A scenic road

Ruapehu Bulletin, 13 April 1993, Page 12

A scenic road

BY SHELLYOFRIC Have you ever thought about going to Athens or London? Well you can at very little expense with a stop in Jerusalem. Why? Because all of those places. are along the Wanganui River Road. If you have time the Wanganui River Road is a very scenic and historic drive. One way the trip can be done is down the Parapara to the Wanganui River Road turn-off and up the River Road to Raetihi via Pipiriki. Going down the Parapara there is a rest area which over-looks the Raukawa Falls. Further on from the falls is the Raukawa Falls Store in Kakatahi which is 34 kilometres from Raetihi. The store is owned by lovely people and the food and hospitality are great. Seven kilometres from the Raukawa Falls Store on the right opposite Mackintosh Road Warrick Badley runs a back-packers and has room for four people at $10 per person per night. Warrick is intending to convert one of his buildings into a hostel to allow for more accommodation. The Wanganui River Road turn-off is 77 kilometres from Raetihi and 12 kilometres from Wanganui. Information On the corner of the Wanganui River Road turn-off is a Department of Conservation information board which consists of pictures and general information on the history and progress of the Wanganui River Road and area. The Wanganui River Road is quite narrow with a steep hill to begin with. It winds up 3 kilometres from the turn-off to the Summit of Aramoana (Pathway to the Sea). The view of the lower end of the river valley is wonderful and on a clear day you should be able to see Mount Ruapehu. From this point the Aramoana Walkway starts and finishes. The walk is about 7 kilometres long so if you intend to do the walk you should allow yourself 3-4 hours in which tb do it.

Road-side bluffs between Parakino and Atene are embedded with oyster shell deposits - a reminder that the area was once under the sea. Unfortunately they are not obviously marked so you have to be on the look-out for them. Ten kilometres from the Summit of Aramoana there is the only known flying fox over the river which is on the left on Caseley's farm. They also had a barge which they used to transport cargo across the river. Skyline After travelling a further 7 kilometres you . should arrive at Atene (Athens). The Atene Skyline Track follows the ridge-line around the old river-bed and is about 18 kilometres long so it would take 6-8 hours in which to do it. Beginning at the up-river end the track climbs to a height of 260 metres and follows an old gently sloping road-line for about 3 kilometres. This road was built in 1959 by the Ministry of Works during investigations for a Wanganui River hydroelectric power scheme. The highest point of the track is Taumata Trig which is 523 metres. The gravel road starts 17 kilometres from Athens and continues to Pipiriki. In Matahiwi which is four kilometres from the start of the gravel road, Turoa and Marlene Ranginui are just starting a farm-stay and shearing show called Back Country Lifestyle. They are offering a chance to experience first-hand authentic New Zealand shearing. The Kawana Mill is a further two kilometres and it was established in 1854 and PS Pestell was the miller. Restoration took place in 19781980. At the mill pictures and diagrams explain how there were approximately 700 acres of wheat grown in the area and how extra wheat was brought in canoes. The grain was taken up-stairs to the grain hopper and fed into the eye of stones and after being ground, dropped down the shute and after 5-6 days went to the top again. It then

went through an inclined sieve (revolving). The inclined sieve gave three grades of flour. The flour was locally used and the surplus was transported to Wanganui by canoe. Ranana (London) is four kilometres from the Kawana Flour Mill and is one of the larger settlements along the Wanganui River Road. A Roman Catholic Mission was founded in the 1890's and the original church is still used today. Jerusalem (Hiruharama) is six kilometres from London. The church and convent are both kept in excellent condition. Pipiriki is 12 kilometres from Jerusalem. The Pipiriki area itself is sealed. Colonial House The Pipiriki public shelter is opposite the Colonial House Information Centre and Museum. There is a hotel in the process of being built and due to maori tradition only men are allowed in the building while it is being built but females can walk around outside. By next summer they are hoping to have a shop trading, as at present there is no place to buy refreshments. The marae has been restored and the grounds are kept in excellent condition. Pipiriki nestles in the river valley at the junction of the roads 76 kilometres from Wanganui and 27 kilometres from Raetihi. It is § called the gateway to the 'wilderness' reaches of the Whanganui River. Pipiriki is known to some people as 'raw New Zealand' in that it has not been developed. The road from Pipiriki to Raetihi is gravel for the first 14 kilometres and sealed for the remaining 13 kilometres. On a clear day as you meet the sealed road and come around the corner you get a magnificent view of Mount Ruapehu. The round trip of the Parapara and Wanganui River Road is 168 kilometres. The trip along the Wanganui River Road is a good one if you have plenty of time. A rushed trip would be a wasted trip as there is a lot of beauty and history to take in.