Virginia Lake
Just a 5 minute drive from Wanganui's city centre brings you to beautiful Virginia Lake, where you can take a lovely 25 minute woodland walk around the lake, passing the Statue of Tainui (take time to read the inscription), twin bridges and rose and wisteria pergolas. At night, the trees are softly illuminated and the fountain erupts in a spectacular colourful display.
Winter Gardens
The Winter Gardens are also located at Virginia Lake. The Art Deco faade conceals a Conservatory and three outdoor display areas in the walled garden. Admission is free.
Queens Park
This central city hilltop park was once a fortified Maori Pa and then the site of the Rutland Stockade. Now it is the site of several historic and architecturally significant buildings including the Sarjeant Gallery, The Whanganui Regional Museum and the War Memorial Hall. The impressive Veterans Steps leading up to the Sarjeant Gallery are a reminder of the New Zealand Wars.
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Bason Botanic Gardens 11 kilometres from town you will find this beautiful park. Enjoy the free gas-fired barbeques and extensive plantings of native and exotic trees. Three conservatories feature an outstanding rare orchid collection, begonias and bromeliads. There is no entry charge. Bushy Park Forest Reserve A short drive into the country brings you to 90 hectares of pristine native forest, named Bushy Park. Bushy Park includes 'Ratanui' - believed to be the largest Rata tree in the Southern Hemisphere. The majestic Edwardian Homestead offers you a real, detailed look into life in the early 1900's. Enjoy a traditional 'Devonshire Tea' on the mansion's terrace as you marvel at the landscaped gardens and watch for endangered birds soaring overhead. A predator-proof fence has been erected and the reserve will soon become predator-free, a real 'inland island' paradise for friendly native birds. Various bushwalks are here to enjoy. Castlecliff is the beach of Wanganui and 14km from our Park. 14km inland protect our visitors from the west coast wind and sand storms.
The beach is however worthwhile to visit on fine days because of the iron in the sand and therefor the blakest beach in the world!!!
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