Whanganui National Park

Whanganui National Park is a protected area on New Zealand’s North Island that conserves native forest and the valley corridor of the Whanganui River. The park includes tracts of forested hills and the river environment rather than large alpine areas.

Key recreational activities are river journeys and multi-day tramping along tracks and hut routes that follow the river and its tributaries. The park emphasises backcountry experiences and river access rather than developed facilities.

The park was created to protect the Whanganui catchment and native ecosystems, and is managed by the Department of Conservation with a focus on conservation and controlled public access. It forms part of a wider cultural and natural landscape associated with local iwi and river custodianship.

Geographically the park lies southeast of Whanganui city on the North Island and follows the upper reaches of the Whanganui River through forested hill country.

• Management and activities: Managed by New Zealand's Department of Conservation, the park protects native forest and river ecosystems that are best experienced by multi-day tramping or river trips.

What to See #

• Whanganui River corridor: Sections of the Whanganui River corridor protected within the park, which include riparian forest, steep riverbanks and river access points used by canoeists and trampers.
• Tracks and huts: Backcountry tracks and huts that provide multi-day tramping routes through native forest and along the river valley; access and standards are managed by the national park authority.