge To Nowhere site, either by a gentle 40 minute walk from the Mangapurua Landing on the Whanganui River (boat transport required up the river) or by the Mangapurua Track, accessible from either Whakahoro or Ruatiti road end.