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There is much history in Wanganui and the surrounding area. Visitors should stay for at least two days. Wanganui is New Zealand's third oldest settlement and has some fine old buildings, most restored and painted in heritage colours. Children enjoy the brass-rubbing trail around the city centre. The museum has an extensive collection of Maori artefacts and a re-creation of a Wanganui Street in Victorian times.
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| No visit to this area is complete without seeing the Bridge to Nowhere. This 4-5 hour trip from Pipiriki (www.whanganuiriveradventures.co.nz) is a wonderful way of experiencing the river’s beauty but also of learning about a bygone era. You can drive along the River Road to Pipiriki, stopping at little places such as Koroniti, Atene (famous for its skyline tramp) and Jerusalem (made famous by Mother Suzanne Aubert and James K. Baxter). At Pipiriki, take the tour to the Bridge to Nowhere then continue along the road to Raetihi, returning via State Highway 4. A leisurely way to do this trip is to catch a ride with the mail coach (www.whanganuitours.co.nz) which waits for you in Pipiriki then returns you home. For a different experience full of culture and history, go with Whanganui River Road Tours (www.whanganuiriverroad.com) and learn about the myths and legends associated with the river. |
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Paddle Steamer Waimarie (http://www.riverboat.co.nz), New Zealand’s oldest paddle steamer, was relaunched as midnight ushered in the new millennium. The Waimarie leads a new life as a leisurely cruise boat on the Whanganui River sailing past Arles daily in the summer time.
The Tawhiti Museum (www.tawhitimuseum.co.nz) in Hawera, 1 hour’s drive north of Wanganui, is one of New Zealand’s emerging gems. In 1975 it was a disused cheese factory when Nigel and Teresa Ogle bought it to further their hobby and store their private collection. It has life-size exhibits and working models all built by Nigel. It is a ‘must see’ when visiting this part of New Zealand.
There are many parks and sports grounds dotted throughout the city. The most beloved is Kowhai Park. Originally a potato field in the early 1900s, it was turned into a children's playground in the early 1960s by the Wanganui Jaycees. Children love the fantasy of sliding down a dinosaur’s neck, swinging on an octopus and climbing up the clock tower. There are gas barbecues in the pumpkin -perfect for an end-of-the-day barbecue.
Barbecues can also be found at Bason Botanical Reserve, a magnificent rural area just minutes from town. Bason Reserve has many walking trails plus specialised gardens from the cottage homestead garden to the begonia house.
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At the end of the day, a stroll around Virginia Lake will soothe the soul. Time it right and you can watch the beautiful water lily fountain with its changing colours.
And we can’t forget our beaches. They may not be pristine with golden sand. The west coast beaches are full of hard-packed black sand strewn with shells and driftwood that stretches the imagination with its twisted shapes worn smooth by the surf. Perfect for a romantic evening stroll to watch the setting sun.
Oh, did I mention Wanganui is only 2 hours to New Plymouth, 2.5 hours to Wellington, 1.5 hours to Mounts Ruapehu, Ngaruahoe and Tongariro, and 2.5 hours to Lake Taupo.
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