Last updated November 2026
This list gathers nine short walks in and around Whanganui where the whole outing, round a loop or there and back, takes about an hour or less.
Seven are in the city or on its edge: along the river, up Durie Hill, and at Aramoho, Westmere, St John’s Hill, Whanganui East and on the road to Upokongaro. Two more, near Hunterville and on Ohakune Mountain Road, suit a day out.
They are for a spare hour, young children, or a stretch on a longer drive. Expect riverside paths linking the city’s bridges, a tunnel and elevator up to a war memorial tower, farmland views over the city and river, two lakes rich in birdlife, a flat bush loop, a historic pā site with views of the Whanganui River, a forest remnant with big podocarps and a waterfall in Tongariro National Park.
How We Chose These Walks
Every time comes from the people who look after the walk: Whanganui District Council on its own park and walkway pages and in its visitor guide, Discover Whanganui, and the Department of Conservation (DOC) on its track pages. Where the council’s own walk page and its visitor guide give different figures, we use the council’s walk page.
A walk made the list only when the whole walk, a loop or there and back, takes about an hour or less by that time. Walks with no manager’s time were left out. Conditions change, so check the manager’s page before you go.
The Riverfront and Durie Hill
Round the Bridges
Round the Bridges links the riverbank paths on both sides of the Whanganui River with the city’s bridges. Whanganui District Council’s visitor guide, Discover Whanganui, says the route runs over footpaths and boardwalks and gives two shortest circuits, each a loop of 1 hour: the Dublin Street and Railway Bridge circuit (3.3 km) and the Cobham Bridge (State Highway 3) and City Bridge circuit (3.6 km).
The guide says the section between the Dublin Street Bridge and the City Bridge on the city side of the river is wheelchair accessible; it rates no other part. The council says the pathway on the Aramoho rail bridge is open but no longer meets modern accessibility standards.
Durie Hill Tower and Elevator
Whanganui District Council’s visitor guide, Discover Whanganui, times this circuit at 20 minutes. Across the City Bridge from the city centre, enter through the carved gateway at 42 Anzac Parade, walk the 213 m tunnel and ride the 66 m elevator up through the hill.
At the top, take in the city, the river and the harbour from the elevator’s viewing platform, or climb the Durie Hill War Memorial Tower, which is free to enter.
Complete the circuit by coming down the steps to the City Bridge. The steps are free, the elevator charges a fare, and the council owns and maintains the elevator, which has run since 1919.
Around the City
Westmere Walkway to Restawhile Lookout
The Westmere Walkway crosses countryside north of the city, with views over Whanganui and the river. Start at the Kelvin Street car park in Aramoho, where a map shows the route, and follow the white markers. Whanganui District Council gives 1.2 km and 20 minutes from Kelvin Street to Restawhile Lookout, so allow about 20 minutes each way.
The walkway is steep in sections and needs a moderate level of fitness. It crosses private farmland: stick to the marked route and expect cattle, uneven ground, stiles, mud, manure and unfenced water. Bring your own drinking water. The nearest toilets are at the Aramoho Shopping Centre, corner of Somme Parade and Kaikakapo Road.
Westmere Lake (Roto Mokoia)
Westmere Lake / Roto Mokoia, at 98 Rapanui Road in Westmere on the way to Bason Botanic Gardens, is a designated wildlife refuge: a nine-hectare lake within 20 hectares of bush and tracks, with a mix of native and exotic plants and birds.
Whanganui District Council’s visitor guide, Discover Whanganui, times the easy 1.7 km loop at 30 minutes. It winds through woodlands and around the shores of the lake, and the guide calls it a great outing for families. The council’s park page says no dogs are allowed.
Rotokawau Virginia Lake
Rotokawau Virginia Lake, at 110 Great North Road in St John’s Hill, is a historic lakeside reserve. Whanganui District Council describes a 25-minute woodland walk around the lake, and its visitor guide, Discover Whanganui, calls it an easy 2 km track past the Band Rotunda, twin bridges and wisteria pergolas. The guide’s walking page says 30 minutes; we use the council’s own park page.
The reserve has a free-flight aviary, open from 9.00am to 5.00pm every day, and the Winter Garden, an Art Deco-era conservatory with colourful themed gardens. A fenced children’s playground is nearby. Picnic tables, barbecues, drinking fountains and toilets are on site. The council’s dog rules prohibit dogs from Rotokawau/Virginia Lake Reserve.
Whanganui East and the Upokongaro Road
Gordon Park Loop Track
Gordon Park Scenic Reserve is a 14.5-hectare DOC reserve on the corner of Kaimatira Road and No. 3 Line in Whanganui East.
Drive into the car park off Kaimatira Road; the car park and a picnic table are at the start of the track. DOC gives a 550 m loop and 15 minutes and calls it a “wheelchair and buggy accessible short loop track”.
Whanganui District Council describes “a flat 15-minute loop track which is buggy and wheelchair accessible”. The flat, well-formed path passes mataī, tōtara, tītoki, tawa, kōwhai and kahikatea, with pīwakawaka, tūī, korimako and kererū about, and shining cuckoo in season. Dogs must be on a leash. Fires and camping are not allowed.
Waitaha Pā Track
Waitaha Pā is a small historic pā site. DOC says it “is located between Whanganui and the village of Upokongaro, around 3.5 km from the Whanganui boundary, on State Highway 4”; look for the large DOC sign.
The track runs through regenerating native bush and farmland, with glimpses of the Whanganui River, to a picnic table and lookout over the river valley and surrounding hills. DOC calls it steep but short, grades it an Easy short walk and gives 500 m return by the same track, 15 minutes return. Dogs must be on a leash.
Further Afield
Bruce Park Loop Track
Bruce Park is a podocarp and broadleaf forest remnant with impressive rimu, tōtara and kahikatea. DOC’s directions: from Bulls, continue north on State Highway 1 for about 30 km (approximately 5 km south of Hunterville) and turn down Aldworth Road. Park by the farm gate near the corner and take the gravel track through the pedestrian gate.
DOC gives a 1.4 km figure-eight loop and 1 hour, graded easy to intermediate, flat to undulating. At its heart is a memorial to Robert Cunningham Bruce, who gifted the district several forest patches; from there a side track leads to the park’s old concrete entrance gates. Look for kererū, tūī and, with luck, the long-tailed bat. No dogs.
Mangawhero Falls Walk
This short walk in Tongariro National Park starts from the car park 16 km up Ohakune Mountain Road and gives views of a waterfall close to the road. DOC grades it an Easy short walk and gives 5 to 10 minutes return.
The falls sit not far below the bushline, where the beech forest is stunted by the harsh climate, and icicles form around them in winter. No dogs, and flying a drone without a permit is prohibited in the national park.
Where to Learn More
Whanganui District Council: Westmere Walkway: the council’s route options, times and farmland rules for the walkway from Kelvin Street.
Department of Conservation: Whanganui area: DOC’s page for Gordon Park Scenic Reserve and Lake Kohata Wildlife Management Reserve near the city.
Discover Whanganui: Walking & Cycling: Whanganui District Council’s visitor guide to walks in and around the city, with times for Round the Bridges, Durie Hill and the lakes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a short walk here?
The whole outing, round a loop or there and back, takes about an hour or less by the manager’s time. The Westmere Walkway to Restawhile Lookout is 20 minutes each way, about 40 minutes in all. The longest are the Bruce Park Loop Track and the shortest Round the Bridges circuits, at 1 hour each.
Which are the shortest walks?
Mangawhero Falls takes 5 to 10 minutes return by DOC’s page, and the Gordon Park Loop Track and Waitaha Pā Track each take 15 minutes.
Are any of these walks suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs?
Two have a rating. DOC calls the Gordon Park Loop Track a “wheelchair and buggy accessible short loop track”, and Whanganui District Council calls it “buggy and wheelchair accessible”. On Round the Bridges, the council’s visitor guide, Discover Whanganui, says the section between the Dublin Street Bridge and the City Bridge on the city side of the river is wheelchair accessible; it rates no other part and does not mention prams. None of the other walks has a manager’s rating for wheelchairs or pushchairs.
Can I take my dog?
DOC allows dogs on a leash at Gordon Park and Waitaha Pā, and no dogs at Bruce Park or Mangawhero Falls. The council’s dog rules prohibit dogs at Rotokawau Virginia Lake, and its park page says no dogs are allowed at Westmere Lake. The council’s Westmere Walkway page gives no dog rule, and the walkway crosses farmland with cattle.
Which walks have toilets?
Rotokawau Virginia Lake has toilets on site. The Westmere Walkway has none; the council points to the public toilets at the Aramoho Shopping Centre.
Why are Bruce Park and Mangawhero Falls on a Whanganui list?
They are short walks worth pairing with a drive out of the city: Bruce Park near Hunterville, and Mangawhero Falls on Ohakune Mountain Road in Tongariro National Park.
Do I have to pay to ride the Durie Hill Elevator?
Yes. The elevator’s own site lists $2.50 for adults and $1 for youth aged 5 to 18, with under 5s free. There is no service during two short staff breaks each day, from 11:30 to 11:45am and from 4 to 4:15pm. The steps and the War Memorial Tower are free.
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