In 1890 Alexander Hatrick negotiated with the Government for a subsidy to run a riverboat service from Wanganui to Pipiriki. In 1897 the service was extended to Taumarunui. Many farming localities adjacent to the River were settled around the turn of the century by riverboats which transported settlers, livestock, provisions, mail,and tourists from Wanganui to Taumarunui.
The use of riverboats started to decline from 1908 when the North Island Main Trunk Railway Line was completed. The passenger service finally ceased in 1939, with the mail services to the middle sections of the River continuing for some years.
The trip from Wanganui to Taumarunui took three days with stops at a Hotel in Pipiriki (Pipiriki House), and a houseboat (floating hotel) at Maraekowhai (later relocated to the mouth of the Retaruke River).
The Otunui Landing was used by the settlers in the local district both for transportation and as a popular picnic spot. On the flat across the stream was a punga shed that was used to store goods being loaded onto and unloaded from the boats. The trip from Taumarunui to Otunui by riverboat would take about one and a half hours travelling downstream, and about eight and a half hours travelling upstream.
There is more information on the nearby Heritage Trails noticeboard.
The cache is 400mly plastic jar.