Planning a Trip

Getting There & Getting Around

By Plane -- Wanganui Airport, 10 minutes outside the town center, is served daily by Air New Zealand (tel. 0800/737-000 in NZ; www.airnz.co.nz).

By Coach (Bus) -- InterCity (tel. 09/913-6100) and Newmans (tel. 09/913-6200) provide service between Wanganui and Auckland, New Plymouth, National Park Village (in Tongariro National Park), and Wellington. White Star Passenger Services, 161 Ingestre St. (tel. 06/347-6677), operates local town buses.

By Car -- Wanganui is on state highways 3 and 4. It is 2 1/2 hours from New Plymouth or Wellington, 3 hours from Taupo, and 4 hours from Rotorua.

By Taxi -- Call Wanganui Taxis (tel. 06/343-5555).

Visitor Information

The i-SITE Wanganui Visitor Centre, 101 Guyton St. (tel. 0800/926-426 in NZ, or 06/349-0508; fax 06/349-0509; www.wanganuinz.com), is open in summer Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 6pm, Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 3pm; and in winter Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 3pm.

Special Events

Garden lovers may like to visit during the biennial Wanganui Blooming Artz Festival (www.bloomingartz.co.nz). The next festival is in October 2009. The October Jazz Boat Festival (tel. 06/343-7742) attracts international performers to events that include riverboat cruises.