From genteel cruises on historic river boats to garden ambles, glass-blowing, excursions into the national park and one of New Zealand’s most innovative heritage galleries, we’ve picked seven of the best things to do in Whanganui.
1. Virginia Lake
Whanganui is known as the garden city and Rotokawau Virginia Lake, a public park, is a fine example of a gorgeous garden. The 25-minute walk around the lake passes through gardens and woodlands. In the middle of the lake is the Higginbottom Fountain, installed in 1971, which is imaginatively lit-up for a 40-minute display each evening, and activated at other times with a gold coin. If the weather is inclement, not to worry, the extensive glass-covered winter gardens are warm and brightly filled with blooms all year round. There is a great playground for children and, while they play, the Funky Duck Café is great for grownups to while away the time.
2. The Bridge to Nowhere
Walk or bike the Kaiwhakauka Track or navigate the Whanganui River to the Mangapūrua Landing then take a gentle 40-minute walk through beautiful native bush and you’re there. Where? Nowhere. Actually, the Bridge to Nowhere. During the First World War, the government offered land in the Mangapūrua and Kaiwhakauka valleys to returned servicemen as part of a soldier settlement scheme. The men cleared brutal scrub and bush, carved out roadways and tried to make a go of it. A wooden swing bridge was constructed across the Mangapūrua Stream in 1919, which was replaced by the current steel reinforced concrete version in 1936. Around 40m above the river within the sheer ravine walls, this is a serious piece of engineering; you can still see the remains of the old swing bridge down below, which cast the later version in an even greater light. It’s magnificent.
3. Paloma Gardens
Take a botanical trip around the world at Paloma Gardens. Here, exotic landscapes have been curated in habitats that represent different ecosystems from countries across the globe. Stunning groves of bamboo, towering palms and a whole hillside planted in Agave, Yucca, cacti and succulents represent their native homes in the Pacific, the deserts of the Americas, Asia and Africa. Wander down the manicured expanse of the Wedding Lawn, explore (carefully) the Garden of Death, stroll through the expansive Arboretum, keep an eye out for the resident peacock, or pack a picnic to enjoy next to the large homemade pond. Recognised as a Garden of National Significance, Paloma Gardens really is a landscape like no other in New Zealand.
4. Durie Hill Tunnel and Tower
Tunnels and towers are fascinating. Whanganui has both, and even better, they are joined together by a historic elevator. Near Whanganui’s City Bridge a 213m, echoing and brightly lit pedestrian tunnel is dug into the heart of Durie Hill. The Durie Hill tunnel leads to New Zealand’s only public underground elevator, which takes you 66 metres up to the top of the hill. The elevator was built in 1919 to provide residents with easier access from the city, rather than climbing the 191-step staircase nearby. Durie Hill War Memorial Tower was built a few years later, and from the top you have magnificent views over the city, the mighty Whanganui River and out to the Tasman sea.
5. Whanganui River cruises
Take a leisurely trip up the Whanganui River on one of two historic boat cruises. Originally built in 1899, the Waimarie is New Zealand’s only coal-powered paddle steamer. Salvaged from the river bed twenty years ago and carefully restored, this historic river queen now takes up to 80 passengers on river outings. Experience the changing scenery alongside the river and learn about its fascinating history ashore at the Waimarie Riverboat Centre. Alternatively, climb aboard the equally historic MV Wairua. First launched in 1904 the MV Wairua carried passengers, mail and cargo over an 80km section of river which included over 100 rapids, for 34 years. Similarly sunk, salvaged and saved, today the MV Wairua provides passengers with picnic trips, cruises and charters.
6. New Zealand Glassworks
In Whanganui, you’ll also find the only open-access glass studio in New Zealand. New Zealand Glassworks – Te Whare Tūhua o Te Ao – is both a gallery filled with beautiful glass artworks and a mesmerising studio where you can watch artists in action. In ‘the pit’ artists and tutors work together heating and cooling blobs of glowing glass as they are pushed, stretched, rolled and melded into useful or beautiful things. Glass has a working temperature of between 600ºC and 1,100ºC – anywhere below 600ºC, it starts to harden. At New Zealand Glassworks, the gas furnace is set at 1,100ºC and can hold up to an astonishing 300kg of molten glass. The on-site gallery features works from established glass artists from around New Zealand alongside recent Whanganui UCOL graduates, with works ranging from $35 to $35,000. And, at New Zealand Glassworks you can also try your hand at melding molten glass with a popular glass blowing workshop where you can make your own glass paperweight.
7. Sarjeant Gallery
Although its magnificent purpose-built home is currently closed due to earthquake strengthening, the Sarjeant Gallery building is still worth a visit from the outside. Set on the rise overlooking Pukenamu, Queens Park, the 1919 Sarjeant Gallery is one of Aotearoa’s most beautiful and innovative heritage buildings. In 1912 a competition to design the new gallery building was won by 19 year-old Donald Hosie from Dunedin. Hosie based his plans on the classical footprint of a 15th Century Italian villa, but with a revolutionary twist: the central dome is structured so that the gallery walls are flooded with light. Even today, the Sarjeant Gallery is one of only two buildings in the world with such a unique design for natural lighting and when it was constructed, it was considered the Rolls Royce of galleries. Today, the Sarjeant Gallery’s collections are temporarily housed in another heritage building on Taupō Quay until the $35 million upgrade is complete. From historic works by esteemed local painters like Edith Collier to quirky curations of contemporary art, the Sarjeant Gallery is the cornerstone of the Whanganui arts scene.
