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We've compiled the best of the best in Whanganui - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
This museum offers a superb overview of the region's history and one of the country's best collections of Māori artifacts. It contains taonga (Māori ancestral treasures) of the river people as well as Te Pataka Whakaahua (the Lindauer Gallery), featuring 19th-century paintings of Māori leaders by respected artist Gottfried Lindauer. The museum offers guided tours for an extra charge if you want to gain more insight into the exhibits.
The coal-fired paddle steamer, Waimarie, is one of the original riverboats that operated here and the last operating in the southern hemisphere. Sunk in 1954, it was salvaged from the river bed and restored in the 1990s. From September to early June you can enjoy a historic, two-hour cruise, just like the old days. The Riverboat Centre displays photographs and related artifacts from the era when riverboats thrived here. Opening hours are variable at this volunteer operation; summer weekends are your best bet.
