A few months in the past, I reconnected with a buddy, Nikki, right here in New Zealand. Nikki attended one of many on-line bootcamps I used to co-run, the place we taught folks the way to construct a profession in journey or begin their companies. Last 12 months she and her companion determined to depart Wellington and head a few hours north to Whanganui, the place they’ve simply opened their boutique gin distillery, Papaiti Gin.
Whanganui sits midway between Wellington and Taranaki on the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island, one of many nation’s oldest cities. As we yarned on a Zoom name, I used to be instantly struck by how cool Whanganui sounded. My author’s ears perked proper up, listening to issues like a foodie scene, road artwork, cool nature, and artistic folks. I needed to go.
Over the years, I’ve handed by means of Whanganui, however I’ve by no means really frolicked there. And I’ve been right here a very long time, and I’ve been in every single place, and it’s not usually that I really feel surprised by a vacation spot anymore. And guys, wow, Whanganui shocked me a lot! It was time to go to Whanganui correctly.
I don’t assume I can emphasize sufficient simply how vital the Whanganui River is, each previously, current, and future. In truth, it’s so vital that in 2017 the Whanganui River was acknowledged in New Zealand legislation as a residing being with authorized personhood.
For Māori, the Whanganui River has lengthy been a significant supply of meals, transport, and a religious dwelling. It’s been settled for almost one thousand years. Once Europeans arrived, they eliminated many buildings alongside the river the place Māori caught eels so their steamboats might journey additional. The Whanganui River is considered one of New Zealand’s oldest tourism facilities, with guests because the late nineteenth century. On your journey to go to Whanganui, it’s essential to spend a while on the river.
There is a widely known Māori whakataukī (proverb) that ends:
‘E rere kau mai te Āwanui,
Mai i te Kāhui maunga ki Tangaroa
Ko au te awa ko te awa ko au.’
“The great river flows from the mountains to the sea. I am the river; the river is me.”
Anyways, add Whanganui, New Zealand, to your bucket record ASAP. It’s not usually that I stumble throughout a spot that surprises me as a lot as Whanganui did. A visible feast, it’s acquired every part I like in a single place: epic nature, unbelievable historical past and tradition, nice foodie spots, and a thriving arts scene.
Whanganui was every part Nikki described and extra. It’s excellent! When you consider a spot that’s up and coming, that is it.
I’ve acquired heaps of tales to share about my week-long journey right here; to go to Whanganui is to be delighted and shocked. Here are 30 of my favourite images from the journey – take pleasure in.
Spend a while on the enduring Whanganui River
New Zealand’s longest-navigable river is likely one of the most extraordinary pure areas within the nation.
Here you’ve gotten the very best of every part from historical past and tradition to unbelievable nature, all related by the longest navigable river within the nation. Clocking in at 290 kilometers lengthy, it is usually formally considered one of New Zealand’s Great Walks, however as a substitute of mountaineering on land, the Whanganui Journey is a Great Walk on water.
You can paddle it in a Canadian-style canoe over three or 5 days staying in DOC huts alongside the way in which. This just isn’t a visit for solo vacationers or those that aren’t robust swimmers, can paddle for hours and hours, or don’t have canoe/kayak expertise. But one of the best ways to expertise the river is on a guided journey.
I used to be fortunate sufficient to hitch in on a neighborhood Māori-owned and operated three-day journey with Whanganui River Adventures. We didn’t get so fortunate as we occurred to time it with the arrival of that vast, uncommon cyclone that hit Auckland and the North Island this summer time. We acquired in the future of paddling in earlier than the river flooded in a single day, and we needed to abort. At least this provides me an enormous motive to return again!
Another nice strategy to get on the river nearer to city is to hop on the Waimarie, New Zealand’s solely coal-fired paddle steamer working from the golden riverboat period of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. They even have nice sustainability values.
Sleep within the Ioana Tiny House – a ship become a house
It’s not daily you get to remain in a historic boat that’s been transformed into a contemporary and trendy tiny dwelling. The Iona Tiny House was dropped at life by native architect Elinor and sits alongside the banks of the Whanganui River, proper throughout from the middle of city. You’ve acquired metropolis and nature proper in your doorstep right here, actually.
Made from the timber hull of the Iona, a historic boat, it’s probably the most attention-grabbing and artistic locations I’ve stayed in New Zealand! With all of the trimmings and comforts you anticipate in a really cool setup, it’s excellent. And did I point out the picket out of doors spa?
Normally I get to remain in these locations for just one or two nights, however I spent almost every week right here. It was powerful to depart.
Meander by means of Bushy Park searching for birds
Coming off the Whanganui River early meant that I had further time on my palms. What would I seek for first? Native birds, in fact.
Whanganui is dwelling to one of many coolest predator-free ecosanctuaries in New Zealand: Bushy Park. I’d by no means heard of it, and it’s free! You may drive contained in the reserve, which is uncommon for locations like this. Bushy Park is a must-do should you’re eager to go to Whanganui and love wildlife.
Since I had no expectations, I used to be utterly blown away by this place. It was magical! And I had all of it to myself. With a number of kilometers of strolling tracks by means of Bushy Park, there’s one thing for everybody. You’ll additionally see a few of our rarer birds, together with the hihi/stitchbird and tīeke/saddlebacks. It’s additionally dwelling to Ratanui, the biggest rata tree in New Zealand.
Take a gin crafting class with Papaiti Gin
No one has been extra enthusiastic concerning the gin growth than me through the years. While I can’t fairly put my finger on the 12 months, I spotted I simply couldn’t drink something candy anymore; I bear in mind falling in love with gin in Spain. And boutique and small-batch distilleries? Well, these are my fave.
I used to be so stoked to listen to Nikki take the leap of religion and open her personal gin distillery in Whanganui. When they moved as much as Whanganui from Wellington again in 2021, their home got here with pear orchards. Unsure of what to do with the fruit, the thought to launch a gin distillery appeared, they usually haven’t regarded again since.
Freshly open and working, Papaiti Gin options botanicals that mirror the land the place they craft it, comparable to kawakawa, lemon, quince, basil, rose hip, stinging nettle, and, in fact, pears. Papaiti is a small space of land above Aramoho on the appropriate financial institution of the Whanganui River. My favourite of their gins is unquestionably the Potager, which has probably the most wonderful citrus style.
They supply a gin crafting expertise, which I heartily signed up for. It was a lot enjoyable making an attempt to select the botanicals, and I cherished to whip up my very own batch. It didn’t prove half dangerous, both!
Check out the wonderful Whanganui Regional Museum
Ok, pay attention, guys. I do know I’m a nerd. I like native museum. And the Whanganui Regional Museum is spectacular. And it’s free. Home to an unbelievable taonga Māori assortment of artwork, historic objects, and Lindauer portraits. And upstairs, it has probably the most epic assortment of moa bones, the massive flightless extinct birds that after roamed New Zealand. I used to be blown away. I spent three hours right here and broke my “no more buying new books” rule on the reward store.
And simply so as to add to that, one thing I discovered about Whanganui is the way to pronounce it accurately. In New Zealand, we be taught principally that in te reo Māori (Māori language), the letter mixture “wh” is pronounced as an “f.” However, the native dialect right here drops the “h” and pronounces it as “Wanganui.”
Now, it is a gross oversimplification, however right here we go. Now some older pākehā (white kiwis) are nonetheless, properly, fairly racist and refuse to pronounce issues accurately with the “f” sound for “wh,” in addition to worldwide guests who simply don’t know.
And then the remainder of us who pronounce them as we’ve got discovered to, with the “f” sound for “wh.” But then you definately go to Whanganui, and it’s pronounced as a “w,” so that you get woke folks like me making an attempt tremendous exhausting to say every part accurately, but nonetheless messing it up. But now you realize. It’s appropriate to check with “Whanganui” as “Wanganui” when spoken. No “f” sounds on this a part of the woods.
Get misplaced within the Paloma Gardens
As somebody borderline obsessive about botanic gardens, I couldn’t consider my eyes after I stepped contained in the Paloma Gardens outdoors Whanganui for the primary time. How had I by no means heard of this wonderland? It completely ought to have been in my ebook!
Here Nicki and Clive Higgie have spent over 30 years creating and sculpting probably the most spectacular gardens within the nation. $10 money in an honesty field will allow you to in, and should you’re like me, I wandered for hours and didn’t see one other particular person. If you need to go to Whanganui and see the inexperienced facet of the world, make sure to head right here.
Check out the wonderful road artwork
I’ve at all times thought a metropolis that invests in road artwork is a extremely cool metropolis. After a number of festivals over the previous few years, well-known road artists have flocked to create unbelievable murals across the outdated metropolis heart.
Additionally, among the best methods to discover downtown Whanganui is by wandering round and testing the road artwork. How many can you discover?
Indulge within the rising foodie scene
I don’t assume I had a foul meal or a foul espresso the complete time I went to go to Whanganui. I undoubtedly overdid it with the meals, although!
- Favorite espresso: Article Cafe
- Favorite brekkie: Little Curious Bagels
- Favorite lunch: Mud Ducks
- Favorite dinner: Maria Lane Eatery
- Favorite bar: Porridge Watson
Make a paperweight at New Zealand Glassworks
There won’t be one other glassblowing studio in New Zealand the place you may pop in and do an hour-long workshop to make your personal glass paperweight. You’ll love making one thing with glass should you’re something like me. There’s one thing so mesmerizing about it, and it’s actually lovely.
The artists at New Zealand Glassworks are world-famous, and their work is unbelievable, which you’ll recognize all of the extra after making an attempt to make a paperweight.
Their paperweight glassblowing workshops replenish quick, so get in fast.
Take within the buzzing artwork scene
Whanganui is dwelling to a whole lot of working artists, and it has a really inventive vibe to it that you just’ll decide up instantly. And the artwork scene is simply rising. It additionally feels contemporary, welcoming, and thrilling, such as you’re discovering new galleries and artists to observe.
Also, there are heaps of nice artwork galleries and two spectacular artwork museums: The Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare o Rehua and Quartz Museum of Studio Ceramics.
Climb up the Durie Hill Tower for the very best views of Whanganui
Durie Hill is a cute little suburb overlooking Whanganui and is dwelling to the one underground and public transport elevator in New Zealand. Over a century outdated, you stroll down an extended tunnel on the backside of the hill earlier than hopping on the elevator – $2 every approach. The Durie Hill elevator is an iconic vacationer attraction if you wish to go to Whanganui, however locals additionally use it to get dwelling.
The views on the prime are wonderful, however be sure to climb the 113-meter-tall tower, which serves as a battle memorial to the 513 folks from Whanganui who died in WWI.
Head to the seaside for sundown
Finally, it’s simple to think about the river when you think about Whanganui, nevertheless it additionally sits proper up alongside a reasonably stretch of shoreline. With three nice seashores a simple distance from town, you’ve acquired a little bit of every part: South Beach, Kai Iwi Beach, and Castlecliff Beach.
Most are patrolled in summer time with lifeguards, and they’re lovely to stroll alongside for sundown.
Have you been eager to go to Whanganui? Have you been earlier than? Spill.
Many due to Whanganui and Partners for internet hosting me on this wonderful journey – like at all times, I’m holding it actual. All opinions are my very own, like you would anticipate much less from me.