With no roads on either side, you don't need to be a genius to decipher this bridge's name. Originally built so that horses could cross the river to Mangapurua Valley farmland that was provided to soldiers after WWI, the soldiers deserted the poor soil in 1942, and the forest soon reclaimed its territory. It's on the Mangapurua Track for hikers and mountain bikers, or it's a 40-minute walk from Mangapurua Landing, upstream from Pipiriki, accessible by jetboat or kayak.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Whangamomona

15.4 MILES

The town of Whangamomona (population 40) is a highlight. This quirky village declared itself an independent republic in 1989 after disagreements with…

2. St Joseph’s Church

20.33 MILES

Around a corner in the Whanganui River Rd in Jerusalem, the picture-perfect, red-and-mustard spire of St Joseph’s Church stands tall on a spur of land…

3. Kawana Flour Mill

24.39 MILES

Just off the Whanganui River Rd near Matahiwi is the restored 1854 Kawana Flour Mill and waterwheel – an exercise in optimism. There's historical info, a…

4. Big Carrot

25.3 MILES

Maybe not so much 'Don't Miss' as 'Impossible to Miss', this roadside tribute to Ōhakune's biggest crop was erected in 1984. Carrots were first grown in…

5. Raurimu Spiral

25.38 MILES

The Raurimu Spiral, 30km south of town, is a unique feat of railway engineering that was completed in 1908 after 10 years of work. Rail buffs can…

6. Koriniti Marae

28.39 MILES

Unless there's a function happening, you can wander around Koriniti Marae and the little white-painted Koriniti chapel, between the Whanganui River Rd and…

7. Operiki Pa

28.72 MILES

An archaeological site just off the Whanganui River Rd: what was once the centre of somewhere is now the middle of nowhere.