Whanganui Travel Guide

 

​​The North Island's Whanganui region has a long and interesting history linking Māori and European culture.​



The regions untouched natural environment is one of the main attractions for visitors, with extensive rainforests providing a safe haven for New Zealand’s most endangered native birds including the kiwi, one of which is Bushy Park forest reserve, a predator-free bird sanctuary housed in 100ha of native forest. ​

 

Maintained since 1960, Bushy Park secures Whanganui's reputation for sustainability and includes a kiwi crèche which rears young kiwi.

Bushy Park’s multitude of tracks take you deep into the forest to witness New Zealand as it was before mans arrival.

 

One spectacular sight is Ratanui - a 500 - 1000 year-old rata tree which stands 43m tall with a 11.5m girth, New Zealand’s largest known rata tree.



The Whanganui river is a strong base for the regions Māori legends and traditions,  a trip down the river will enable you to experience the living Māori culture.  

Canoe trips led by Māori guides will take you to two marae (meeting houses) on the river banks where you can stay and participate in cultural traditions while the trip enables you to experience the river’s natural beauty.



Māori legend tells of a great Polynesian navigator - Kupe, who was the first to discover the Whanganui river.  Tamatea- the captain of the Takitimu canoe - was however the first to fully explore the region, it was form here that aotea canoe descendants began to settle in the region.

 

 

Whanganui consists of 8 main townships, all within the one region.

 

 

Please click on the region below to go to the area applicable, within the box you'll find the towns relative to the region in question.  Travel distances between sights in each region average between 30mins to 1hr.