OUT AND ABOUT IN WHANGANUI

For a small city, Whanganui has more than the usual number of curious and creative places to see, things to do and places to stay.

New Zealand Glassworks:

In the squat Old Chronicle Building, glass artists have created a gallery and studio space that positively glitters. Visitors can shop (carefully) and even book in to learn how to blow their own creations. Also within the building,

Article Café, brings together more of the city’s quirky visual art, vintage clothing, and gifts for sale.

St Paul’s Memorial Church:

A traditionally beautiful wooden church from the outside, St Paul’s interior is splendid, with magnificently intricate Māori carvings and meticulous tukutuku panels. Together, they share the story of the area dating back to the 1830s.

Quartz Museum of Studio Ceramics: The brutalist grey exterior of this building gives no clue to the array of fantastical colourful ceramics inside. The ceramics are the work of artist Rick Rudd and the museum features more than 400 of his and others’ creations, including his famous teapots.

Durie Hill Underground Elevator: Beyond the City Bridge, Durie Hill’s 213-metre long pedestrian tunnel leads to the historic Durie Hill Underground Elevator. Built in 1919, it is New Zealand’s only public underground elevator.

Whanganui Musicians Club: This music venue, in the nowdefunct local Savage Club, is the place to listen to music over a few BYO beers, especially during each First Friday club night held, as expected, on the first Friday of every month. It looks like every New Zealand community hall from the outside, but the décor still features the eccentricities of its Savage Club days.

Mountains to Sea Cycleway (Ngā Ara Tūhono): Whanganui signals the end of this five- day trail ride, which begins up on the volcanic plateau and finishes after wheeling past the Iona herself, down to the Tasman Sea.