A view onto the Whanganui, New Zealand

Whanganui is a national park located in the North Island of New Zealand. Established in 1986, the park covers an area of about 742 square kilometers and is named after the Whanganui River, which flows through it from the mountains to the Tasman Sea. It holds deep cultural significance for the local Māori tribes, particularly for the Whanganui iwi (tribe), who view the river as a living ancestor. In 2017, in recognition of the deep spiritual connection between the Whanganui iwi and the river, the New Zealand government passed groundbreaking legislation granting the Whanganui River legal personhood. This historic decision acknowledges the river as an indivisible and living whole.

The park offers stunning landscapes, including untouched forests. The main outdoor attraction is considered to be the Whanganui Journey, a canoe or kayak trip that spans 3 to 5 days, covering 145 kilometers of the river. The photo above was taken at the start of our journey from a scenic overlook on a hill.

There is only one main road leading into the park, and it’s a dead end. This means to leave the park, you must turn back. At the entrance, there’s a sign warning that the nearest gas station is very far away. If you don’t have a full tank, it’s advisable to turn back and fill up. We spent only several hours in the park, mainly admiring the views from our car. Only briefly we visited a Māori cultural center, where we enjoyed some coffee.