Car Rental Wanganui Airport

Looking for a special blend of features for your North Island holiday? Just an hour’s flight from the big-city vibe of Auckland, Whanganui promises a scenic escape that the nature and culture lover in you will fall for, and the explorer in you will adore. It’s easy to be impressed by this picturesque city as soon as you land at Whanganui Airport. From lush national parks to exciting river adventures, a gracious heritage past and world-renowned glass arts, the wonders of this little pocket of the South Taranaki Bight will win you over in an instant. 

Resting on the banks of its namesake river where it meets the Tasman Sea, Whanganui translates as ‘big bay’ or ‘big harbour’. This beautiful body of water flows through the heart of the city and has shaped the character and soul of Whanganui. One of New Zealand’s first cities, Whanganui was once an important trading post in its early European hey-day. Known then as New Zealand’s Rhine, its wide waters form the country’s longest navigable waterway and served historically as a vital transport ‘highway’. From a Māori perspective, Whanganui and its great river have a significance that runs as deep as its waters. Learn more on a guided river tour and stay overnight at a traditional Māori village.

Today, Whanganui is a perfect place for visitors to unwind with a wealth of attractions on offer. It’s a splendid mix of black sand beaches, a thriving arts scene, and a wild green adventure rolled into one. Famous for its established gardens, historic streetscapes and buildings from the Victorian era, it also has some quirky features from the early 20th century – such as an underground elevator that will take you 66-metres to the top of Durie Hill. The site of a war memorial, it’s the highest point in the district with the best views in town. Get ready to discover all of Whanganui’s most remarkable and memorable facets as you travel the city and surroundings in your rental car.

Get closer to the essence of Whanganui in your hire car

From hot kilns to stained glass, Whanganui is a working artist’s haven – creating a vibrant community of fine artists and designers, photographers and glass blowers. The talent in Whanganui is outstanding; and in addition to visits to studios and galleries, their creations can be seen in the city’s outdoor art and sculptures, in an array of parks and gardens, and along the Somme Parade riverbank. Many in the glass arts have been internationally awarded and produce work of excellence. Every piece of glassware seen in The Hobbit film trilogy was created by Whanganui’s artisans.

While you can find jewellery, art and crafts at the Traders Market, for special pieces we recommend the Quartz Museum of Studio Ceramics and the Sarjeant Gallery. Like the elegant Royal Whanganui Opera House (built over a century ago), this world-class gallery is housed in a prominent historic building. Take the Central City Heritage Walk and marvel at the well-preserved buildings around Whanganui, and the impressive restoration of its attractive main street, Victoria Avenue. And for biographical history, you won’t want to miss the striking collection of Lindauer’s portraits along with Māori stories and treasures at the regional museum.

From paddle steamers to Pipiriki, discover Whanganui’s best in your hire car

Whanganui’s waters are a wonderful drawcard for visitors and locals alike. Head to the beaches for surfing and fishing; Virginia Lake for picnics, birdlife and the changing colours of the Higginbottom Fountain; and explore the wide Whanganui River in a kayak, canoe or jet boat. For a unique experience, take a cruise on a coal-fired paddle steamer (the Waimarie), and relive the romance of the golden riverboat era from October to May.

To discover the wilder side of the river, we recommend the famous five-day Whanganui River Journey. This 145 kilometre adventure will take you through pristine national parks, drifting past native forests and trees clinging to cliff faces, paddling through peaceful stillness, and through areas teeming with birdlife. The last stop on this majestic journey is the township of Pipiriki, a little-known nook of New Zealand. Stay in a campground or cottage, and venture into the Whanganui National Park by mountain bike or foot. Returning from Pipiriki, you can jet boat through the remote Mangapurua area to the aptly named Bridge to Nowhere – a concrete road construction engulfed by lush ferns and trees, but with no road at either end. Another of the fascinating attractions to see before you return your hire car to Whanganui Airport.