NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Travel

Kia ora: Whanganui

By Elisabeth Easther
NZ Herald·
25 Sep, 2014 09:30 PM5 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

The Durie Hill tunnel leads to the unusual underground elevator. Photo / Wanganui Chronicle

The Durie Hill tunnel leads to the unusual underground elevator. Photo / Wanganui Chronicle

This diverse river city offers adventures, galleries, top cafes and more, writes Elisabeth Easther.

Where is it? 200km north of Wellington, 75km northwest of Palmerston North.

Origin of name: Whanganui means "big bay" or "big harbour".

Population: 43,100

Town's heart: The awa (river).

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Famous locals: Loads of All Blacks have been bred here. Tariana Turia, Mother Suzanne Aubert from Jerusalem who's in line for sainthood, James K. Baxter, Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae, chef Peter Gordon and physicist Sir Paul Callaghan.

Infamous local: Michael Laws, former mayor and broadcaster, certainly made his presence felt although he no longer lives in Whanganui.

Scandalous: In 1920 the then-mayor shot a local poet in a sordid tale of sex and blackmail - terribly riveting it was.

Best website: whanganuinz.com.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Big business: Agriculture and tourism pay a lot of bills. So do the Cavalier Bremworth carpet factory, Affco, Tasman Tanning and a fair whack of engineering and manufacturing.

Pretty old: Whanganui has the highest concentration of heritage buildings in the country.

Glass act: This place is home to New Zealand's only glass school. More than 300 artists are thought to live in the region, 40 of those glass artists. New Zealand's only opera school is in the city, too.

Town fiestas: The internationally renowned Cemetery Circuit has been raced for more than 60 years and is the Southern Hemisphere's equivalent of the Isle of Man motorcycle road race. At the end of March artists open their studios over two weekends while the Vintage Weekend (over Wellington Anniversary Weekend in January) is three days of fun with the River City Caboodle featuring vintage cars and displays, even a soapbox derby. The Billy Webb Challenge, New Zealand's longest river rowing race, is also a doozy. There's an opera week, literary festival, basketball and jetboat sprints.

Discover more

Travel

Whanganui: River of dreams

11 Mar 04:30 PM
Travel

Whanganui: Down the river to nowhere

03 May 05:30 PM
Travel

New Zealand: Rivers rule

31 Jan 04:30 PM
Travel

Five of the best cycling adventures

24 May 09:00 PM

Here for a short time? Visit the river traders' and farmers' market on the riverbank on Saturday morning, admire the heritage buildings, wander along the river, across the bridge, pop up the tower, and check out the galleries and museums. In short, soak up the atmosphere.

For the kids: Visit amazing beaches or ride bikes along the river's boardwalks and trails. Go to Riverland Family Park for karting, mini golf, pools and more, right next to the ...

Best park: Kowhai Park is legendary with giant trees, small train, wet play area. The main playground has dinosaurs, octopuses and a giant pumpkin. Further along the river you'll find treehouses, flying fox and skateboard park.

The jetboat ride on the Whanganui river promises to deliver thrills. Photo / Wanganui Chronicle

But wait there's more: Bason Botanic Gardens - on the other side of the city towards Taranaki - are stunning.

Best facilities: The i-site, housed in a beautiful heritage building, plays native birdsong throughout and the tweeting is most prominent when you're in the loo.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Best walks: South Beach is isolated and rugged with the best driftwood. Virginia Lake is popular for walking, running and cycling. Strolling along the river is delightful, too.

The greatest walk: One of New Zealand's nine Great Walks is actually the Whanganui River by canoe - everyone should do it at least once because it's amazing.

Best views: From Durie Hill Tower, take the underground elevator 66m to enjoy views across the city, river and out to the sea. Built of shell rock with visible fossils and just 100m away, Memorial Tower is 3.5m higher if you're fit enough to tackle 175 steps up the spiral staircase. On a fine day you'll see Ruapehu and Taranaki.

Best place to pull over: Whanganui River Rd follows the river to Pipiriki, stacked with history. There are heaps of places to stop; Aramoana Viewpoint is highly recommended.

Do: Go to Jerusalem and visit the convent, beautiful marae and old Kawana Flour Mill.

Best swim: You can't beat the beach but the river is also perfect for making a splash. Jump off the jetty or go to Mosquito Point where there's a super tyre swing.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Best museum: Whanganui Regional Museum is filled with taonga. It'll soon open the world's largest exhibit of moa bones, including one of only six intact moa eggs.

Nice arts: The Sarjeant Gallery, bequeathed to the city by Henry Sarjeant, blows people's minds. There are loads of smaller galleries.

Best shop: Impossible to pick - so browse the boutiques, the vintage and antique stores.

Tops for coffee: Where to start? Mud Ducks, Element Cafe, The Big O (for orange), The Yellow House, Parnells Cafe, Mint Cafe ...

Best food: The Red Lion Inn, for fab food and views. George's Fisheries at 40 Victoria Avenue is cute as a button with takeaway on one side and a restaurant on the other side.

Wet your whistle: Riverside Bar has music most nights and views every day. the Rutland Arms Inn, housed in a heritage building, does craft beer tastings. Also try the Red Lion.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Best mountain biking: The Mountains to Sea trail (including the 42 Traverse) runs from Ruapehu District to the Tasman Sea at Whanganui - epic. Riding along the river is also cool.

Best adventures: Anything on the river from jetboating to a multi-day canoe adventure.

Best kept secret: Puanga Festival, the local equivalent of Matariki, includes a dawn ceremony on the riverbank at Putiki - goosebumps guaranteed.

Wildlife: Bushy Park Sanctuary is a predator-fenced sanctuary teeming with native birds and lovely for walking. The nankeen night heron lives near the Whanganui River as does the endangered whio (blue duck).

Warning: Manakitanga (hospitality) plays a big part in local life, so don't be surprised if you up sticks and move here.

Locals say: Ko au te awa, ko te awa ko au.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Which translates as: I am the river and the river is me.

Thanks to Lyn Cheyne for revealing some of Whanganui's abundant charms.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Travel

Travel

Exactly how much I spent on a Japan trip

13 Jul 08:23 AM
Travel

Wendy Petrie tackles ocean swim challenge in Fiji 

13 Jul 12:30 AM
Travel

Here’s what it’s like inside Egypt’s new billion-dollar marvel

12 Jul 07:36 PM

One pass, ten snowy adventures

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Travel

Exactly how much I spent on a Japan trip

Exactly how much I spent on a Japan trip

13 Jul 08:23 AM

One traveller breaks down exactly how many Yen you need for a trip.

Wendy Petrie tackles ocean swim challenge in Fiji 

Wendy Petrie tackles ocean swim challenge in Fiji 

13 Jul 12:30 AM
Here’s what it’s like inside Egypt’s new billion-dollar marvel

Here’s what it’s like inside Egypt’s new billion-dollar marvel

12 Jul 07:36 PM
What it’s like staying at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva 

What it’s like staying at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva 

11 Jul 12:05 AM
Your Fiordland experience, levelled up
sponsored

Your Fiordland experience, levelled up

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP