t Heritage Buildings Tram Art Market Visitor Guide Easy Parking Boardwalk Cafés Bookings Tours Information Free Wi For what’s happening we book in Whanganui... buses ferries Music, markets, shows, events trains tours and everything else going on! activities accommodation whanganuiwhatson.nz Whanganui Event Calendar Wanganui i-SITE Visitor Centre 31 Taupo Quay, Whanganui Phone: 06 349 0508 [email protected] www.whanganuiwhatson.nz WhanganuiNZ.com 3 Haere mai RA P D A OA ki Whanganui N UI R 4 Welcome to Whanganui 4 3 r e iv R i u n a g n a h W 3 Whanganui is one of New Zealand’s most interesting and distinctive places to visit with a rich cultural heritage and vibrant arts scene. We hope you enjoy your stay and take the time to explore, get to know us and our beautiful landscape, history and people. The Whanganui River, Te Awa o Whanganui, is the longest navigable river in New Zealand and an integral part of our district, shaping the development, settlement and history of both early Māori and European settlers. Blessed with an abundance of natural attributes, unspoilt native forest, a temperate climate with above average sunshine hours and stunning west coast beaches, Whanganui has attracted visitors and residents over the ages. We are big enough to entertain with a multitude of outdoor, cultural activities and events and yet small enough to keep it real. Our manaakitanga (hospitality) is legendary and we keep it casual and friendly. You may notice the two different spellings – Wanganui and Whanganui. The district has used both spellings since the mid-1800’s as local iwi pronounciation makes the ‘wh’ sound similar to ‘what’ and ‘where.’ European settlers then wrote the name as they heard it. Both names were recognised in Parliament in 2012 and it is now a matter of choice. Stay a little longer with us and experience all Whanganui has to offer. Tēnā koutou katoa. 1 Whanganui National Park National Park Raetihi Taupō Whanganui Contents Pipiriki Region W H A N G A N U I R I V E R R Whanganui’s Story 4 O A D Jerusalem / Hiruhārama Whanganui’s Top 10 Things to Do 6 Wha nga nu i R Rānana iv e Whanganui’s Best Events 10 r 4 Arts & Heritage 14 Whanganui National Park Matahiwi Te Awa o Whanganui / Whanganui River 24 Koriniti OAD R R E V I R I Cycling, Trails & Walkways 36 U N A G N Ātene A H W Parks & Gardens 40 Beaches 44 New Plymouth River ui n a g Parakino n Maxwell a Other Activities & Attractions 46 h W 4 Kaiwhaiki Mangamahu Kai Iwi Places to Stay 52 Upokongaro 3 Places to Eat 64 Kai Iwi Beach Fordell WHANGANUI Palmerston North 3 Wellington Getting here From Distance Time Palmerston North 74km 1 hour New Plymouth 159km 2 hours 15 mins National Park 122km 1 hour 30 mins Taupō 219km 2 hours 45 mins Wellington 194km 2 hours 40 mins Auckland 443km 5 hours 30 mins 2 visitwhanganui.nz Contents 3 Whanganui’s Story As one of New Zealand’s oldest towns you cannot explain Whanganui without understanding a little of its history. Māori History Established at the river mouth in 1840 and originally named ‘E rere kau mai te awanui Petre by European settlers, Whanganui means ‘big bay’ or Mai i te kāhui maunga ki Tangaroa ‘big harbour’. With such a forgiving climate and bountiful Ko au te awa, ko te awa ko au.’ supplies Whanganui was declared a city in 1924 and was NZ’s ‘The great river flows 5th largest city until 1936. From the mountains to the sea A military garrison was installed in 1846 with the last garrison I am the river, the river is me.’ leaving in early 1870. By the early 1900’s business in Whanganui was booming. The Whanganui River tourist trade took off, with This whakataukī (proverb) defines the iwi (Māori) of the thousands of passengers being transported on Alexander Whanganui River and region. From the sacred mountains of the Hatrick’s riverboat fleet up ‘The Rhine of New Zealand’. Central Plateau, the Whanganui River begins its journey of Hatrick made the river accessible to everybody: rich tourists, nearly 300km and is eventually released into the Tasman Sea, settlers and farmers in the interior and Whanganui citizens. off the western coastline of Whanganui. Along its length the people of Te Ātihaunui-a-Pāpārangi (Whanganui iwi) have Whanganui thrived as it serviced a huge fertile agricultural lived for over 40 generations. catchment area, rearing sheep and cattle, as well as growing barley, wheat, oats, maize, fruit and timber. Our district boundaries fall across the ancestral boundaries of Tamaūpoko and Tūpoho on the river, the South Taranaki iwi, Boasting a number of New Zealand ‘firsts’, original sporting Ngā Rauru Kītahi and Ngāti Apa of the Rangitīkei. Customs, clubs and organisations, the bi-cultural heritage of Whanganui tikanga (protocol) and values including manaakitanga is obvious in the town buildings, galleries and museums. This (hospitality) and kaitiakitanga (guardianship) emphasise the rich cultural and natural environment has created the affinity of Māori with their ancestral landscapes and culture. charming place and numerous attractions you visit today. 4 visitwhanganui.nz Whanganui’s Story 5 Whanganui’s Top 10 Things to Do The Whanganui River Putiki Church Te Awa o Whanganui St Paul’s Memorial Church is (Whanganui River) is the one of the most intricately and longest navigable river in beautifully decorated churches New Zealand and attracts in Aotearoa. This unique cyclists, hikers, canoeists building is adorned with Maori and day trippers. The river tukutuku, lattice designs and is part of Te Araroa and the carvings which speak of the Whanganui Journey is one history of the church and area. of the NZ’s Great Walks. The church site dates back to 1840 and the current church Sarjeant Gallery was constructed in 1937. Te Whare o Rehua Waimarie The Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare o Rehua Whanganui holds The Waimarie is a unique more than 8000 artworks in its turn-of-the-century paddle collection with a steamer and the last comprehensive New Zealand coal-fired paddle steamer in art history from the 1840’s to NZ. Moored on the banks of the present day. Currently the river near the Waimarie located on Taupo Quay. Centre, we celebrate the riverboat era of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. 6 visitwhanganui.nz Whanganui’s Top 10 Things to Do 7 Durie Hill Elevator & Tower Mountains to Sea Cycle Trail Sixty-six metres high, the Durie Hill Elevator was built The Mountains to Sea Cycle in 1919 and is NZ’s only public Trail is the most diverse in underground elevator and NZ. With numerous sections the only one in the southern beginning in Ruapehu, the hemisphere. A pedestrian final stage brings you down the tunnel leads to the elevator and Whanganui River Road, past at the top the panoramic views historic landmarks both Māori of the Tasman Sea, Mount and European. Carry on into Ruapehu and Mount Taranaki the city, past public art on the are amazing. riverbank and out to where the river meets the Tasman Sea. New Zealand Glassworks New Zealand Glassworks – Te Whare Tūhua o Te Ao KŌwhai Park (NZG) ) is the first national The riverside Kōwhai Park centre for glass in the country has entertained and delighted and is helping to unify and children over the decades support the already established with an octopus swing, snake community of glass artists see-saw, water maze and here in Whanganui and New Tot-Town Railway. A must for Zealand. NZG is an exciting and families with young children interactive glass facility open to and a favourite for all. the entire community. The River Traders & Whanganui The Ward Observatory Farmers Market The Ward Observatory houses a 24cm telescope, the The River Traders and largest unmodified refractor Whanganui Farmers Market telescope still in use in recreates days gone by of New Zealand. See the stars hustling trading activity and Saturn on a beautiful with up to 100 stalls of food, clear night. art, plants and crafts every Saturday morning. Check out ‘Mable’, Tram No. 12 while you are there. 8 visitwhanganui.nz Whanganui’s Top 10 Things to Do 9 Whanganui’s Best Events There’s never a shortage of things to do Wanganui Opera Week and see in Whanganui – from community In support of the residential NZ Opera School held in January events to our iconic events. To keep up to every year, young opera singers have the opportunity to develop their abilities with tutors of international standing. Public date, take a look at the events calendar at events include Master Classes, lunchtime and evening recitals visitwhanganui.nz and a gala concert. Who knows, you may be lucky enough to hear the next Pavarotti or Dame Kiri… www.wanganuioperaweek.co.nz Cemetery Circuit Motorcycle Street Races Of international fame and over 60 years old, the Cemetery Whanganui Vintage Weekend Circuit captures the hearts and minds of motorcycle If you’re a vintage enthusiast or just yearn for yesteryear you enthusiasts and spectators everywhere! Formula 1, BEARS, must come to Whanganui Vintage Weekend, our premiere classics and side cars, international and national legends, this heritage event. Spread over three days during Wellington street circuit is one mile long with eight corners, one railway Anniversary Weekend in January we guarantee you will be crossing, an over-bridge and blind ‘S’ bends beside the old transported to a bygone era. Music abounds at the Caboodle and Whanganui cemetery. If you have just a sniff of petrolhead in the Soapbox Derby races down Pukenamu Drive to Drews Ave.