Wanganui City - North Island, New Zealand

The cultural hub of Wanganui is around Pukenamu, a hill that signifies Wanganui's last tribal war in 1832. It is now called Queens Park and contains the city's three most significant buildings.

The first is the impressive Sarjeant Gallery along Drews Ave. Built in 1919, it houses a fine collection of New Zealand contemporary art and photography.

To the north at the corner of Cameron and Bell streets, there is the accommodation for artists-in-residence at the gallery. This is the Tylee Cottage built in 1853 and is one of Wanganui's oldest buildings.

Southwest of the gallery lies the Whanganui Museum founded in 1892. It contains a fantastic collection of Maori artifacts and three magnificent canoes displayed in the central court shaped in the form of a meeting house.

There are lots of portraits of Maori in traditional ceremonial attire and moko (traditional tattoos) painted by Godfrey Lindauer.

Heading towards the river, the historic Moutoa Gardens sit on Somme Parade. It was here that the Maoris signed a document agreeing to the sale of Wanganui.

At the corner of Ridgeway St and Victoria Ave sits the pretty Watt Fountain surrounded by buildings of classical architecture in the form of the Rutland Building and the old post office. The Embassy 3 complex is typical modern day architecture with a stylish art deco exterior.

Further west, the famous Cook's Gardens beckons. This is where in 1962, local hero Peter Snell set a new world mile record. There is a 1901 Ward Observatory with Friday viewings through a refractor. Three kilometres north on SH3 lies Virginia Park with a colourful fountain in Virginia Lake and lighted pathside trees.

Wanganui City Activities

The Whanganui River is a prominent part of Wanganui's history. You can enjoy a leisurely ride down the river on the refurbished paddle steamer Waimarie. The only steamer in action in New Zealand today, it takes you on a 2 hour ride down the tidal stretch of the river.

The Whanganui Riverboat Centre and Museum is a two storeyed timber structure built in 1881. This contains all information relating to the Whanganui River and its connection to the town. Incidentally, in 1993, the Waimarie was refurbished at the Riverboat Centre.

The east bank of the Whanganui River leads to the Durie Hill Elevator. It is a 213 metre tunnel at the end of which a 1919 built elevator carries passengers 66 metres up through the hill to the summit.

The elevator machinery room is a great viewpoint. But for spectacular views, it is 176 steps up to the top of the Memorial Tower. You can then walk down the 191 steps that lead to the riverbank.

Two kilometres south along Putiki Drive is St Paul's Memorial Church. It contains fantastic Maori carvings adorned with paua and a painted rib ceiling. There are beautiful stained glass and etched glass windows.

South Beach and Castlecliff Beach are scenic strands on either side of the mouth of the Whanganui River but they are not good for swimming. Fifteen kms north on SH3 lies the amazing cliff-surrounded Mowhanau Beach (Kai Iwi) with ideal windsurfing winds. Bushy Park Homestead and Forest is located close by.

Wanagui offers a good choice of culinary delights. The one week long Wanganui Arts Festival happens in late March in the even numbered years. The Blooming Artz Festival in September in odd numbered years highlights gardens and arts.

LooknbookNZ can take care of your Wanganui City accommodation and Wanganui City activities bookings and allow you and your family/friends to soak in the amazing history of Wanganui and the delights of its famous river.