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wanganui
 The longest
navigable river in New Zealand gave birth to Wanganui - a town
that proudly proclaims itself ‘The River City’.
For centuries this waterway was an important means of travel for
both Maori and Europeans. Today the emphasis is on recreational
travel with paddle steamer cruises, thrilling jet boat rides, and
leisurely downstream canoe and kayak trips.
The Whanganui Journey is renowned as a scenic canoe or kayak trip
from Taumaranui to Pipiriki within the Whanganui National Park.
The beautiful bush-clad gorges are so spectacular that the down
river paddle through 120 rapids is recognised as one of the
‘Top Ten’ journeys in the country. Note that the
spelling of the river and national park has an added
‘h’ whereas the city and region keep the original
spelling.
Wanganui has been careful to retain its charming Victorian
architecture. You can relive the colonial past on the Old Town
Heritage Walk which guides you through cobblestone paths under
imitation gaslight lamps. In summer, Victoria Avenue is ablaze
with flowers, hanging baskets and floral archways. Here you will
find the cafés, restaurants and a variety of shops. This civic
pride carries through to Queen’s Park, the city’s
cultural heart, where the Regional Museum and outstanding
Sargeant Gallery are located. The Museum is a major attraction as
it has one of New Zealand’s largest collections of Maori
artefacts.
Durie Hill across the river is an unusual ‘must see’
landmark. You can take an elevator to the watchtower for views
over Wanganui. Mts.Taranaki and Ruapehu are visible on a clear
day. Virginia Lake, just out of town, is a beautiful reserve set
in park-like grounds.
The Whanganui River Road gives access to famous places such as
Jerusalem, an original Maori village and mission station.
Pipiriki, at the road end, is where jet boats zoom up river to
fascinating points such as Mangapurua Track (‘Bridge to
Nowhere’) and the Matemateonga Walkway.
Wanganui is a wonderful place to immerse yourself in the history,
culture and ethos of a famous waterway town. The scenic
highlights of this river are inspirational.
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