Ready for a truly unforgettable weekend? Leave the planning to us. Our exclusive 3-night special (winter and summer) at Manuka Lodge is your ticket to exploring the majestic Whanganui River and the rugged beauty of the Central Plateau. We've arranged the perfect itinerary so you can focus on making memories. Each night, you'll retire to a luxurious Super King room, feeling refreshed and ready for the next day's adventure. It’s all organised for you. All you need to do is book, arrive, and discover the unique Taonga on our doorstep.

Day One:

Spend this on the Whanganui river with the Whanganui river adventure tours. This tour company is run by Josephine and Ken who have lived and worked on the river all their lives and know its rich history like the back of their hands (both Maori and European). The Bridge to Nowhere trip includes a jet boat ride from Pipiriki (a scenic 35- 40 min drive from us) to the Mangapurua landing. From here it's an easy 40 min walk through gorgeous native bush to the historic Bridge to Nowhere where you will stop for tea and biscuits (provided), lunch (bring your own) and a fascinating talk about its history. Then Jet-boat back to Pipiriki. If you want the full river experience you can choose to canoe the last 10kms of the journey. The canoeing experience is absolutely stunning, and allows you to get up close and personal with the river and really experience the serenity of it. Just to be warned the 10km canoe section is unguided. This trip is an opportunity to get into the middle of one of the most remote parts of the North Island, no roads in our out.

Day Two:

Tackle the Tongariro Alpine Crossing touted as one of the best day walks in the world, often rated within the world’s top 10. Best time to tackle the crossing is in the quieter shoulder season. It is an alpine trail which rises to an altitude of 1900m, making it a tough day, but absolutely worth the effort. At Manuka Lodge we can organise fully refundable door-to-door shuttles with a local operator to and from the Crossing, a packed lunch (homemade sandwich made with freshly baked bread, homemade muffin, a couple of pieces of fruit and a choc n nut bar), and a welcome home celebratory drink and soak in our spa-pool. Please note: the Tongariro Shuttle is weather-dependent, and be prepared for bad weather even when its good. If an alternative is required if the shuttles aren't running, we would suggest the Tama Lakes Walk; it showcases magic volcanic scenery at a lower elevation and therefore not so much affected by weather conditions. Also no need for a shuttle, you self drive; the stunning walk starts from Whakapapa Village.

If you see an opportunity for a weekend away, do use it to come explore the Whanganui River and Central Plateau up close. Use Manuka Lodge as your base and take advantage of our three-night special accommodation rate: We can also incorporate our Crossing Package into the three-night deal if required which includes the shuttle, packed lunch and welcome home drink. If the preference is to do the Crossing on the first day (or if the weather is better) we are flexible on which way around you want to do it (the Bridge to Nowhere trip can be done in most weathers as they have covered jet boats).

Get in touch for information on pricing of the itinerary activities, and to book your weekend with us. We’d love to have you stay!

PLEASE NOTE: Our Winter and Summer 3nt specials have different conditions and rates!