Things to do in Manawatū-Whanganui
48 places worth stopping for and 24 places to stay on a road trip through Manawatū-Whanganui.
See and do
- Walk
Walk · Whakapapa Village
Tongariro Alpine Crossing
One of the world's great day walks across an active volcanic landscape.
- History
History · Whanganui National Park
Bridge to Nowhere
1936 concrete bridge deep in forest, reached by jet boat or canoe and a short bush walk.
Scenic drive · TaumarunuiHidden gem
Forgotten World Highway (Taumarunui end)
Three-hour back-country drive to Stratford past old farms, tunnels and tiny settlements.
Waterfall · Whakapapa Village
Taranaki Falls
A 20 m waterfall with a plunge pool, on a loop walk from Whakapapa Village.
- Scenic drive
Scenic drive · StratfordHidden gem
Forgotten World Highway
SH43 from Stratford to Taumarunui through farmland, tunnels and old settlements, with a stretch of gravel.
- Wildlife
Wildlife · Mount Bruce
Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre
Native bush reserve where you can see kiwi, kākā, takahē and tuatara up close.
- Roadside oddity
Roadside oddity · Whanganui
Durie Hill Elevator and War Memorial Tower
1919 lift through a hill tunnel to a viewing tower with sweeping views over the city and to the mountains.
- Scenic drive
Scenic drive · Whanganui
Whanganui River Road
79 km winding river drive from Whanganui to Pipiriki past marae, churches and farms.
- Scenic drive
Scenic drive · OhakuneHidden gem
Ohakune Mountain Road
Climb from Ohakune town up the slopes of Ruapehu, with forest tracks and waterfalls off the road.
- Waterfall
Waterfall · Ohakune
Waitonga Falls
Tongariro National Park's tallest waterfall, 39 m, via an easy forest track.
- Waterfall
Waterfall · Whakapapa VillageHidden gem
Tawhai Falls
A cascade in Tongariro National Park, used as Gollum's pool in the Lord of the Rings films.
- Wildlife
Wildlife · Foxton BeachHidden gem
Manawatū Estuary
Estuary where godwits and other wading birds gather, one of the best birdwatching sites in the lower North Island.
- History
History · JerusalemHidden gem
Hiruharama (Jerusalem)
Riverside village with a small church, Suzanne Aubert's convent history and James K. Baxter's grave.
- Walk
Walk · Ashhurst
Te Āpiti Manawatū Gorge track
Long track along the Manawatū Gorge with a big Whātonga sculpture and a lookout over the slip.
Wildlife · Kai IwiHidden gem
Bushy Park Tarapuruhi
Forest sanctuary and 1900s homestead with bird walks, plus overnight stays in the house.
- Town
Town · Whangamōmona
Whangamōmona
Tiny village that declared itself a republic in 1989, halfway along the Forgotten World Highway.
History · WhanganuiHidden gem
Putiki Church (St Paul's Memorial Church)
Small church beside the Whanganui River with a richly carved and painted Māori interior.
- Walk
Walk · PureoraHidden gem
Pureora Forest Park
Ancient podocarp forest with a short treetop walk and a famous mountain-bike trail.
- Activity
Activity · TaumarunuiHidden gem
Whanganui River from Taumarunui
Canoe or jet boat the upper Whanganui River, one of NZ's Great Journeys.
- Lake
Lake · OhakuneHidden gem
Lake Rotokura
Short walk to a beech-ringed lake with Ruapehu reflected on clear days.
- Garden
Garden · WhanganuiHidden gem
Bason Botanic Gardens
Free botanic garden and bush reserve west of Whanganui, with a lake, tracks and tropical house.
Garden · Palmerston North
Victoria Esplanade
Big riverside park with gardens, a conservatory, rose garden and a scenic railway for kids.
- Town
Town · PipirikiHidden gem
Pipiriki
Small river village at the top of the Whanganui River Road, the base for jet boats and canoeing.
- Gallery
Gallery · Whanganui
Sarjeant Gallery
Neoclassical art gallery on the hill above Queens Park, central to Whanganui's arts scene.
- History
History · MatahiwiHidden gem
Kawana Flour Mill
Restored 1850s flour mill beside the Whanganui River, run by the community.
Museum · Whanganui
Whanganui Regional Museum
Regional museum with a strong Māori collection and local river stories.
Museum · Palmerston North
Te Manawa and New Zealand Rugby Museum
Art, science and history museum with the New Zealand Rugby Museum under the same roof.
Waterfall · Whakapapa VillageHidden gem
Tawhai Falls (Gollum's Pool)
Short bush walk to a small waterfall that Lord of the Rings fans will recognise.
Walk · Whakapapa VillageHidden gem
Mounds Walk, Whakapapa
A 20 minute stroll with good views of the Tongariro volcanoes.
Walk · Ōhau (Horowhenua)Hidden gem
Lake Papaitonga
A short walk to viewing platforms on a small lake with plenty of birdlife.
- Walk
Walk · OwhangoHidden gem
Ohinetonga lagoon walk
Two-hour track from Owhango past a lagoon with picnic spots and swimming in the river.
- Walk
Walk · MangawekaHidden gem
Mangaweka Scenic Reserve
One-hour loop through kahikatea and matai forest with views over the Rangitikei River terraces.
Garden · Whanganui
Virginia Lake
Park with a lake, fountain, winter garden and aviary on a hill above town.
- Beach
Beach · WhanganuiHidden gem
Castlecliff Beach
Black-sand surf beach at the mouth of the Whanganui River, with a lively cafe strip.
- Roadside oddity
Roadside oddity · Taihape
Taihape giant gumboot
Giant corrugated-iron gumboot marking the self-styled gumboot capital of the world.
- History
History · WhanganuiHidden gem
Ward Observatory
Century-old observatory on Pukenamu Queens Park, open for public viewing nights.
- Beach
Beach · Foxton Beach
Foxton Beach
Small west-coast beach village next to the Manawatū estuary, good for swimming and fishing.
- Town
Town · Bulls
Bulls
Town that never stops with bull puns on every sign, antique shops and cafes at the SH1/SH3 junction.
Roadside oddity · Ohakune
Giant carrot, Ohakune
A giant fibreglass carrot honouring the local vegetable growers.
- Roadside oddity
Roadside oddity · Taihape
Taihape gumboot
Giant corrugated gumboot marking the self-styled gumboot capital of NZ.
- Museum
Museum · Foxton
Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom
Modern community hub in Foxton with a library and exhibits on the town's Dutch and Māori history.
- History
History · RaurimuHidden gem
Raurimu Spiral viewpoint
Railway engineering marvel where the main trunk line corkscrews up a steep valley.
- Walk
Walk · OhakuneHidden gem
Mangawhero Forest Walk
A one-hour loop through forest close to Ohakune.
- Walk
Walk · TaumarunuiHidden gem
Te Maire loop
Two-hour loop through podocarp forest in the Te Maire valley south of Taumarunui.
- Town
Town · NorsewoodHidden gem
Norsewood
Little Norway on SH2, with a stave church replica, pioneer museum and woollen knitwear.
- History
History · OrmondvilleHidden gem
Ormondville railway station
1880 railway station kept by a preservation group, which also rents out beds.
- Roadside oddity
Roadside oddity · Hunterville
Hunterville huntaway statue
Statue honouring the huntaway sheepdog in a small town on SH1.
Roadside oddity · Ohakune
Ohakune giant carrot
A giant fibreglass carrot marks the 'carrot capital' of New Zealand.
Food stops
Bakery · OhakuneHidden gem
The Chocolate Eclair Shop
Oversized cream-filled eclairs from a family bakery open since 1939.
- Farm shop
Farm shop · FoxtonHidden gem
De Molen windmill
Working replica Dutch windmill with a deli selling flour and Dutch treats, plus tours.
- Pub
Pub · Whangamōmona
Whangamōmona Hotel
Old country pub in the self-declared Republic of Whangamōmona, good for a meal and a passport stamp.
Places to stay
- Glamping
Glamping · PureoraHidden gem
Camp Epic (Timber Trail)
Canvas tents on the Timber Trail midpoint with solar power and a covered kitchen.
- Glamping
Glamping · WhanganuiHidden gem
Takahuri Glamping
Geodesic domes with log fires beside the That Place mountain bike park.
- Campground
Campground · TangarākauHidden gem
Bushlands Campground
Bush and riverside camping and cabins on the Tangarākau River, six km off the Forgotten World Highway.
Backcountry camp · Tongariro National Park
Mangatepopo Campsite
This walk-in campsite is on the Tongariro Northern Circuit. Bookings must be made during the Great Walks season.
Backcountry camp · Whanganui National Park
Poukaria Campsite
This is a boat-in only campsite on the Whanganui Journey. There is no drive on access.
DOC campsite · Ohinepane Recreation Reserve
Ohinepane Campsite
This is a Great Walk campsite in the Whanganui area. This is one of four road access points to the Whanganui Journey. Look and listen for kererū, tūi and fantail. Brown kiwi can often be heard at night.
Backcountry camp · Whanganui National Park
Mangawaiiti Campsite
This is a boat-in only campsite on the Whanganui Journey. There is no drive on access.
DOC campsite · Whanganui National Park
Whakahoro Campsite
This is a Great Walk campsite in the Whanganui area. A large, flat, grassy site beside the river, and a good starting or mid-point stop if undertaking the Whanganui Journey.
Backcountry camp · Whanganui National Park
John Coull Campsite
This is a boat-in only campsite on the Whanganui Journey. There is no drive on access.
Backcountry camp · Whanganui National Park
Maharanui Campsite
This is a boat-in only campsite on the Whanganui Journey. There is no drive on access.
Backcountry camp · Whanganui National Park
Mangapapa Campsite
This is a boat-in only campsite on the Whanganui Journey. There is no drive on access.
Backcountry camp · Whanganui National Park
Ohauora Campsite
This is a boat-in only campsite on the Whanganui Journey. There is no drive on access.
Backcountry camp · Whanganui National Park
Ngaporo Campsite
This is a boat-in only campsite on the Whanganui Journey. There is no drive on access.
Backcountry camp · Whanganui National Park
Mangapurua Campsite
This is a boat-in only campsite on the Whanganui Journey. There is no drive on access.
Holiday park · Whakapapa Village
Whakapapa Holiday Park
Holiday park beside the national park visitor centre, with powered and tent sites.
Campground · PureoraHidden gem
Piropiro campsite
Forest campsite beside the Timber Trail start, deep in Pureora Forest Park.
- Lodge
Lodge · Whakapapa Village
Chateau Tongariro Hotel
Historic grand hotel at the foot of Ruapehu. Good for tea, even if you don't stay.
Campground · PipirikiHidden gem
Pipiriki Camping Grounds
Secluded riverside campground at the end of the Whanganui River Road with cabins and a shop.
- Campground
Campground · WhangamōmonaHidden gem
Whangamōmona Camping Ground
Cheap village camping ground in the Republic of Whangamōmona, with power and showers.
- Campground
Campground · PohanginaHidden gem
Tōtara Reserve campground
Regional council campground among giant totara trees, open Labour weekend to April.
Hut · Whanganui National ParkHidden gem
Tieke Kāinga
Marae-based riverside lodging on the Whanganui River, used by paddlers and visitors, book ahead.
Campground · OhakuneHidden gem
Pokaka Mill Campsite
Free, basic DOC site in the Tongariro Forest. Rough road in.
Campground · National Park
Mangahuia Campsite
Basic DOC campsite beside a stream, a short drive from National Park village.
Campground · Ohakune
Mangawhero Campsite
Forest campsite on the lower slopes of Mt Ruapehu, near Ohakune.
Plan the drive, not just the stops
Roadtrip works out what the drive costs in fuel for your car, splits it into days with the best stops and places to sleep, and finds the cheapest fuel on the way.
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