Whanganui's Bridge to Nowhere features on cycleway stamp series

The Bridge to Nowhere is a highlight of the Mountains to Sea cycleway. Image/ supplied

On some summer days tourists are lined up at a Whanganui River landing to walk to the Bridge to Nowhere in the Mangapurua Valley.

Its legendary status made it a subject of one of six stamps in the Cycle Trails of New Zealand series. The series was released on February 7 and is proving popular.

"Most of our tourism-based issues prove quite popular within their regions. People like to celebrate their own tourism-based programmes," New Zealand Post Stamps & Collectables operations manager Ivan Weal said.

The cycleway stamps are available in sets, presentation pieces and first day covers.

The idea behind the network of cycle trails began at a Government "jobs summit" held in 2008 in the midst of the global financial crisis.

It has been a great success. There are now 22 Great Rides in New Zealand, covering 2500km.

The Bridge to Nowhere is on the Mountains to Sea cycleway, which starts at Turoa on Mt Ruapehu and ends at Whanganui's North Mole.

The bridge was opened in 1936, to help returned soldiers who were farming the Mangapurua Valley. It was abandoned eight years later when the settlement failed.