Day 2 was a long slog down the river to
Mangapurua dodging jet boats. We arrived just after Lunch so had the luxury of the choice
of campsites. Setting up camp took no time and the boys spent the rest of the afternoon
swimming and larking around. Funny they ere moaning about being tired and exhausted and
yet ......
Day 3. Another early start. and a brisk paddle
back upstream to the Mangapurua Landing on the opposite side of the river for the walk to
that Bridge. The bridge to nowhere. Built in 1935 the bridge is
130 feet long and 125 feet high. The bridge was built to service the community established
in 1917 by the government for soldiers returning from the Great War. In 1942 the last 3
families abandoned the area. All that is left is the odd chimney, fruit tree's and other
exotic plants. It has to be said that the settlers to this extremely rugged area must have
been as hard as nails to have held on for long.
The 40 minute walk from the river to this
bridge is definitely worth it.
The early start again paid dividends. A good
run down the river to reach the next campsite at Ngaporo by 2.p.m. and again a choice of
campsites. The boys had great fun running and rerunning the rapids.
Last update 29 January, 2000
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