Whakahoro to Mangapurua Valley

Sunday Feb 20th 26.2 Kms 7 hrs 45 mins

The old roadway from Whakahoro follows the Whanganui River a short distance then turns up the Kawhakauka Valley. This valey, and the next one, Managapurua, was alocated to returning soldiers from WWI as virgin bush, so farms had to be cleared and made into farmable units. All were eventually abandoned because of remoteness, diffculty of country, and access issues, but there is a major history of what is called "abandoned dreams" in the area. Along the way signposts provide the names of the people who tried to make a go of this difficult country. Now the old roads / walking tracks are also being converted into a national cycleway, so there is major work being done in the area. Lunch at the Managapurua trig, then the evening campsite was at the site of the Betjemans homestead, now only a brick chimney