Manawatu-Wanganui: River, Forest and Rugby

Manawatu-Wanganui offers different ways to experience its landscapes and culture: canoe trips are possible on the Whanganui River, Whanganui National Park is known for its lowland forest and Māori culture, and Palmerston North adds its own cultural highlight with the New Zealand Rugby Museum. If you’re looking for a holiday rental, you can choose an area based on specific experiences: river, nature, cycling stages or rugby appeal to different interests.

Experience the Whanganui River on the water

The Whanganui Journey is a 145-kilometre canoe trip on the Whanganui River. Shorter trips are also possible. When planning your trip, you can weigh up the full, clearly defined route against a shorter canoe trip. The distance is a practical guide when considering how much of your trip to devote to the river; a shorter option can also make the river your focus without requiring you to cover the entire route.

River trips on the Whanganui River are also among the popular activities in Whanganui National Park. The park protects one of the largest remaining lowland forest complexes on the North Island. Alongside the river, the park offers a distinctive natural attraction: lowland forest, part of one of the largest surviving complexes of its kind on the North Island. Māori culture is also an important part of the park experience. When deciding on your trip, you can therefore choose whether to focus primarily on travelling by water, the park’s natural environment or its cultural dimension.

Pipiriki is an important access point to the Whanganui River. If the river is a major part of your trip, this place name is a useful reference point for further planning. The Whanganui Journey, river trips in the national park and Pipiriki each offer specific points of interest connected with the river, without requiring you to build your entire trip around a single activity.

Cycling stages and rugby culture

There are also named sections to explore by bike: Mangapurua and Kaiwhakauka are two stages of the Mountains to Sea Cycle Trail. If you’d rather include a cycle trail in your trip than take a canoe trip, these names offer a specific starting point for learning more about the trail. The two routes are classified as stages, so they offer a different focus from trips on the Whanganui River.

In Palmerston North, the New Zealand Rugby Museum explores the history and heritage of New Zealand rugby. It is regarded as the world’s first museum dedicated to the oval ball. Rugby enthusiasts can enjoy a dedicated cultural attraction that differs from the nature and river experiences. The museum isn’t limited to history: in the “Have a Go” area, visitors can try rugby skills such as kicking, tackling, jumping, sprinting and pushing.

Discover more areas

The region’s main areas also include Palmerston North City, Wanganui District, Ruapehu District, Horowhenua District, Rangitikei District, Tararua District and Manawatu District. These names give you more starting points if you’d like to refine your search for a suitable area.

For an overview of the wider destination: New Zealand.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Tasman.