WHANGANUI HERITAGE MONTH
Heritage Month - Introduction
Planning for Heritage Month 2023 is under way....
Please keep visiting these pages for updates.
In the meantime we have left our information from 2022 on these pages so you can see examples of the fun events and experiences we offer.
Heritage Month 2022
Saturday 8th to Sunday 30th October 2022
Join us for an exciting line-up of events including our first ever heritage parade and park-up including horse-drawn carriages, cycles and vintage cars. This year’s transport theme and a varied program of 42 events will appeal to everyone.
Full details of our Events can be found using the menu to the right of this page
Visit Whanganui anytime for a genuine heritage experience:
Whanganui won New Zealand’s Most Beautiful City Award in 2019 and 2020 and is now a UNESCO City of Design. Come and experiece our beautiful heritage city and find out why. We’d suggest you check out the Visit Whanganui website for more information or visit the I-Site in Taupo Quay on arrival: www.visitwhanganui.nz
These are our favourites but there is something for everyone in Whanganui. Its easy to walk around the town center and see a wide variety of sites without getting in your car.
Walkable Sites
- Every Saturday: Rivertraders Market. 9am-1pm. Taupo Quay near the I-Site. Great food, coffee, produce and arts and crafts. A great way to start your weekend.
- Durie Hill Elevator and Lookout - the Elevator is $2pp one way or you can walk up the steps. This is a number 1 stop for visitors.
- Quartz Ceramics Museum - NZ's only ceramic museum.
- Sarjeant Art Gallery on Taupo Quay and the Whanganui Regional Museum off Watt Street.
- Victoria Avenue boutique shops and cafes during the day and fairy lights at night - the Old Firestation Le Station boutique on Guyton St is also worth a visit.
- NZ Glassworks plus Brown & Co- hot glass blowing and first class fabulous glass art at these two sites on Drews Avenue.
- Taupo Quay Walk & bike path alongside the riverfront
Town Centre Short Walking Tour
- Drews Avenue precinct. Leave the car behind at Taupo Quay and stroll up Drews Avenue. Cafes, bars, fabulous glass galleries and quirky shops can be found along Drews Avenue.
- Continue up the hill to Pukenamu Queens Park for great views. The renown Sarjeant Gallery is under restoration, but visit the public library, Alexander Heritage Library and a must see is the Whanganui Regional Museum.
- Continue up to Guyton Street, and visit Paiges Book Gallery. Stroll down to Victoria Avenue. Turn right for faster food outlets, or left for the bulk of the shopping and eats district. At Taupo Quay turn left and visit the Sarjeant Gallery before heading back to your car. Or pop over to St Hill Street: and walk past the gorgeous Whanganui Opera House, then onto Cooks Garden - famous for Peter Snell's world record 4 minute mile.
- Waimarie Riverboat Center on Taupo Quay is not only beautiful but has a great little museum.
- Waimarie paddle steamer and Wairua river boat are usually in operation. Take a ride on this boats from yesteryear.
Food and Cafes
- Whanganui has a wide range of great cafes. You just can't go wrong.
Art Galleries
- Whanganui has the renown Sarjeant Art Gallery, temporary located on Taupo Quay, but also numerous quality and quirky private galleries. Get your guide at the I-Site.
Music
- First Friday of every month: Whanganui Musicians Club, from 7.30pm. Savage Club Hall. Great music, bring your own food and drinks. $15pp see: whanganuimusiciansclub.co.nz
5-20 Minute Drives
- Rangioria Street: fabulous cafe and beach in the suburb of Castlecliff - 10 minute drive.
- Paloma Gardens - private succulant and bamboo garden - 15 minute drive - $10 entry pp - well worth the drive.
- Bushy Park heritage home and native reserve- cafe on site and fabulous bush walks. 20 min drive. Entry is free.
- St Pauls Maori Church Putiki - Category 1 Site. Talk to the Isite for access. short drive
- Virginia Lake - Beautiful walk around the lake and gardens. Cafe of site. 5 minute drive
- Bason Botanic Gardens - walk or drive around these beautiful gardens, play a ball game, throw a frizbee or have a bbq.10 minute drive.
Biking
- Route stretches along the banks of the Whanganui River up to the small village of Upokongaro via the new suspension bridge and down to the North Mole river mouth entrance.
- Visit the pub or café at Upokongaro – you deserve it.
