Transport in and around Whanganui
The Whanganui Region is intersected by State Highways 3 and 4. It's also served by a domestic airport. However you choose to arrive, you'll find it easy to rent a car or campervan for local explorations. The attractive country roads are generally well maintained and easy to drive. There are also specialised tour operators who can take away the worries of driving while at the same time providing you with useful local knowledge and stories. Grab a map and ask for some advice from the friendly staff at the i-SITE Visitor Information Centre.
Getting to and from Wanganui
By Road
From the north:
- Visitors can take State Highway 3 from Te Kuiti, just south of the Waitomo Caves. It follows the west coast, passing through New Plymouth then inland through Stratford and past Mount Taranaki, before joining the coast again at Hawera.
- An more inland alternative is State Highway 4, which branches south near the northern end of State Highway 3, and passes through Taumaranui, National Park (Whakapapa and Mount Ruapehu) and Ohakune.
- If travelling south from Taupo, leave State Highway 1 at Turangi on the southern shore of Lake Taupo and follow State Highway 47 southwest, past Mt Ruapehu, to connect with State Highway 4 at National Park.
From the south:
- Follow State Highway 3 which branches northward off State Highway 1 at the town of Bulls on the Rangitikei River.
The city of Wanganui is a destination on Intercity Coachline's extensive network of bus services.
By Air
There are three or four direct flights daily from Auckland and, with the exception of Saturday, a daily direct service from Wellington. The flight time from Auckland is one hour; from Wellington, 35 minutes.
The closest international airport is at Palmerston North, a one-hour drive from Wanganui.
By Rail
Travel by rail is confined to one service - Auckland to Wellington. The closest railway station is Marton, 25 minutes drive from Wanganui City Centre.
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