Wanganui District: Glass, History and Forest

Glass art, Māori collections and milling history give Wanganui District its cultural character, alongside forest trails and the Whanganui Journey. In Whanganui, you’ll find New Zealand Glassworks – Te Whare Tūhua O Te Ao, the national centre for glass. Interactive and educational exhibitions complement workshops, demonstrations and events. Programmes and opening arrangements may change; check the latest information before your visit.

Culture, Collections and Milling History

Whanganui Regional Museum in Pukenamu Queen’s Park houses significant collections of Māori taonga and moa bones, as well as historical fashion, textiles and paintings of Whanganui rangatira in the Gottfried Lindauer Gallery. Māori taonga, natural history, clothing and paintings are all represented in the museum’s collections.

Kawana Mill in Matahiwi has New Zealand’s only surviving collection of milling machinery from the 1850s. It was also the longest-operating mill on the Whanganui River. The Whanganui River Markets also reflect the history of trade: they are held weekly on Saturdays at a historic site of early Māori trade. More than 100 stalls include local food producers and street food. Check the current schedule before planning your visit around the markets.

Forest Trails and Birdlife

The Waitahinga Trails are a collection of walking tracks in the decommissioned Whanganui Water Catchment Reserve. They include picnic areas and viewpoints, and offer options for a range of fitness levels. Much of the route passes beneath the canopy of native forest, including original forest and very old regenerating forest. Waitahinga Dam is one of the trail destinations. Before you travel, check whether any seasonal closures apply.

Bushy Park Tarapuruhi combines lush lowland forest with rare native birds, including North Island robins, saddlebacks and hihi. Entry is free, and visits are possible during daylight hours; check the latest visitor information beforehand.

River Journeys and Trails

The full Whanganui Journey is a 145-kilometre canoe trip from Taumarunui to the village of Pipiriki in Wanganui District. It takes an average of five days. Shorter trips are also available in the wider Manawatu-Wanganui destination.

The Upokongaro to Tasman Sea section of the Mountains to Sea Trail follows the lower Whanganui River and passes through Whanganui on its way to the Tasman Sea. If you’re planning to cycle this route, check the latest trail status beforehand. Another landmark in Whanganui is the Durie Hill Elevator: built in 1919, it is New Zealand’s only public transport elevator and is used daily by locals and visitors. Reach the elevator through a pedestrian tunnel; the ride up the hill is 66 metres long. Check before visiting whether any maintenance closures are scheduled.

In the Wider Manawatu-Wanganui Region

Whanganui National Park protects one of the North Island’s largest remaining lowland forest complexes. Popular activities include walking through wild lowland forest and taking river trips on the Whanganui; Māori culture is an important part of the park experience. Pipiriki is also a key access point to the Whanganui River in the wider Manawatu-Wanganui region.

Bridge to Nowhere is a major visitor attraction on the Whanganui Journey in the wider Manawatu-Wanganui region, and is considered the unofficial landmark of Whanganui National Park. The Bridge to Nowhere Walk is a three-kilometre loop with a walking time of one hour and 30 minutes. Shared with cyclists, it leads to the abandoned bridge. The bridge is one of the few remnants of the farming settlement in Mangapurua Valley. It symbolises the failed attempt to settle the hinterland with returned First World War soldiers and their families. Tīeke Marae/Kāinga is an active marae on the Whanganui Journey and offers a special cultural experience; visitors should observe marae protocol.

Discover more destinations: Whanganui, Manawatu District, Horowhenua District, Tararua District, Ruapehu District, Palmerston North City, Rangitikei District.

To the overview of the wider region: Manawatu-Wanganui.