River Region

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This remote and exciting corner of New Zealand is dominated by the moody but beautiful Whanganui River. Explore the Whanganui on a multi-day river trip with a personal guide and be transported to a place where legends come to life. The eerie solitude of the ‘Bridge to Nowhere’ across the Mangapurua Gorge gives a sense of how the river dominates. Venture into the wilderness of the Whanganui National Park on foot for another perspective on the region’s beauty. Wanganui, the river city, offers a range of cafés and restaurants, as well as a renowned gallery and museum.

Main Centres

Wanganui – historic river city.

Getting There

By Air – Wanganui Airport offers domestic flights.
By Road – 2 hours, 45 minutes’ drive from Wellington to Wanganui.

Eating Out

The Grand Restaurant (The Grand Hotel, Cnr St Hill and Guyton St, Wanganui, t +64 6 345 0955) – the dining room caters for all tastes and ages. 379
The Avenue Restaurant (Avenue Hotel & Conference Centre, 379 Victoria Ave, Wanganui, t +64 6 349 0044) – award-winning, fully licensed restaurant open Monday to Saturday for dinner.
Cracked Pepper Café (21 Victoria Ave, Wanganui, t +64 6 345 0444) – licensed café and restaurant with flavoursome food and a relaxed atmosphere. Open 7 days from 8am.
VEGA Restaurant & Bar (49 Taupo Quay, Wanganui, t +64 6 349 0078) – fully licensed restaurant and bar open for dinner from Tuesday to Saturday.
Stellar Restaurant (2 Victoria St, Wanganui, t +64 6 345 7278) – winner of several awards. Open 7 days for lunch and dinner.
Breakers Café & Bar (The Grand Hotel, Cnr St Hill St & Guyton St, t +64 6 345 0955) – great casual dining. Fast and friendly service and great prices.

Where to Drink

Stylish Bar

Indigo Café & Bar (1 Maria Pl, Wanganui, t +64 6 347 6111) – centrally located, Indigo offers a vibrant and exciting dining and bar space.

Cosy Pub

Rosie O’Grady’s Irish Pub (The Grand Hotel, Cnr St Hill St & Guyton St, t +64 6 345 0955) – authentic Irish pub in the heart of Wanganui.
Rutland Arms Inn (48 – 52 Ridgway St, Wanganui, t +64 6 347 7677) – English-style pub, with al fresco dining in summer and fireside dining in winter.

Coffee Fix

Oggies Café (53 Wilson St, Wanganui, t +64 6 348 8460) – regional winner in Café Magazine’s 2005 Best Café Awards. Judges called it “a great little café where there’s always a friendly attitude from the staff, where the food is excellent and coffee consistent.” Red Eye Café

Sights

The Whanganui River, New Zealand’s longest navigable waterway, is a beautiful, forest-fringed river.

The haunting Bridge to Nowhere amongst forest on the Whanganui River.

Action

Don’t miss the opportunity to take a canoe or kayak trip on this very spiritual river.

Go hiking in Whanganui National Park – home to rare native wildlife.

Relax

The Sarjeant Art Gallery in Wanganui is renowned for its neo-classical architecture and magnificent exhibitions.

Take a stroll at Bushy Park. An easy drive from Wanganui, this popular recreation area features 90ha of native forest including Ratanui, believed to be the largest Rata tree in the Southern Hemisphere.

THE experience

You can’t visit Wanganui without getting out on the waters of its famous river. Board the 100-year-old paddle steamer Waimarie for a river cruise.