A few months in the past, I reconnected with a good friend, 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 best way to construct a profession in journey or begin their companies. Final yr she and her accomplice determined to go away 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, avenue artwork, cool nature, and inventive people. I needed to go.
Through the years, I’ve handed via Whanganui, however I’ve by no means truly hung out 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 stunned 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 prior to now, current, and future. The truth is, 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. As soon as 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. In your journey to go to Whanganui, you should spend a while on the river.
There’s a well-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 nice river flows from the mountains to the ocean. I’m the river; the river is me.”
In any case, add Whanganui, New Zealand, to your bucket listing 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 all the things I like in a single place: epic nature, implausible historical past and tradition, nice foodie spots, and a thriving arts scene.
Whanganui was all the things Nikki described and extra. It’s excellent! Once 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 stunned. Listed below are 30 of my favourite photographs from the journey – take pleasure in.
Spend a while on the enduring Whanganui River
New Zealand’s longest-navigable river is without doubt one of the most extraordinary pure areas within the nation.
Right here you’ve gotten the most effective of all the things from historical past and tradition to unimaginable nature, all related by the longest navigable river within the nation. Clocking in at 290 kilometers lengthy, it’s also formally considered one of New Zealand’s Nice Walks, however as a substitute of mountaineering on land, the Whanganui Journey is a Nice Stroll on water.
You’ll be able to paddle it in a Canadian-style canoe over three or 5 days staying in DOC huts alongside the best way. This isn’t a visit for solo vacationers or those that aren’t sturdy swimmers, can paddle for hours and hours, or don’t have canoe/kayak expertise. However one of the best ways to expertise the river is on a guided journey.
I used to be fortunate sufficient to affix in on an area 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 at some point of paddling in earlier than the river flooded in a single day, and we needed to abort. No less than this provides me a giant purpose to come back again!
One other nice solution 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. In addition they have nice sustainability values.
Sleep within the Ioana Tiny Home – a ship become a house
It’s not on daily basis you get to remain in a historic boat that’s been transformed into a contemporary and classy tiny dwelling. The Iona Tiny Home 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 out of the timber hull of the Iona, a historic boat, it’s some of the attention-grabbing and inventive 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 wood out of doors spa?
Usually I get to remain in these locations for just one or two nights, however I spent almost per week right here. It was powerful to go away.
Meander via Bushy Park in search of birds
Coming off the Whanganui River early meant that I had further time on my arms. What would I seek for first? Native birds, after all.
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! It’s also possible to drive contained in the reserve, which is uncommon for locations like this. Bushy Park is a must-do for those who’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 via 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
Nobody has been extra enthusiastic concerning the gin growth than me over time. Whereas I can’t fairly put my finger on the yr, I noticed 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? Nicely, 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. After they moved as much as Whanganui from Wellington again in 2021, their home got here with pear orchards. Uncertain 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, reminiscent of kawakawa, lemon, quince, basil, rose hip, stinging nettle, and, after all, pears. Papaiti is a small space of land above Aramoho on the best financial institution of the Whanganui River. My favourite of their gins is certainly the Potager, which has essentially the most wonderful citrus style.
They provide a gin crafting expertise, which I heartily signed up for. It was a lot enjoyable making an attempt to choose the botanicals, and I cherished to whip up my very own batch. It didn’t end up half unhealthy, both!
Take a look at the wonderful Whanganui Regional Museum
Okay, hear, guys. I do know I’m a nerd. I like an excellent native museum. And the Whanganui Regional Museum is spectacular. And it’s free. House to an unimaginable taonga Māori assortment of artwork, historic objects, and Lindauer portraits. And upstairs, it has essentially the most epic assortment of moa bones, the large flightless extinct birds that when roamed New Zealand. I used to be blown away. I spent three hours right here and broke my “no extra shopping for new books” rule on the present store.
And simply so as to add to that, one thing I discovered about Whanganui is the best way to pronounce it appropriately. In New Zealand, we be taught principally that in te reo Māori (Māori language), the letter mixture “wh” is pronounced as an “f.” Nonetheless, 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, nicely, fairly racist and refuse to pronounce issues appropriately with the “f” sound for “wh,” in addition to worldwide guests who simply don’t know.
After which the remainder of us who pronounce them as we have now discovered to, with the “f” sound for “wh.” However then you definitely go to Whanganui, and it’s pronounced as a “w,” so that you get woke folks like me making an attempt tremendous arduous to say all the things appropriately, but nonetheless messing it up. However now you recognize. It’s appropriate to confer 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 once I stepped contained in the Paloma Gardens exterior Whanganui for the primary time. How had I by no means heard of this wonderland? It completely ought to have been in my e book!
Right here Nicki and Clive Higgie have spent over 30 years creating and sculpting some of the spectacular gardens within the nation. $10 money in an honesty field will allow you to in, and for those who’re like me, I wandered for hours and didn’t see one other individual. If you wish to go to Whanganui and see the inexperienced aspect of the realm, remember to head right here.
Take a look at the wonderful avenue artwork
I’ve at all times thought a metropolis that invests in avenue artwork is a extremely cool metropolis. After a number of festivals over the previous few years, well-known avenue artists have flocked to create unimaginable murals across the outdated metropolis middle.
Moreover, among the finest methods to discover downtown Whanganui is by wandering round and testing the road artwork. What number of can you discover?
Indulge within the rising foodie scene
I don’t assume I had a nasty meal or a nasty espresso the whole time I went to go to Whanganui. I positively overdid it with the meals, although!
- Favourite espresso: Article Cafe
- Favourite brekkie: Little Curious Bagels
- Favourite lunch: Mud Geese
- Favourite dinner: Maria Lane Eatery
- Favourite 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 for those who’re something like me. There’s one thing so mesmerizing about it, and it’s actually stunning.
The artists at New Zealand Glassworks are world-famous, and their work is unimaginable, which you’ll respect all of the extra after trying to make a paperweight.
Their paperweight glassblowing workshops refill quick, so get in fast.
Take within the buzzing artwork scene
Whanganui is dwelling to a whole bunch of working artists, and it has a really inventive vibe to it that you simply’ll decide up instantly. And the artwork scene is barely rising. It additionally feels contemporary, welcoming, and thrilling, such as you’re discovering new galleries and artists to comply with.
Additionally, 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 most effective 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 method. 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 high are wonderful, however be certain 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
Lastly, 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 straightforward distance from town, you’ve acquired a little bit of all the things: South Seaside, Kai Iwi Seaside, and Castlecliff Seaside.
Most are patrolled in summer time with lifeguards, and they’re stunning to stroll alongside for sundown.
Have you ever been eager to go to Whanganui? Have you ever been earlier than? Spill.
Many due to Whanganui and Companions for internet hosting me on this wonderful journey – like at all times, I’m protecting it actual. All opinions are my very own, like you would anticipate much less from me.