Wanganui accommodation; self catering & camping

Situated alongside the Whanganui River in the lower Northwest of New Zealands North Island, we offer accommodation in two self-contained fully equipped cottages which overlook the river and are sited in a grove of 100 year old walnut trees, or a secluded camping area with facilities in a clearing surrounded by treeferns.

The native forest clad hills of the Whanganui National Park are our backdrop, with access to our place only by canoe, river taxi or aerial cableway.

Our comfortable self-contained cottages are an eclectic mix combining locally sourced recycled building materials with low impact energy solutions, to provide a place for guests to escape the stresses of modern life.

They are fully furnished, each has two bedrooms and a living area and kitchen, and their own bathroom.Reading materials, CDs and LPs, games are all provided to help ensure guests feel at home.Our own organic vegetable and herb gardens, and fruit orchards, together with other local producers supply many of the ingredients for our slow food style of catering, if guests prefer not to self-cater.The Whanganui River and valley is of deep spiritual, cultural and historic significance to local maori and we respect and practise their values in looking after and minimising our impact on the land. Our local marae [family gathering place] is nearby and guests are welcome to participate in any activities taking place, or to visit to view the traditional meeting houses.

Our environmental principles are reflected in our facilities which include solar, gas and woodfired showers and baths, composting loos and greywater systems, low energy lighting etc.The river provides good summer swimming, and there are walking tracks on the property with tramping and canoeing nearby.Visits to historically significant sites in the heart of the National Park are available by jetboat, and the thriving arts community and cultural centre of Whanganui city is a 45 minute drive down our valley. River travellers will find us 500 metres downstream from Otukopiri Marae at Koriniti, and there is a sign at our place on the right bank of the river. If you are travelling by road from Whanganui take SH4 towards Mt Ruapehu, and take the second left [signposted Whanganui River Road after the village of Upokongaro, approx 12kms from Whanganui. We are almost 30km along this road, which should take approx 30 minutes to drive. Our place is on your left, watch for our sign and mailbox, and our rural number is3081.From the north, take a right turn off SH4 at Raetihi, and follow the River Road to Pipiriki. Swing left at Pipiriki and continue down approx 35km. The road is unsealed most of the way from this direction, but you rejoin the seal around 7 or 8kms before our place. The nearest airports are at Whanganui, 45 minutes drive, or Palmerston North, 90 minutes drive.

Two self-contained cottages with own facilitiesCamping area with kitchen, solar shower and composting loo.