13/09/2026
There’s more to the Whanganui River than what you can see from the boat. 🌿
Hidden amongst the cliffs upriver from Pipiriki are the Puraroto Caves, part of the historic area known as the “Drop Scene”.
These caves have fascinated visitors for generations. Puraroto was being sketched and documented as far back as the 1840s and 1850s, and more than a century later, cavers were still exploring and mapping the system hidden behind the riverbank.
Today, travelling upriver with Whanganui River Adventures gives you a glimpse into this incredible landscape — caves, waterfalls, steep gorges and places carrying generations of history.
Sometimes the best part of the river is knowing just how much lies beyond what you can see. 🌿
📍 Whanganui River | Pipiriki