Upokongaro Family River Walk Wednesday 3 January - It’s Back! A flat walk ideal for most ages. Wear sturdy footwear and bring sunblock. We start our 2024 programme with this popular family walk. After meeting at the Aramoho Crematorium car park, we will stroll along the riverside walkway to the Upokongaro bridge which should take about 1 hour. Bring afternoon tea or buy it at the Upokongaro cafe and take time to explore the village. Depart 1pm. Return approx 3pm. Free.
Magic Marton Thursday 4 January - New! Short walks, mainly flat. Sturdy footwear and rain wear. BYO morning tea and lunch. Our day in Marton begins with morning tea at Marton Park and a chance to explore the town centre, followed by a visit to the local museum with its focus on early days in the Rangitikei. Lunch will be at the home of Steuart Welch and the opportunity to look at his amazing steel sculptures. Later we visit the Tutaenui Reservoir which has a large-scale environmental restoration. The final stop in Marton is at Royston - a stately house built in 1896 for a mayor of the town. Depart 9am. Return approx 3pm. Adult $31 | Child $15
Kauarapaoa Valley Friday 5 January - Favourite! Short walks Sturdy footwear and rain wear. BBQ lunch provided by The Friends of the Whanganui River at Noel Shepherd’s house. Although quite close to Whanganui, the Kauarapaoa Valley seems a world away. We loop via Kai iwi and up past Bushy Park, along the top of the watershed and return down the valley, viewing some of our impressive back country en route. Sid Soulsby of Wairangi Station will share his stories of living in the valley. Depart 10am. Return approx 5.30pm. Adult $51 | Child $26
South Taranaki Heritage Tour Saturday 6 January - New! BYO lunch, snacks and drinks. Hot water and milk available. Bring a deck chair if you wish. A tour of historic places and landscapes between Whanganui and Patea. Highlights will include the Hunter Shaw building, St George’s Church, St Mark’s Church, the Edwardian Pearce Family Home and one mystery destination. Leave 9am. Return approx 4.30pm. Adult $45 | Child $25
Whanganui Historic Walk Sunday 7 January - New! Mainly flat walking. Sturdy footwear and rainwear. Whanganui has many magnificent heritage buildings and houses and on this two hour walk we will learn about some of them, their stories, architecture and details of the people who lived in them. Meet on the riverbank at the Whanganui i-SITE. The walk itself is easy and suitable for all ages. Depart 2pm. Return approx 4pm. Adult $5 cash | Child free No bookings needed, pay at the start of the walk.
Matiu Somes Island Monday 8 January - Favourite! Reasonable fitness for a short, steep ascent. Sturdy footwear, warm clothing, binoculars and walking poles and sun protection. BYO lunch, drink and snacks. Matiu Somes Island in Wellington Harbour has a long and interesting history. It is now home to tuatara, Cook Strait giant weta, sea and land birds. Bring your Gold Card (if you have one) for the ferry. Depart 6am. Return approx 6pm. Adult $87.50 | Child $35 Bookings close on Thursday 4 January.
Evening talk: Walking the Te Araroa Trail Tuesday 9 January - New! Aged 65, Whanganui resident and keen tramper Laurel Stowell set out from Cape Reinga on the 3000km Te Araroa trail in October 2022. Enjoy the ups and downs of her epic journey in this illustrated talk about walking through a rainy but beautiful Northland to Auckland city. Starts 7.30pm. Davis Theatre, Whanganui Regional Museum, Watt Street. Adult $5 cash | Child free No booking necessary although numbers are limited to 200. Wheelchair access.
Destination Castlecliff Beach Wednesday 10 January - New! Reasonable fitness needed for light work in the dunes and a walking tour. Sturdy footwear and rain wear. BYO lunch though hot and cold drinks and light refreshments will be provided. Learn what’s going on at the beach with a little work thrown in. Castlecliff Coast Care will explain the coastal dune system, show us their plantings and provide updates on WDC’s proposed Coastal Management Plan and the recent North Mole rebuild. We will also spend time releasing native plants from weeds and mulching them. Meet at the Duncan Pavilion at 10.30am. Return home approx 2.30pm. This community event is free and you are encouraged to join.
Raurimu Spiral Train Ride Thursday 11 January - It’s Back! BYO morning, afternoon tea and lunch. We have scheduled this trip for the last two years and each time circumstances have intervened but we are trying again. After busing to Taumarunui and the historic Cherry Grove, we get on the Northern Explorer and ride through the famous Raurimu Spiral to Ohakune. At Ohakune we will visit the local railway museum. A day to remember. Depart 8am. Return approx 4.30pm. Adult $141 | Child $100 This includes train and museum fares. Bookings close on Friday 22 December.
Blue Duck Station Friday 12 January - It’s Back! Reasonable fitness required. BYO morning and afternoon teas. Sturdy footwear, rainwear and warm clothing. Enjoy a wonderful trip into the Blue Duck Station at Whakahoro on the Whanganui River. Meet the Steele family who run a successful tourism venture at the Retaruke Station. The trip includes a picnic lunch at Mangapapa, one of the campsites in the Whanganui National Park and travelling down by jet boat. There will be a quick debrief at the Blue Duck Café before we leave. When booking please indicate any dietary requirements ie gluten-free or vegetarian. Depart 6.30am. Return approx 7pm. Adult $208 | Child $104
Kapiti Island Saturday 13 January - Favourite! Climbing fitness essential for the summit. Sturdy footwear, rain coat, warm clothing, binoculars, walking pole. BYO morning tea and lunch. Kapiti has a long history and more recently one of restoration. A tranquil bird and marine sanctuary, it is one of New Zealand’s most accessible nature reserves. Time to relax or climb and return from the summit. Depart 6.30am. Return approx 6.30pm Adult $175.50 | Child $125 Bookings close Sunday 7 January.
Boyd’s Autobarn Sunday 14 January - New! The late Ed Boyd not only loved cars but he also collected them. Lots of them. This is an opportunity to see 17 of Ed’s vintage and classic cars at Whanganui’s own car museum - Boyd’s Autobarn at 3 Pickwick Rd, just off SH3. The autobarn is open from 10am to 3pm. Door entry is a donation which will go to the Rescue Helicopter service.
Up the Waitotara Valley Monday 15 January - Favourite! Short walks BYO lunch, snacks and drinks. On the programme for years and still very popular, join this fascinating drive to the end of the Waitotara Valley. Enjoy many yarns about rural life on the way. Stops include the Ngamatapouri Hall, Mangapapa Station woodshed on Makakaho Road, St Hilda in the Wood Church and the Larsen farm at the top of the valley. End your trip with refreshments at the Waitotara pub and store. Depart 9am. Return approx 5.30pm. Adult $39 | Child $19
Evening Talk: Underground Whanganui Tuesday 16 January - New! Over hundreds of years Whanganui has built up a collection of hidden underground spaces. Historian Scott Flutey will take us through these places with an illustrated commentary, shedding light on some of the stories connected to them. Starts 7.30pm. Davis Theatre, Whanganui Regional Museum, Watt Street. Adult $5 cash Child free. No booking necessary although numbers are limited to 200. Wheelchair access.
Ceramics Wonderland Wednesday 17 January - New! Located at 8 Bates Street near the Whanganui courthouse. Quartz, Museum of Studio Ceramics has dazzled visitors for more than 8 years. Opened by studio potter Rick Rudd, this is the only dedicated museum for studio ceramics and the largest and most diverse public ceramic display in Aotearoa NZ with more than 1,100 works displayed. Come and see why Quartz is not only famous in Whanganui but draws people from all over the country. Open 10.30am to 4pm. Free.
Day on Taranaki Maunga Thursday 18 January - New! Various walks available - you choose according to your level of fitness. Sturdy footwear, rain wear, warm clothing and sun hat. BYO morning tea, lunch, snacks and drinks. In 2023 we went to Dawson Falls in Te Papakura o Taranaki (formerly Egmont National Park). Today we revisit the maunga at North Egmont to explore a range of self-guided walking opportunities on well-formed tracks. On the way home we will stop at the Eltham cheese bar and there is the option to climb the iconic Hawera water tower for a panoramic view of the town. Depart 8am. Return approx 5.30pm. Adult $58 | Child $28
Whanganui Collegiate School Museum and Historic Buildings Monday 22 January - Favourite! Allow two hours. First opened in Victoria Ave in 1854, WCS is NZ’s third oldest school and the city’s oldest business. Its 170 years of history is displayed and documented in the school’s museum. The fully-guided tour includes Big School and the chapel - both earthquake-strengthened and filled with fascinating history. Time 10.30am. Adult $5 cash | Child $2 cash Follow the signs from the main entrance, Liverpool St. Register at [email protected] or by text to 0274 812 324
Evening Talk: Garden Tips & Design Tuesday 23 January - New! Whanganui garden guru Phil Thomsen will present 10 top tips for gardens and raised garden design. He will also include tips on how to get maximum productivity from your garden. Phil is the author of the Practical Kiwi Gardener book to be published next autumn. He also writes articles for the NZ Garden magazine. Starts 7.30pm Davis Theatre, Whanganui Regional Museum, Watt Street. Adult $5 | Child free. No booking necessary although numbers are limited to 200. Wheelchair access.
Bridge to Nowhere Wednesday 24 January - Favourite! Reasonable fitness and agility required Sturdy footwear, rain wear and warm clothing for river journey. BYO lunch and snacks. Hot drinks and water provided at lunch time. Bus to Pipiriki, followed by 32km jet boat ride and 3km bush walk. The Bridge to Nowhere is a poignant monument to 96 returned soldiers and their families who farmed there after WW1 but were unable to withstand serious erosion, flooding and poor road access. By 1942 only three farmers remained in the Mangapurua Valley and they were eventually forced to leave. The concrete bridge is the symbol of the ill-fated settlement in this ‘valley of abandoned dreams’. Depart 8am. Return approx 5.30pm. Adult $194 | Child $115
Fun Trivia Quiz Thursday 25 January - New! How good is your local and general knowledge? Test it out at a fun, summer-themed trivia quiz in the Hakeke Street Library Community Room from 1.30-4.30pm. Make up a team of up to six people. Feel free to BYO snacks or non-alcoholic drinks. Register your team name and captain with: [email protected] $2 per person entry.
Heritage Tram Rides Friday 26 January - Favourite! For 42 years until 1950 public transport in Whanganui was by tram. A relic of that service, Tram Number 12, ‘Mable’, was donated to the city in 2007 and lovingly restored by volunteers. From 29 Taupo Quay, take a ride back in time along the riverbank between 10am and 12.30pm. Pay at the tram shed. Adult $5 | Child free
Gumboot Day Saturday 27 January - New! Sturdy footwear and rainwear. BYO morning tea and lunch. The last Saturday in January is always a big day in Taihape for the local community and in 2024 we will be there to enjoy it, too. The focus will be the Gumboot Day throwing competition. A chance to have a go and to experience an old-style show day. Also an opportunity to explore Taihape. Short stops at Utiku, Mangaweka, Hunterville and at a heritage house at Turakina will complete an interesting day in the country. Depart 8.30am. Return approx 5.30pm. Adult $46 | Child $22
Glass Blowing Showcased Sunday 28 January - New! Join internationally known glass blower Katie Brown at the Whanganui Regional Museum as she discusses her creative process. Katie will be in the Davis Theatre followed by a show and tell of her latest works while enjoying a cool beverage. 3pm-4.30pm. Wheelchair access. Koha appreciated. Bookings essential. Book directly with the museum. Tel 06 349 1110.
Hipango Park Excursion Sunday 28 January - Favourite! A reasonable standard of mobility and fitness is required due to uneven ground, stairs and unpaved tracks. BYO lunch, snacks and drinks. The MV Wairua’s trip to Hipango Park remains popular because of the charm of the river journey and ambience of this bush-surrounded park. Tables are available for lunch otherwise bring rugs to sit on and a jacket for the river trip. A barbecue is available for use and complimentary tea/coffee/juice and biscuits on the upstream journey. Depart 10am MV Wairua pontoon opposite Pakaitore/Moutoa Gardens. Return approx 4.30pm. Adult $78 | Child (5-15) $29 | Under 5 free | Family (2 adults 2 children) $185 Passengers must report no later than 9.45am.
Rangitikei Heritage Tour Monday 29 January - New! BYO lunch, snacks and drinks. Boiling water and milk provided. Bring a deck chair if you wish. John Vickers will again lead us on a tour of Rangitikei homesteads with the houses dating from 1870 to 1920. These include Westhoe, Heaton Park, one mystery visit and the Tutu Totara Church. An interesting day out discussing many aspects of the houses and their stories. Depart 9am. Return approx 5pm. Adult $75 | Child $40
Evening Talk: Public Transport Tuesday 30 January - New! From the first provincial tram system and the Durie Hill Elevator to Greyhound Buses and more recent developments, Whanganui has a rich and innovative history of public transport. Durie Hill Elevator operator and public transport advocate Anthonie Tonnon will speak about how this has shaped his work. Starts 7.30pm. Davis Theatre, Whanganui Regional Museum, Watt Street. Adult $5 cash | Child free. No booking necessary although numbers are limited. Wheelchair access.
Parikino Forest Wednesday 31 January - New! A short walk across farm land. Bring lunch, sturdy shoes or gumboots and rainwear. A chance to visit and learn about a 6.4ha piece of threatened lowland kahikatea forest which has been fenced and is now regenerating. Depart 10am. Return approx 2pm. Adult $18 | Child $10
Wanting to buy tickets?
You can book online at www.iTICKET.co.nz or at the Whanganui i-SITE Visitor Centre, 31 Taupo Quay.