Wanganui Parks & Gardens
Wanganui is known for its many lovely parks and gardens, and celebrates with its annual Wanganui in Bloom festival (December to February), when thousands of flower baskets adorn the city streets. A highlight is the Festival Weekend held annually on the last weekend of January. It features a market day, river raft race, street parade, vintage cars and open gardens.
- Bason Botanical Gardens
Extensive plantings of native and introduced plants have turned farmland into picturesque gardens. Features include a conservatory, begonia house, bush house, lookout, camellia garden, lake and original homestead gardens.
- Virginia Lake Reserve
Around the lake are the Winter Gardens, an aviary, a coin-operated fountain and lighting display by night. The woodland walk around the lake edge takes in the statue of Tainui, also known as the weeping maiden, and an historic band rotunda.
- Glenlogie Rose Gardens
A display of more than 600 roses.
- Ohorere Garden of Dreams
Roses, historic trees and native birds are the main attractions of this garden, which can be reached by road or river.
- The Romantic Gardens of Wanganui
Four classic gardens open to the public:
Clovelly: A town garden with magnificent old roses.
Kent House: A 150-year-old historic home and gardens.
Penworth: A large country garden.
Westernesse: Scenic gardens with views over Virginia Lake.
