Foodies and adventurers have been treated to a unique experience on the Whanganui River this summer.
Hiakai: Te Awa o Whanganui combines a pop-up fine dining restaurant, run by award-winning chef Monique Fiso, with jetboating and canoeing on the river and an overnight stay at Puraroto Camp Ground, 5 kilometres upriver from Pipiriki.
Jay Cripps, who built his home at Puraroto and set up the campground for river travellers, said the 2017/18 summer trips have been extremely popular.
"Whanganui River Adventures jetboats the guests up from Pipiriki to the campground," Mr Cripps said.
"International chef Monique Fiso has set up a pop-up restaurant, Hiakai, at the campground and cooks a six-course evening meal with a focus on Māori cuisine. The guests spend the night in dome tents at the campground then the next day canoe the Whanganui River back to Pipiriki with Hayden Potaka of Unique Whanganui River Experience."