Whanganui - Manawatū - Ruapehu - Taranaki

Whanganui embraces the banks of Te Awa o Whanganui – the Whanganui River - which is integral to understanding the community and especially its importance to local iwi. The Manawatu celebrates its diverse people and landscapes and offers plenty of surprises at every turn. Te Apiti – Manawatu Gorge is a must see on your journey. Covered in ancient bush and home to a variety of wildlife, the Gorge is steeped in legend and has many a story to tell. At the heart of Taranaki – both physically and spiritually – stands Maunga (Mount) Taranaki, a 2518m volcanic peak. The mountain has many walking trails, from gentle short walks to epic alpine adventures, while the sparkling surf coast offers beaches and surf breaks. Find out more at whanganuinz.commanawatunz.co.nzwww.visitruapehu.com and taranaki.info.

Major Centres: 

Palmerston North
Whanganui
New Plymouth

Airports: 

New Plymouth Domestic Airport
Palmerston North Domestic Airport
Whanganui Domestic Airport

Ariari Lodge

+64 6 764 7577

Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou kātoa, ngā mihi nui kia koutou, naumai haere mai ki te moana o Rotorangi, ki te wharenui o Ariari. The Ariari Lodge Homestead and Lake View Chalets are designed with relaxation and comfort in mind. Revitalise and re-energise with a relaxing stay. Located in a scenic paradise where the only sound is the call of native birds, Ariari Lodge in Taranaki brings together nature and culture to deliver a luxury New Zealand experience.

Destiny on Fitzherbert Ltd

+64 6 355 0050

Premium accommodation provides the latest in style and comfort. Attention to fine detail will ensure your stay is the ultimate experience in the best of niche accommodation on offer in Palmerston North.  Generous and spacious rooms with a unique design element guarantees you luxurious comfort from the minute you step in.

Lisa Tamati Designer Jewellery

+64 6 769 6375

Lisa Tamati Designer Jewellery offers customers a beautiful selection of unique and precious jewellery influenced by Lisa's Māori heritage and our South Pacific location.  We specialise in paua pearls, paua shell, greenstone and Tahitian pearls.  Visit our store in New Plymouth where we also feature landscape work by leading artist Cyril Tamati, highlighting the beauty of New Zealand.

Native Woodcraft

06 374 8224

5 London Street,
Dannevirke

Native Woodcraft is a 100% Kiwi-owned factory in Dannevirke, producing a range of nearly 300 handcrafted gifts and souvenirs since 1984.
Our products range from full-size taiaha (long, wooden weapons) and tewhatewha (long wooden or bone weapons), travel-sized tekoteko (carved figures) and mere (short stone weapons) down to tiki (carved figures) and hei matau (fish hook) keyrings carved from South Island Pine and Paua shell.
For landscaping, we produce Creative Garden Panels in 50 different Kiwiana designs from Pīwakawaka and Kererū to Dolphins and Butterflies.
Our crafts are found in stores throughout Aotearoa.  Click here to view our products .

Ngati Ruanui Stratford Mountain House

+64 6 765 6100

Ngati Ruanui Stratford Mountain House is set in fabulous bush surrounds inside the Egmont National Park, 15km from the Stratford township in Central Taranaki. The business is a licensed hotel and offers visitors “The Mountain House Experience”. Refurbished to a high standard the hotel has an award winning restaurant and 11 accommodation suites all at  very reasonable rates. Using the Mountain House as a base there are a variety of walking tracks to explore, a winter skifield, and guided summit tours are also available. Popular tourist attractions in the area include our very own goblin forest, Tawhiti Museum, Possum Factory, park like golf courses, trout fishing and native bird reserves.

Raetihi Holiday Park

0800 40 88 88

The Raetihi Holiday Park is a small and cosy campground sitting alongside the Makotuku River in the small town of Raetihi. In Summer, we are an excellent place to stay when planning your adventure on the Whanganui River, bush walking, mountain biking or just relaxing in nature. We have several cabins as well as powered and non-powered sites to go along with fantastic communal facilities. We also own and operate Whanganui River Canoes and Mountain Bike Station on site, so you can plan your adventure with our team.

Rua Awa Lodge

021 083 35173

Rua Awa Lodge offers picturesque self contained accommodation set amongst 20 acres of gardens, orchard, expansive lawns, pasture and native bush with views towards Mt Ruapehu, Mt Ngauruhoe and Mt Tongariro. The Lodge borders a DOC reserve that resonates withbirdsong, enjoy nature on your doorstep with fishing, walking, swimming and star filled night skies.

Unique Whanganui River Experience

027 554 4426

Unique Whanganui River Experiences offers unique educational and immersive one and multi-day experiences on the Whanganui River. The fully hosted, Māori experiences are guided by trained Awa (river) navigators. Spend up to 16 hours traversing the beautiful Awa in a canoe, while learning about the rich history, kai, and kōrero. Visit the website or call us to learn more.

Relax after a day of outdoor activities in the Tongariro National Park or nearby areas. Included in your booking will be unlimited, high speed wi-fi, hot showers and beautiful surroundings. We are located in the heart of Tongariro National Park, nestled amongst alpine beech trees and a mountain stream.

All within a minute’s walk are several hiking tracks that take you through mountain forests, over volcanic landscapes, with stunning views of mountains, rivers and crater lakes.

Whanganui River Adventures

0800 862 743

Whanganui River Adventures is a local tourism business owned by locals Ken & Josephine Haworth based in the small river village of Pipiriki on the banks of the Whanganui River. We share stories of the river passed down to us and our local whanau staff, keeping our tours and the service we offer unique and authentic. Our personalised tours are scenic and involve our local history and stories of the river. Experience the river and the surrounding environment by jet boat, canoe, kayak, mountain bike, or walk. We offer a range of accommodation options.

Whanganui River Canoes

0800 40 88 88

Join Whanganui River Canoes for a three- to five-day canoe/kayak trip on the Whanganui River. You can choose to 'do it yourself' with a freedom hire, or have their guides cater to you and show you the best spots along the river.

Whanganui River Māori Guides

(+64) 78954854

Whanganui River Māori Guides are a Māori cultural tour company who specialise in running waka and jet boat tours.

Their core values focus on deep cultural and spiritual connection to the taiao (environment), and as tangata whenua (people of the land) their objective is to enrich manuhiri (visitors) with the historic, present and future aspirations of the awa (river).
Through the sharing of kōrero, waiata and karakia, their kaitiaki (cultural navigators) will take you on a journey and leave you with a better understanding of te ao Māori (the Māori world view).

“Ko au te awa ko te awa ko au"
“I am the river and the river is me.”

Whanganui Tours

+64 6 3444 918

Tracy, Linda ansd their team are locals who travel the Whanganui River Road daily, delivering the rural mail and offering unique scenic tours such as the 'Mail Run' & 'Bridge to Nowhere'. They also have a cycle trail tour which includes fully supported 'Mountains to Sea - Nga Ara Tūhono' adventures, river journeys and more.

Accommodation
Adventure
Art Retail
Bushwalks
Cultural
Cycling
Dining
Fishing
Geothermal
Guided Tour
History
Horse
Hunting
Performance
Waka
Wellbeing
Wildlife

© 2024 NZ Maori Tourism Society