Thread: Whanganui river hunting

Are you doing the three, four or five day trip?

On the true right bank the actual forest park doesn't really start until quite close to John Coull hut, between there and Pipiriki there are a lot of goats on the banks but it is bloody steep country and you have to find somewhere to get your boat out of the river just to go for a walk. Granted there are spots you can do this but they aren't many.

Last time I did the trip, we had one canoe in our group tip out about half way between Whakahoro and John Coull, we had to float the capsized canoe for a couple of kilometers to get to a spot just to be able to get it the right way up.

Every time I have done the trip people in my group have lost things to the river. If you are doing the canoe trip it is better to just leave your rifle at home and enjoy the canoe trip and maybe take note of some good spots for hunting.
If you really want to hunt the area, jetboat is a better option, just come up in the jetboat from Pipiriki. I have heard of people that know of people that have floated down the river in the jetboat collecting goats along the way, whether this was legal or not I can't confirm either.

There is also a private lodge across the river from Tieke, from memory they offer private hunting and the Matemateonga track starts/finishes here.

It is a really nice trip to do, I have done it four times and am currently forming a loose plan to do it again in the next year or so. It is great to have between six and 12 friends along, the most I have done it with is 16, that was about the maximum you want on a trip.

If it rains it can really rain, camping on the first night is ok but it can be miserable two nights in a row if your trip turns into a wet one, I recommend staying in hut or lodge on the second night if not both nights.

Happy to answer any other questions you might have about practicalities.