Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
MAP
GOOGLE MAP
(
www.wrm.org.nz
; Watt St, Queens Park; 10am-4.30pm)
The Whanganui Regional Museum
is one of NZ's better natural-history museums. Maori exhibits include the carved Te Mata
o Hoturoa war canoe and some vicious-looking
mere
(greenstone clubs). The colonial and
wildlife installations are first rate, and there's plenty of button-pushing and drawer-open-
ing to keep the kids engaged.
Sarjeant Gallery
MAP
GALLERY
GOOGLE MAP
( 06-349 0506;
www.sarjeant.org.nz
;
Queens Park; 10.30am-4.30pm)
About to temporarily
relocate for earthquake-proofing when we visited, the elegant neoclassical Sarjeant
Gallery covers the bases from historic to contemporary with its extensive permanent art
exhibition and frequent special exhibits (including glass from the annual Wanganui
Festival of Glass). Call or check the website to find out if the renovations are complete: if
not, you can see selected works in gallery spaces above the i-SITE and nearby at 38 Taupo
Quay.
Whanganui Riverboat Centre
MAP
MUSEUM
GOOGLE MAP
(
www.riverboats.co.nz
;
1a Taupo Quay; 10am-4pm)
The historical displays are interesting,
but everyone's here for the
Waimarie
, the last of the Whanganui River paddle steamers. In
1900 she was shipped from England and paddled the Whanganui until she sank inglori-
ously at her mooring in 1952. Submerged for 41 years, she was finally raised, restored,
then relaunched on the first day of the 21st century. She now offers two-hour tours along
the Whanganui.
Chronicle Glass Studio
MAP
GALLERY
GOOGLE MAP
(
www.chronicleglass.co.nz
;
2 Rutland St; 9am-5pm Mon-Fri, 10am-3pm Sat & Sun)
The pick of
Whanganui's many glass studios is the Chronicle Glass Studio where you can watch
glass-blowers working, check out the gallery, take a weekend glass-blowing course ($390)
or a one-hour 'Make a Paperweight' lesson ($100), or just hang out and warm up on a
chilly afternoon.
Durie Hill Elevator
TOWER
