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New Zealand > West Coast
> Whanganui
Whanganui straddles the wide, graceful Whanganui
River, near the west coast of the North Island.
Fed by the river and nurtured by the temperate
climate, the area surrounding Whanganui is an
abundant and fertile valley.
A proudly green city,
Whanganui is filled with mature trees and green
areas. The city is dotted with parks, public
gardens and private gardens which can be toured by
arrangement. Virginia Lake, just north of the city,
is the most spectacular of these. It has a formal
garden display with something to delight year-round
– in winter, the indoor gardens bloom oblivious to
the cold weather outdoors. There is also a walk-in
aviary in which you can interact with an array of
birds from around the world. At night, a
magnificent fountain located in the lake itself
lights up to put on a stunning light and music
display and illuminates the nearby trees with its
coloured lights.
The historic Moutua
Gardens are also worth visiting. Claimed as Maori
land in 1995, they were the site of a massive
occupation which lasted several months and strained
race relations in New Zealand almost to breaking
point. However, when the High Court threw out the
Maori claim on the land, the occupation ended
peacefully. Today, the government, city council and
local iwi (Maori tribe) share management of the
gardens.
Whanganui’s regional
museum celebrates the rich history of the area. One
of the best regional museums in the country, some of
the highlights include the Te-Mata-o-Houroa waka
(traditional carved canoe) and an impressive display
of moa skeletons. It can be found on Watt St.
The Whanganui River,
which wends through Whanganui city, has its source is
at Mount Tongariro in the centre of the North
Island. At 290km, it is one of the North Island’s
longest rivers. You can cruise the river and take
in the sights of the city on the Otunui historic
paddle steamer. Cruises depart beneath the city
bridge at 11am daily. You can also check out the
progress of the restoration of the Waimarie
side-paddle steamboat, which sank in 1952. It was
salvaged to restoration in 1992, and the Riverboat
Centre on Taupo Quay gives a full account of the
project.
The River provides
adventure and excitement for canoeists with over 200
listed rapids. However, it is gentle enough to
be negotiated by novice canoeists. It is an
ideal mix of mild challenge without too much danger.
One of the stranger
features of the Whanganui River is the “bridge to
nowhere”. A fully operational, arched bridge was
built in 1936 to provide access to a remote pioneer
settlement. However, the settlement was abandoned
soon after, and the track leading to it was quickly
overwhelmed by the native bush – leaving an isolated
bridge leading to nowhere. Due to the remote
location of the bridge, it can only be reached by
jet boat or by a three-day tramp through the bush –
but it makes for a good excuse to take an exciting
jet boat ride up the river. Commercial jet boat
operators offer fast-paced sight-seeing tours
departing from Whanganui, and also from Pipiriki a
small town 71km north of Whanganui which is
considered the gateway to Whanganui National Park.
It is the hub of many outdoor adventures such as
tramping and boating.
Between Pipiriki and
Whanganui on the River Rd lies the town of
Jerusalem. This is the historic home of the famous
New Zealand poet James K Baxter. Much of his later
poetry was written here and inspired by the area.
Jerusalem is also home to Sister Mary Aubert’s
Catholic Mission.
Along Whanganui’s
coastline lie spectacular black sand beaches. The
almost deep-blue colour of these sands were created
by volcanic minerals, and they make for impressive
scenery. They are also excellent swimming beaches,
with excellent waves for keen surfers.
Whanganui has a wide range of dining and
accommodation options to suit all budgets. Contact the Visitors
Information Centre on Guyton Street for more information
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