Pipiriki Hub
The Southern Gateway
A Living Hub for Culture, Community & Visitors
On the banks of the Whanganui River, the Pipiriki Hub restores the village’s historic role as the southern gateway to Whanganui National Park. Designed with Athfield Architects, the Hub brings together accommodation, kai, culture, and visitor services in one purpose-built space that serves travellers and locals alike.
Stay
Accomodation Pods
Eco-designed pods are nestled into the river landscape, offering warmth, comfort, and simplicity for walkers, cyclists, and kayakers. Each pod provides high-quality amenities within a light environmental footprint, giving guests the chance to rest and reconnect with nature before continuing their journey.
Eat
Café and Kai Space
The riverside café-restaurant is a meeting place for visitors and the Pipiriki community. Serving locally sourced produce, it’s a spot to refuel, share stories, and experience genuine manaakitanga. The flexible design allows for private functions, weddings, and small events that keep the Hub vibrant year-round.
Gather
Community and Cultural Space
At the heart of the Hub is a space for storytelling, art, and celebration. It will host exhibitions, performances, hui, and community events — a venue where culture is lived and shared. From regional art showcases to whānau gatherings, this flexible room gives expression to Pipiriki’s creative spirit.
Explore
Gateway Visitor Services
Acting as the launch pad for river and trail adventures, the Hub provides bookings, safety briefings, and connections to local operators — from the Whanganui Journey and Bridge to Nowhere to the Mountains-to-Sea Cycle Trail and Te Araroa. It’s a “bump space” where visitors meet guides, discover new experiences, and extend their stay, reigniting Pipiriki’s reputation as the beating heart of Whanganui tourism.
A Gateway Reimagined
The Pipiriki Hub is where river, culture, and commerce flow together — a place to stay, connect, and experience Te Awa Tupua in a way that honours its past and builds opportunity for the future.