Wanganui - A River City

Wanganui and it's river

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Wanganui City (pop about 45,000) is at the mouth of the Whanganui River (the spelling does change).  After the rivers amazing journey from the snow bound slopes of the mountains of the North Island's volcanic plateau and through spectacular rain forest gorges it finsishes its journey by meandering through pastoral coastal flats  that surrounds the  city and where it meets the Tasman Sea.

The city was once a major transport and manufacturing centre.  The river was the main overland transport artery through the North Island but the event of the railways in the early 1900's put finish to river transport and the industries died with end of import controls in the 1980's.  However the city is now enjoying a new lease of life but has still managed to retain its Edwardian charm

the river meets the ocean

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For the tourist the city offers a very central location, sort of 2 hours to everywhere; i.e. Wellington (the capital), Mt Ruapehu (ski fields), Mangaweka Gorge, (adventure tourism, bungy etc), Mt Taranaki (ski fields and climbing) and of course adventure boating on the river.  The nearby beaches have black iron sands, sometimes good surf and the beach stretches broken only by river mouths for about 150 klms. The city is well serviced with great shopping, plenty of every type of accommodation all in a mild coastal climate.

Most attractions and activities are a few steps from the main street including the race track.

The Serjeant Gallery in Queens Park boasts permanant collection of over 6,000 artworks featuring classical, colonial and modern works and regularly features touring exhibitions.  The neo-classical building is considered one of the best gallery's in NZ and enjoys excellent natural lighting. 

Colonial Edwardian charm

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The adjacent Regional Museum has a fine collection of Maori works and history of the region.  It also houses a national treasure of 20 paintings by Bohemian expat artist Gottfried Lindauer who settled in the district of maori portraits and figures from the turn of the century.

The Royal Wanganui Opera House was opened in 1899 to celebrate Queen Victoria's jubilee and received it's royal charter on it's centenery in  1999 and along with the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden are the only two royal opera houses honoured this way in the British Commonwealth.  Built entirely in wood it has the latest theatre facilities and has perfect accoustics.