Wanganui District: River, Culture and Forest

In Wanganui District, distinctive cultural attractions meet forest trails and experiences on the Whanganui River. You can explore collections and regional history, walk through forests or discover the landscape on a longer canoe trip. These different travel ideas can help you decide what to focus on during your stay – and find a suitable holiday rental in the district.

Culture and history in Whanganui

In the city of Whanganui, New Zealand Glassworks – Te Whare Tūhua O Te Ao is the national centre for glass. Alongside interactive and educational exhibitions, it offers workshops, demonstrations and events. This makes it a destination for anyone interested in glass and how it is made.

The Whanganui Regional Museum is located in Pukenamu Queen’s Park. Its significant collections include Māori taonga, moa bones, historic fashion and textiles. Paintings of Whanganui rangatira are displayed in the Gottfried Lindauer Gallery. Those interested in Māori culture, regional history or art can explore a variety of subjects under one museum roof.

The Kawana Mill in Matahiwi tells a different chapter of history: it has New Zealand’s only surviving collection of mill machinery from the 1850s and was the longest-operating mill on the Whanganui River. Together with the collections in Whanganui, it offers a glimpse into different aspects of the region’s history.

Forest trails and native birds

The Waitahinga Trails are a collection of walking tracks in the decommissioned Whanganui Water Catchment Reserve. The tracks, designed for different fitness levels, include picnic areas and viewpoints. Most run beneath the canopy of native forest, including original forest and very old regenerating forest. The Waitahinga Dam is one of the destinations along the trails. You can plan a day’s walk that takes in both forest sections and viewpoints.

Bushy Park Tarapuruhi also combines lowland forest with nature watching. The grounds include lush lowland forest and are home to rare native birds, including North Island robins, saddlebacks and hihi. Bushy Park Tarapuruhi is free to visit during daylight hours. This daylight restriction is important for planning; the bird species also give a concrete impression of the special wildlife you can discover here.

On the river and through the wider region

The full Whanganui Journey is a 145-kilometre canoe trip from Taumarunui to Pipiriki, taking an average of five days. Pipiriki is in Wanganui District and is the village where the Journey ends. Its length and average duration make clear that this is a multi-day undertaking, not a short detour. Tīeke Marae/Kāinga is also on the Whanganui Journey: the marae is operational and also serves as a hut, offering a distinctive cultural experience there.

In Whanganui National Park, in the Manawatu-Wanganui region, the Bridge to Nowhere is a major visitor attraction on the Whanganui Journey and is considered the national park’s unofficial landmark. It is a reminder of the failed attempt to establish a pioneer settlement in the hinterland by returning First World War soldiers and their families. The Bridge to Nowhere Walk is a three-kilometre loop track to the abandoned bridge. The stated walking time is one hour and 30 minutes; the track is shared with cyclists. The bridge is one of the few remaining traces of the farming settlement in Mangapurua Valley.

The Upokongaro to Tasman Sea section of the Mountains to Sea Trail offers another perspective on the river. It follows the lower reaches of the Whanganui River, through Whanganui and on to the Tasman Sea. Unlike the canoe trip, this is a trail section that follows the river all the way to the coast.

A distinctive destination in the city

Built in 1919, the Durie Hill Elevator is New Zealand’s only public transport elevator. Locals and visitors use it daily; it can be reached through a pedestrian tunnel and travels 66 metres up the hill. This unusual combination of tunnel and elevator adds a unique city experience to the museums and market.

The Whanganui River Markets are held weekly on Saturdays at a historic site of early Māori trading. More than 100 stalls include local food producers and street food. If visiting a market and exploring regional food culture fit your travel plans, you can set aside Saturday for it.

When looking for a holiday rental, it helps to first decide what kind of trip you want: culture and city life, forest trails and birdlife, or a longer river adventure. This way, you can choose where to stay in Wanganui District based on the experiences that matter most to you.

More destinations in the same wider travel region: Horowhenua District, Manawatu District, Tararua District, Rangitikei District, Ruapehu District, Palmerston North City.

Back to the wider travel overview: Manawatu-Wanganui.