Founded in 1840, Wanganui is one of the oldest European settlements in New Zealand, and was named Petre until 1852.
Get in
By Road
Wanganui is a two and a half hour drive from Wellington, and a six hour drive from Auckland using State Highway 4 (SH4).
By Bus
There are daily coach services from Wellington, Palmerston North and Auckland.
By Air
Wanganui Airport handles dometic flights from Auckland and Wellington. Palmerston North (70 km) is the nearest international airport.
By Rail
Marton (40 km) is the nearest railway station.
Get around
A mixture of walking and taking buses is generally the most cost-effective way to get around Wanganui. Buses generally depart every hour from Maria Place Extension.
See
Various art exhibitions are held around Wanganui's city centre at almost all times. Much of it is student work from UCOL, and the best exhibitions usually take place in the acclaimed Wanganui School of Design, which has a very nice tight-knit staff that can hold very interesting conversations. However, don't ask Tanya Roberson about dogs or memes, you'll be there for hours.
Wanganui Collegiate School has a beautiful campus with some attractive old brick buildings. Don't use a car in the grounds during school hours however, the students as a whole have a superiority complex and will not get out of your way if you are driving.
Do
Buy
Trafalgar Square shopping centre on Taupo Quay was opened in 1989 with New Zealand's largest K-Mart store. K-Mart has since been replaced by The Warehouse, which shares the complex with a range of other shops including Wendy's. The shake 'n dogs are not what they used to be.
Phaedra is a small but well-stocked gothic apparel store near the Red Eye Cafe. The staff are friendly and the store smells pleasingly of incense.
Stardust Creations is a rather artsy-fartsy new age store with a confused demographic, but it sells some very beautiful unique hand-made necklaces between $5 and $50 that, while bereft of mineral value, are generally much prettier and more interesting than diamonds. Perfect for a bohemian friend.
Eat
The Red Eye Cafe on Guyton Street is right up there with the best cafes in Wellington and Auckland.
Ceramic, a jazz bar/restaurant on the main street, has nice food and personable staff.
Bollywood Star is the best Indian restaurant in the Manawatu-Whanganui region, despite tacky decor. Their butter chicken and chicken pakoras are not to be missed, nor is their delicious mango lassi. A plasma TV plays vaguely embarassing yet enjoyable Bollywood films non-stop and the waiting staff are very personable.
Kebabholik is a rather good Turkish fast food joint next to the main street Subway.
Thistles is a small but well-stocked sweet shop with extensive range, and features homemade sweets as well as bulk candy.
Sleep
you can sleep at Anndion lodge opposite the river,
you get a great view and its a great place to stay
Get out
Rugby
Wanganui is one of the oldest rugby unions in New Zealand, but has never held the Ranfurly Shield. The Wanganui environs have produced several All Blacks including Andrew Donald, Bill Osborne, Buff Milner, George Bullock-Douglas, Harrison Rowley, John Blair, John Hogan, Moke Belliss, Mona Thomson, Pat Potaka, Peina Taituha, Peter Johns, Peter McDonnell, Peter Murray, Peter Henderson, Sandy McNicol and Glenn Osborne.
Sister cities
Wanganui has three sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI):
External links
