Wanganui - New Zealand’s most underrated destination
December 12th, 2007 by Tim Uden
New Zealand is a popular destination for backpackers and it seems that no part of the country hasn’t been discovered by backpackers. Even relatively uninteresting destinations like Whangarei, East Cape, the Coromandel Peninsula, Motueka and Greymouth and swarming with backpackers, yet Wanganui - which is infinitely more interesting that these other places - only gets a trickle of backpackers, even though there are three hostels where you can stay.
Wanganui is a small city of around 50,000 with a lively cultural scene that you would expect in a much larger city. It is also a pretty town with lovely architecture, including some great art deco buildings, and a nice riverfront promenade that hosts a great Saturday morning market.
There’s not a lot to do in town unless you like visiting glass blowing studios; and let’s face it, that isn’t high on the backpackers’ list of things to do. However Wanganui is a great place to stock up on supplies and make arrangements for the Whanganui River Journey - an epic three to five-day canoe trip on the Whanganui River, which incidentally is probably the New Zealand’s most underrated outdoor activity.
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