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Wanganui What to See & Do. If you are looking for comprehensive travel information for Wanganui What to See & Do including Activities, Natural Attractions, Food and Wine, Entertainment, Shopping and Information & Services, you will find it here on AA Travel.

Wanganui is full of wonderful things to see and do, with something for everyone. If it's not here, you won't have to travel far to find it. As this country is known as the 'Adventure Capital of the World', you can always find thrills of every kind nearby, from bungy jumping and skydiving to jet boating and white-water rafting. Our 14 national parks are perfect for tramping, where spectacular scenery abounds. Our geothermal hotspots provide natural thermal pools, shooting geysers and bubbling mud pools, while our incredible wildlife is a must-see for animal lovers. There are plenty of picturesque beaches for swimming, surfing or relaxing, mountain ranges for skiing and snowboarding, glassy lakes for fishing and water sports, and native forests for exploring. Try delicious gourmet delights, visit an art or craft studio, go shopping, check out a Maori cultural performance or take advantage of our exciting range of events. And that's just the beginning!

Wanganui, situated near the sea on the banks of the Whanganui River, is the commercial centre for
the surrounding region, and has many buildings of historic interest. Its central city shopping area,
Victoria Avenue, reflects the city's historic heritage with gaslights, trees and wide paving. From
December to March, hanging baskets and veranda boxes of flowers celebrate 'Wanganui in Bloom'.
Moutoa Gardens, Glenlogie Rose Gardens and Bushy Park Scenic Reserve and Homestead are popular
visitor attractions. Castlecliff and Mowhanau Beaches are typical west coast black iron-sand
beaches, popular with locals and visitors alike. The restored century-old paddle steamer PS Waimarie
offers visitors the unique experience of a genuine coal-fired river journey with informative comment
on the early history of the area. The Whanganui Regional Museum has one of the finest collections of
Maori ancestral treasures of the Whanganui River people and features a Maori Court and traditional
waka(canoes). Wanganui's growing reputation for the arts is reflected in the Arts Trail. The
Sarjeant Gallery, as well as being one of the finest buildings in Wanganui, houses an extensive
national and international collection of contemporary art and touring exhibitions. There are a
number of smaller galleries featuring works by local artists. There are two inner city heritage
walks and five driving heritage trails. The 200m Durie Hill pedestrian tunnel takes you to the
historic earthbound elevator which rises 66m through the hill to the summit where the Memorial Tower
offers excellent views.