Fantastic weekend highly recommend stunning location. Clean well organised accommodation has everything you need very comfy big beds, great showers everything is thought of by the best hosts I have ever come across. Lodge was very homely with open fire plenty of cooking space very clean, 3 bathrooms didn't want to leave🙄 will go back.

Excellent, great hosts, challenging walk but excellent photo opportunities.

Apsolutly fabulous experiance , wonderful hosts accommodation and a breathtaking coastal farm land walk, a memorable trip 😊

Well organized farm walk. Great food and hosts. Shame the beach walk is not available anymore.

Winery closed for Winter. Confusingly sign on the road says both "open" and "closed for Winter".

A great location to get away and relax for a bit. Wines are ok without being stunning. They had a good truck and music so had a great day in the sun. Very well sheltered from the wind.

Good place however when we turned up at 3.45 pm nobody around today despite the sign saying "welcome, open". It then took 15 to 20 minutes to get someone and had to make a phone call from just outside the premises. Our impression was that she wasn't in a good mood at first when speaking to us. Kind of spoilt the ambience, tried our best to cheer her up but first impressions mean a lot.

Great place with an excellent selection of wines. We went on an afternoon where they had an American style BBQ band playing. The food was delicious and the service was great. Definitely signup on their website for future events. Great location and staff.

I was one of a party of 17 today, a social wine tasting group, to tour the winery including wine tasting and a fully cooked lunch with coffee/tea and sweets. The cost was $50 per head. The tour and wine tasting was presented by the winery owner/wine-maker, Christine Kernehan. The tour was interesting, I liked all the wines tasted. The buffet lunch was relaxed and the food good - a piece of roast beef, a bacon-wrapped chicken breast, three tasty cold salads, boiled buttery potatoes. The staff were friendly and efficient. The meal was enjoyable as was the weather. The only negative was the food was removed from the buffet before everyone was finished, i.e. No second helpings. The winery produces great wine but is sadly up for sale.

Amazing wine tasting! Sandra was knowledgeable and relaxed. We were able to enjoy a small tasting of all the wines and then had a couple of glasses in the wine garden with our BYO picnic. Tasting paddles are also available to enjoy in the garden. Really recommend the pushmi!!

We were delighted with our accommodation at the Gladstone Vineyard on Waitangi weekend - the ingredients in the fridge for a cooked breakfast were fresh local and generous (and unexpected), as was the complimentary bottle of wine. The bedlinen was crisp and lovely. The surrounding gardens & vines were superb for a late afternoon stroll followed by a wee wine tasting in the cellar room. A quick trip back up the road to the Gladstone Inn for a tasty dinner far exceeding our "pub" expectations. The 9 yr old boy loved the farm feel, with the chickens roaming around and a very cute pig,Bella. Our only regret was that we had to leave at the crack of dawn the next morning We hope to visit again very soon.

We went into the gift shop with the purpose of buying a gift of something local for our out of town friends, but the 2 ladies sitting at the desk were sure to announce the second we entered the door way (3.50pm) they would be closing soon. Obviously they were in too much of a hurry to go home than serve customers. It was a disgusting experience, I will never return.

Great regional gallery, had a couple of really good shows on. No charge, no queues. And good shop

Aratoi always has interesting exhibitions, plus a lovely shop and cafe. Well worth a stop on the trip between Hawkes Bayband Wellington. Photo shows Bev Moon's knitted dumplings from her recent exhibition.

Beautiful museum with nice exhibits. Worth a visit. I loved the Boro exhibit!

Worth a visit, lovely space, well presented

Amazing, new things to see all the time. Would recommend if you are visiting Masterton!

It's a small space expanding into the old church. For me the old hall was where the more interesting art lie. Free to enter. Have a short stroll through even if art is not your thing.

If you like animals "the alpaca place" is a must. The animal are nice funny and realy soft. The tour take 1h30 m. You can feed alpaca, wolk whit them and discover interesting stories about them. We are realy enjoy the alpaca !

Be sure to book online in advance before visting this great tour of an Alpaca farm. Liz and Cheryl are very kind and knowledgeable regard the history of the Alpacas. We got to meet both the male/female Alpacas and their young which are super cute. The best part was feeding time! If you like Alpacas in anyway defiantly do this tour😃

My husband and I had a wonderful time on this tour! The alpacas are adorable and the tour was extremely informative - we both felt like this was time and money well spent.

The Alpaca Place is great. Deserves so much more than the 3 google stars. See Trip advisor for a good idea of the sort of experience you will have. Its a fantastic tour. We have gone on to do business with the wonderful women from The Alpaca Place and now own our own Alpaca. We've been very impressed with the service from being straight out tourists, through to potential buyers, and onto a full delivery service of our purchased alpaca which took a full day of their time at a very reasonable price.

Liz gave a very informative and interactive tour for us. It was a great experience as we've never been to an alpaca farm before. We got to feed and pet the alpacas while understanding quite an extensive history on the cute animal, normally confused with its relative, llama. It's a recommended place to go.

Thanks for the great tour Liz and Sheryl, thoroughly enjoyed it, Ella loved your 'awesome alpacas', so disappointed I didn't buy her one. Highly recommend, especially for kids, my ten year old adored it. So much knowledge about alpacas, their history and industry.

This was so much fun and informative. We got to walk alpacas and hug them and learn all about them, a really cool day out

Some short parts of the streets leading there are gravel but a really nice scenery 😊 we planned on doing the walk down to the falls but a warning said that the track is pretty steep and partly not secured but there is also a lookout up at the carpark, so we decided that the view from there is beautiful enough for us 😇

A short drive from Dannevirk. Quite rural and narrow road. Good parking spot. Short walk down the stairs to beautiful water falls. Great place for picnic. But please take rubbish with you. No rubbish bin by the water falls. There are toilet at the parking lot.

It's quite nice. But the detour wasn't worth it for us, as we've seen more impressive waterfalls. There's a parking lot with a restroom and benches. The path to the waterfall is easy to walk, but if you're not physically fit, the return trip is quite exhausting :D

I've been travelling new Zealand this year and let me tell you, Waihi Falls is a hidden gem, offering breathtaking views and a peaceful atmosphere. The cascading water is stunning, especially after rainfall. It's a perfect spot for a picnic or a quiet escape into nature. The new long-drop toilets are a fantastic addition, keeping the area clean and visitor-friendly. A must-visit!

Waihi Falls is a hidden gem nestled in the scenic countryside of Tararua, New Zealand. Located about an hour’s drive from Dannevirke, the falls are a perfect spot for nature lovers seeking a peaceful retreat. The journey to Waihi Falls takes you through picturesque farmland and rolling hills, leading to a tranquil location that feels wonderfully secluded. The falls themselves are stunning, with water cascading down a series of rocky ledges into a serene pool below. The surrounding area is lush with native bush, creating a beautiful natural backdrop that’s ideal for photography or simply enjoying the serenity. The sound of the rushing water and the fresh air make it a perfect spot for a picnic or a relaxing day out. There’s a short walking track from the car park to the falls, which is well-maintained and suitable for most fitness levels. The trail offers a few viewing points along the way, giving visitors different perspectives of the falls. Waihi Falls is not only a great spot for relaxation but also a reminder of the natural beauty that New Zealand has to offer. It’s a perfect destination for a day trip, offering a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Best to go with family as there is also flush toilets and shed with bench and table. Must go if you around the area however there’s gravel road around 15 to 20 kms

Comfortable drive into the falls , a mixture of sealed road and some gravel in places . The falls are easily signposted and for those who just want a Quick Look you can view them from just a few paces from the carpark . Otherwise it’s approx 200m of downhill walking and quite a few steps to get to the base of the falls - not a long walk by NZ standards ! The view is amazing at any time and our son just had to jump in for a swim . Great spot on a hot summers day . Worth the visit folks !

There is a gravel road from Waihi Falls road to the car park roughly 2km. Decent sized parking area there are tables and seating under shelter, toilets, and rubbish bins. It's roughly a 5 to 10 minute walk at max to the base of Waihi Falls. There are some stairs but not much as you can see in the videos. It wasn't as impressive as it is after it's rained, but still a great place to see.

Absolutely lovely place to visit if you're a hobbyist and love trains. The place is immaculately managed by Collin and has a wealth of knowledge of the sets he has in place. Great models and sets available for purchase as well. Prices are very reasonable.

A lovely treasure of a place, we stopped on the way to Auckland and didn't regret the slight detour. Highly recommended if not for the effort that's gone into a multi-layout giant set + shop.

Our little 3yo absolutely loved coming here. He was squealing the whole time pointing out all of the trains. It's really interactive and you can see all the passion that the owner has for his set up.

Great for kids. Amazing live model scape. Has every bit of model kit, rare locos and rolling stock for sale. Must see.

True life's work . Layout is brilliant and interactive for visitors, young and old. Hobbiests will enjoy this visit. Lots of model trains and accesories available to purchase.

So quaint. If you're passing between 10-4 Saturday or Sunday you must pull in. If you have even the slightest interest in trains or models you will love it. Also great for kids.

Bring back your childhood memories and do Trainspotting as various types of miniature trains criss cross over tracks. Goods train, long distance, intercity, local trains, electric, diesel and more. See trains coupling in action. A must visit.

Really nice venue with lots of grassed areas and shade on a hot day. The iconic Tui tower is looking in dire need of some TLC before it gets condemned. Food was a bit average which is a shame because it's a great spot to visit.

We had a great lunch with friends last weekend. The pub and get quite busy however we were able to get a table upstairs immediately. It’s nice and quiet up there - perfect for catching up. The food was very good - we had two steak sammies, lamb roll, steak and chicken burgers and a chicken salad - almost one of everything on the menu! Service was excellent, with not too much of a wait and the tap beers very good. Being Tui, there are all manner of quirky things on the walls and tucked into corners.

Visited the Flagon Room function venue as part of a large rail excursion group. Front-of-house team worked really hard to cater for a larger group than expected: their efforts are the reason for the second star. Perhaps better event management would have prevented the last-minute surprise. Around 250-ish people waited in a very slow queue to choose from a single buffet table with one platter/bowl of each dish. Food was listed as 'Kiwiana gourmet'. I'm told the prawn-and-ginger dumplings were mid at best. Nowhere were we asked about dietary needs or allergies. If one of the staff hadn't offered to get the kitchen to prepare me a serve of a different meat, my $45 ticket would seen me eating boiled potatoes and steamed vegies. That extra arrived promptly, and was tender and tasty, but wasn't fully heated through. My double-serve of boiled vegies were cooked to my liking, but very plain & others in our group found them under-done. The aioli zhushed them up nicely, but couldn't disguise how dry and pasty the potato was. It was clear a second serving wasn't on offer. The other annoyance was the 'free drink' included in the ticket price: the only non-alc option was Coke. I had to pay for a lemonade. Colour me unimpressed. Friendly, professional and hard-working staff hampered by lousy management and business planning. Definitely not worth what we paid for.

Friendly staff, good choice if seating indoors and out. Well priced tap beer. Pulled pork pizza and fried chicken were quick to be served and good, tasty accompaniments with the beer

A great cafe in an amazing location. Lovely food and the most beautiful surroundings and atmosphere you could wish for. Indoor and outdoor dining.

We spent a Friday evening here and loved it. I think their double cheeseburger is THE PERFECT burger, all great flavours and well put together, not messy! Amazing hospitality from Tayla, the ultimate bar manager with a wealth of information about the Tui Brewery. She is a national treasure! Really enjoyed the museum, hilarious history (and stretched-truths)! I'd love to come back and spend an afternoon out in the huge beer garden. Things have wound down a bit since the epic marketing campaign of the 2000s but Tui HQ is definitely worth visiting, a really special spot.

Can’t miss this classic brewery if you’re in the area! The food is great and the brewery tour is everything you want it to be. Nice garden to walk around with games to play and fun decor in general. If you have the kids with you maybe skip the tour but lots of space for them to run around outside while you’re having a pint. The store is pretty pricey but has some unique stuff.

We were fortunate to stay in the BnB part of this farm where we could both see and smell the lavender and experience Susi and Katie's wonderful and thoughtful and generous hospitality. So much feels right and natural about being here it is impossible to not feel relaxed. Thank you thank you.

Never visit here again .They lady is very rude with my two year old little girl .She don’t have manners to talk to kids very angry n frustrated lady .We go to enjoy the time with family but had bad experience.My little girl picked some grapes and lavender from farm which I don’t know and when we gone to pay at shop she saw and started screaming and shouting on my baby that this is her home and we should do that.we have accepted our mistake that baby should not pick but the lady should know how to talk with babies. she forcefully asked back and my little girl cried for one hour .Very bad experience.Never going back.No humanity 😞

Just off state highway 1 and approx a five minute drive down, we went here off season but once you enter their driveway you'll start to get the sweet smell of lavender. We were greeted by 2 lovely people and a beautiful dog named teddy. The store was open and the guide took us through the store revealing the products they had available for sale and also how they extract the oil from the lavender. Price ranges from $5 to $50 and higher depending on products. Be sure to check their website too as products available online.

A really cool place to pick lavanders. The owner was really approachable. There are some events sometimes like star gazing and some celebration. Just check out their page always.

We visited Lavender Creek Farm on a quite day in December with our toddler and had the whole place to ourselves. The owners were friendly and engaging, they encouraged us to explore the entire farm (visit the lovely little creek and bamboo grove) It's a great place for families and couples, with lots of great photo opportunities. It is worth the $10 donation and we will be back again.

The lavender farm was and is an enjoyable place with lovely scenery and friendly staff. Very welcoming and the kind lady was very friendly and informative, the products are lovely and smelt really amazing too. The explanation and demonstration of how they extract the water and oil from the flower is informative and really wondrous to see in action. Also the dog was very welcoming and a lovely addition to the staff. 100/10 would pet and 1000/10 would come again here whenever we can :)

It's a beautiful lavender farm run by an elderly couple. We were lucky it was just us on the day and both the owners were very nice and welcoming. Great place for a photographer with the right lighting. To the picky people giving it 1 stars. This is someone else's residence so drop your entitlement and be respectful as it IS someone else's private residence.

Such a lovely place to see all the wonderful things that have been created over the years for the enjoyment of children. We have been 3 years in a row now its so great. The photos with Santa is a Christmas tradition now.

An outstanding visit for young and old . We have taken many of our grandchildren there over the years. A hidden treasure to rival big city efforts .

This place was awesome....run by volunteers....reasonably priced. However lots of steps. Can't wait to take more grandchildren!

It's always a pleasure visiting fantasy cave every year for our family photo with Santa. The staff are wonderful and the kids love them because they are so friendly.

Have never really stopped in town but decided to visit every shop Up one side of the street down the other Enjoyed every minute took about 2 hours Would recommend a visit Friendly chatty shop assistants Great day

Well organized, easy to find, the dogs liked it, the people really knew what they were doing. Good simple facilities.

Great visit for all age groups. Santa gave me a lollie bag even though I am half a century old.

Very good lookout..

Nice to talk with representatives. Also given information regarding to tourist places.

Fabulous informative staff. Lots to see and do ....plenty of information about things to do in Tararua. Check out the new highways simulator....you can drive it at 130km....no speeding ticket!!! Lol

Clean well-maintained loos and plenty of parking. Wander over the road to the Caltex service station if you want food, or head west for cafes etc.

Friendly staff and the Digital Space is awesome. Great space and got everything you need as if you're working from the office.

Beautiful views and just looking out and seeing all the turbines working. This is a must see. They are huge OMG...

Electric car charge station and good toliet facilities. Could do with more shelter from the weather that isn't directly outside a loo

Very helpful staff. I knew what I wanted and they showed me where to find it and helped me select the right size

Always a bargain to be found during sales time. Staff are very friendly and helpful.

Good store mostly clothes and footwear

Great stock levels. Always get a bargain here. Usually have percentage off the clearance price. Stock vary from main stores.

The best service I've received to date! Spoke to a lady by the name Erica sorted me out with a Kathmandu Retreat Compass as Kathmandu don't deliver large items anymore she worked with me to arrange a courier to collect were i would fit the bill and i have no problem with that. great service Erica well done Kathmandu.

Great shop with super friendly helpful staff, very happy with our purchases today, recommend stopping there.

I didn't visit the store in person, but spoke with Brianna, who was amazingly helpful in getting the jacket I needed. She found the item (which is out of stock everywhere, and on clearance for ages), and walked me through how to pay for it with a voucher, and shipped it right away. It felt as if a good friend was helping me over the phone. Kudos to Brianna - she is definitely an asset to Kathmandu!

An 11 out 0f 10 experience! a must if you are ever in or passing Shannon. The glow worms are awesome and fascinating. Ross and his staff have really out done themselves A+

Exceeded expectations. I expected a small place but there was enough to do and see to occupy a few hours. Good variety of animals and perfect for families with young children

It was way too expensive for what it has to offer. The guide tour is short and shows only plants and a few owls. The picnic area was nice. There's a pony, peacocks and guinea pigs.

We are new to this area so going to owlcatraz was such a great experience was a little different to most animal attraction getting greating by staff but all in all was really good tour guides were fantastic great for the children as my nephew loved the fact he could fead the animals 👍

Fantastic place with plenty to see. All the animals are friendly including the eels. Staff are amazing and do the group tours professionally and are amazing with the children. Certainly recommend the guided tour, even with children. It is great value for money.

Amazing, friendly staff. Janette and her staff offer a fantastic opportunity of a life time which is to be able to walk through the Ruru (Morepork) enclosure with nothing between you and the magnificent birds. The Farm yard friends are so cute. Thanks again 🙂

Fabulous service, wonderful people and very interesting facts and stories on the tour. Recommend!

Like one of the best parks ever 😍🥳🤘 Me and my three daughters always stop in for park play when traveling down from Auckland too catch the ferry too Picton or when getting off the boat too travel back home, I always say that I wish they had this park in Auckland lol it's beautiful, colorful, so many options and there's separate age group objects suitable for the babies and ages going up 😊 the entire park is amazing, it's drawing and the primary too intermediate age group objects are super cool too

Amazing place withs lots of play options for all ages . This have picnic area dog are and community kitchen . We had amazing day here today . Thanks

Great place to stop during road trips. Kids get to stretch their legs, play basketball, swings, slides, you name it, they have it. Adults can purchase coffee (ice coffee was amazing) Toilets lovely and clean.

Great place for a picnic for families, kids and dogs.All are fenced and can be freed with hands.

Excellent for a stop off for the kids. Easy parking and open the back doors and watch that pent uo energy get quickly spent. Get em to run when they pull up the flying fox to the start, thatll wear em out for the next leg of your trip!!

Great for kids playground and can book for birthdays with toilet facilities. Have events for family in the weekend with plenty of space and korhanga. Shopping across the road in the main street. Pity the small 🚂 rides weren't working.

Using Google Maps to remember my home town 20 years ago as a child, as a Brit, who eventually went back. The adventure park was brilliant then and is more or less the same as it is now. Epic way for a kid to grow up, I can confirm the memory stays with you forever.

I go there so many times! It’s perfect for picnics. The flowers in spring and summer are so colourful. It brings me a peace of mind! If you take your time to carefully explore the park, you will love it even more. I’d definitely recommend you going there on a nice sunny day for a stroll. There’s also a cafe! Many sitting areas and birds enclosures.

Kids and I had so much fun. We went on the train ride. Visited the well manicured Rose garden. The place was absolutely clean, people were friendly. So much to do at 1 spot. We loved it. Well maintained playground.

Fantastic park worth while going to . Also great train ride adults and children going through Bush

There's something for everyone here from train rides, nature walk trails, river walkway, beautiful botanical garden, bird sanctuary, birdwatching, picnic spots, lots of shady trees, mini golf and playground. This place is great if you are planning to spend a couple of hours outdoors.

I have visited the Esplanade countless times over the years whenever I am in Palmerston North. This beautiful park has such a variety of trees, flowers, plants and native bush. It’s an absolute delight to stroll along its many pathways and the close proximity to the river only adds to the appeal. Palmy residents and visitors are so fortunate to this beautiful peaceful facility to enjoy at any time of year. 😍

Good quality park. Well maintained. Great for a light walk with your dog.

Worth a stop and wander. Great work from gardening maintenance team at Palmerston North District Council. Wildbase recovery and avairies are a treat to see for free. I enjoyed using my Photography skills for Birds at Wildbase recovery. #palmyproud

Fantastic ride and the staff couldn't have been more helpful. My partner and I are both disabled and they very kindly helped us on and off. We'll tell all our friends what a great facility it is. Such beautiful scenery too.

Great fun for the whole family with a ride through the scenic park. The volunteers were friendly and happy to share information about the railway and its history and operation.

AMAZING EXPERIENCE !! We visited from Auckland and were so impressed with how long the train ride was. The view was really awesome and you even have the option to get off at the other train station stop at the park/cafe etc and then go back later on , the trains were well maintained and by far some of the biggest miniature ones we have utilised compared to where we are from staff were helpful and friendly and the price point was really great value and affordable we loved it so much we went a few times thanks team

Absolutely awesome!! The kids loved the train ride. Highlight of their day.

Perfect place to take kids and have a picnic. The train ride is epic. Easter special has people in bunny costumes handing the passengers Easter eggs in the forest. Very reasonably priced ride. Kids and adults will love it. There's lots of walks on the esplanade tracks and the river bike tracks are excellent. Some great hump tracks that kids on bikes or scooters love. Well done Palmy.

Could mot rate this highly enough. Long enough to bring a smile to a six year old and not so long you cant squeeze it in. Never a bad time. They operate more frequently than you would think on the school holidays and the staff have always been friendly and helpful.

Beautiful scenic gardens right in Palmerston North. The gardens reflect the change of seasons in astounding ways. Each season brings out new hues that are delightful to watch. Perfect place for a day out with kids or for exercising with a number of walks suitable for everyone. Accessibility is available for wheelchairs and pram’s throughout the park.

Awesome museum run by a lovely man who loves a good yarn! So much history and knowledge in one place, along with a rugby simulation area. Top notch, would recommend

Incredible collection of historic artefacts associated with the inception of NZ rugby and the evolution of their team over time! Really well displayed in chronological order with detailed descriptions. Would have preferred more variety of items in their gift shop, but that does not take away from an excellent museum and a must visit for any rugby fan!

Expected more. Displays were good, but not enough room to show anything from 2011 on. Was confusing as to where the Rugby Museum was as another museum in the same building.

Where do you go when on a rugby tour? Why the NZ Rugby Museum. Very quaint and educational. I thought I would have been bigger as well as at larger city considering its New Zealand’s Top Sport.

Located Palmerston North. Open 10am to 4pm, 7 days a week. Adults $15 child $6 , card and cash payment ( no pay wave)(Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Day, Good Friday) The New Zealand Rugby Museum contains New Zealand's biggest and most comprehensive collection of rugby memorabilia and records, including some of the world's rarest rugby artefacts. Test out your rugby skills - kicking, tackling, leaping, sprinting and pushing - in the 'Have a Go' area.

Amazing museum, endless information and unique memorabilia. The staff are knowledgeable and passionate it's infectious. We really enjoyed our time there.

Love Rugby 🏉 or not, it's a must see. No Springboks Rugby jersey to see, though. Love Rugby, have to see it!

This place is absolutely fantastic! One of my favorite features is the playground, which is filled with colorful equipment and fun structures. However, it's a bit disappointing that it's designed specifically for younger children—if I could, I would be playing in the dark room and building a brick wall right now! I understand the need for age restrictions to keep the little ones safe and happy, but it still feels a bit limiting. Despite that, the overall atmosphere of the area is vibrant and welcoming, making it a wonderful spot to visit and enjoy the surroundings.

The art museum wasn't exhibiting big collections when I visited, but it was well curated and inspiring Free entrance, quiet during weekday morning. Highly recommended.

What an eye-opening experience! I learned much about NZ bird populations along with the long-finned eels. I love the diligent work to restore the kiwi! Thank you.

Wonderful amazing place kids loved it were visiting palmerston north was a great edition to just shopping

Great place to take kids, interactive and the playground at end is great. Our kids enjoy stopping here

Excellent (free admission) museum with natural history, educational and outdoor displays worth an explore. Upstairs has the Rugby Museum (paid admission), and special exhibitions. Additionally, there is an art gallery with special exhibitions that change seasonally.

Te Manawa (Māori: The Heart) is a museum, art gallery and science centre in Palmerston North, New Zealand. It is operated by the Te Manawa Museums Trust, a charitable trust incorporated on 20 August 1999. From that date, the Trust assumed responsibility for art works and heritage assets transferred to its care but held on behalf of others.

A dutch style windmill in the middle of a small New Zealand town. The shop has an amazing range of different foods (e.g. cheese, croketes, and sausages) and other things like cups, tulips, and even cloggs. Went there during an event celebrating the Dutch heritage of the town.

Authentic Dutch pancakes, possibly the best around the Wellington region, well priced pastries and bakes...the brownie was to die for...good food menu too, awesome staff and super-quick service...must visit in Foxton, right across the windmill

There are plenty of seating options to choose from, and the décor feels harmonious and well-balanced. Drinks are tasty — a bit pricey, but fair considering the cozy and relaxing atmosphere. The view outside is beautiful and quite striking, especially with the windmill-shaped building nearby. A great place for friends’ hangouts, casual dates, or family gatherings. 🌿☕️

Tons of good Dutch food and household items. Some items were a little on the pricier side but all of it is authentically Dutch so I would imagine its quite a feat to get it all shipped. Paid the extra little bit to tour the upstairs area. Very interesting to see and love that they provided a booklet with information. Well worth it!

What an experience - both entertaining and informational. This was my first time in a windmill and it was awesome. The best part was knowing that this is a working mill. At the ground floor is the information centre and shop where you can buy milled flour and other goodies. The ladies were great and very friendly. I arrived at a quiet time so was exploring by myself. As the windmill was not operating when I visited, I was able to walk all around the balcony. And the balcony provided some very excellent views. It was a real experience being able to walk between the different floors and view the various equipment that was required for milling the flour.

The only fully working windmill of it's type in the southern hemisphere. Built mostly from locally sourced timber and very earthquake proof. We were welcomed by friendly staff and volunteers then we were taken on an informative tour up three flights of stairs to see how it all worked including onto the railed balcony. Where you could really appreciate the power of the wind turning the sails. There is a small shop selling goodies from the Netherlands and the flour ground by the windmill

Great fun climbing up the levels ($2 donation and take care on the steep stairs) and seeing all the big gears and milling wheels. Amazing views in all directions from the viewing platform whether you look up, out or down. Buy cheeses and other Dutch ingredients and goodies or have a go at the games on the first level. Well worth your time

This park is a credit to the volunteers that maintain it, there was beautiful trees and plants at every turn, perfectly manicured lawns and gardens. The lady who greeted us was very welcoming and gave us a lot of good information. The $10 entrance fee is well worth it, and can be paid online or into the honesty box in cash. Plenty of parking and toilet facilities. They also provide some plant sales as well.

I stumbled upon this place serendipitously, and am so glad I did. It must be one of the most beautiful places in a country filled with beautiful places. Spring is in the air and the rhododendrons are in full bloom. Thank God and whoever manages these Gardens that they exist.

Was a good place to park up for the night.

Great rhododendron Park with many examples of other complimentary plants. Run by a trust and the volunteers were most helpful, very friendly group. The gardens are a credit to their hard mahi/ work. Great to see information on the heritage of many of the plants. Most informative and really interesting.

Lovely to stroll round these gardens in the spring when Rhododendron are in bloom

Just a magical walk, its never crowded. Just a brilliant place to chill out and take great photos

Didn’t come at its best time but could only imagine how beautiful it would be in just one month time. Recommend for everyone.

What an amazing place. It's quite a trek to get there and a long steep steady climb back out on a travel farm track. Flushing loo at the boulders site which was clean and well stocked with loo paper. Saw a few of the early lambs too. Well worth $5 each.

Amazing place magical in the bush. Felt very safe for a solo traveller Will recommend to others. The walk is not that steep it's expected for farmlands. Don't let the easy walk down and up put you off. Its easy! $5 per adult put into honesty box (please pay to help the family who own the land) and about 2 hour return walk to the boulders

Plenty of signposts to follow. Carpark at top, pay $5pp and short walk across field and down hill to the river edge and bush where these amazingly cool round boulders are. The walk back up the hill is a bit more strenuous and in the heat would pay to be fit to walking.

Although reasonably easy to find, the last 8 km or so is on narrow gravel road. Take your time and enjoy the scenery. The walk itself is all downhill, about 30-45 mins. You'll be climbing that on the way back, so don't go on the hottest day of the year! The boulders themselves are in a lovely little bit of forest. Near the start is a nice flushing toilet, and if you follow the path, it leads to the boulders and a great little seating area where your can eat you picnic.

Beautiful ancient boulders and trees, but the real treasure are the views through farmland to get there, walking alongside grazing animals. A fantastic day out.

This is a gem that more people should know about. It's geologically unique, beautiful and peaceful. The small koha to the landowner is well worth them providing parking, a toilet, information and picnic seating. Things to know: about 6 km driving on unsealed road to get there. The track down to the boulders, which are beside the lovely Rangitikei River, is fairly steep and it's gravel which is slippery underfoot. But I am a fairly unfit person and I had no difficulty getting up and back. Take water and snacks or a picnic. There is a toilet but the water is not suitable for drinking.

Magical spot. Lucky as I had it all to myself. Had great weather but I imagine it would look it’s best after some rain on a foggy morning. Takes 20 plus minutes to walk to the boulders and slightly more walking back up but the views are worth it. Is well preserved by the surrounding land owners so worth the $5 donation at the honesty box at the car park. Highly recommend.

Very affordable and quiet . Underwhelming and tired. Not a lot to do. Nice views of the lake

We arrived at night (with prior notice) and directions and lighting made it very unclear where to camp. Toilets were smelly. Traffic noise despite the beautiful location. Great place to camp if you are self contained, or on a budget.

Friendly people really peaceful place to chillax

We were desperately trying to find a place to stay the night in whanganui and everything looked dreadful. We pushed to this place and what a nice surprise! The lake, the views, the lambs in the fields.. it's so pretty. The owner is nice, the facilities are simple and sufficient, and all for a very good price. We definitely recommend the place and will be back!

A hidden gem! Dudding was an awesome place to stop by for a bit of camping. Quint was friendly and helpful from the get-go and met us upon arrival. The site has everything you need (powered or non-powered) for easy no-fuss camping! All amenities (Toilets, hot showers, kitchen, laundry) you could need. It was very tidy, and well presented. We love no frills camping, if you do too then this is a wonderful place to discover. We'll be back just the two of us, and with the whole family. Can't wait to come again soon!

Nice quiet spot. Great that you can bring your dog with you. $25 A night for a powered site for two. Clean facilites.

Was a beautiful little hidden gem we accidentally stumbled upon! Camping, park, toilets, swimming, it's free for day use or cost for camping. There is a hall you can hire and a short half walk around the little lake.

The walk through the tunnel towards the elevator is well lit with changing colours. The elevator itself is still an experience not to be missed. Nice to know it is run by paid staff now. Lovely views of Wanganui city and the river from the rooftop.

Even though I live but a stone's throw away from this incredible transportation attraction, I haven't visited it for some time. Here's some picture updates of this must see one-of-a-kind in NZ...from the top anyway.

We were naive and didn't look up their operating hours (showed up 8 mins to closing), but the operator was very friendly and let us walk down to the bottom before taking the lift back up as his last ride of the day. Worth the stop here if you're passing through as the experience in the tunnel is quite unique — especially if you're the only party there. This is one of two community-servicing elevators left in the world, and the ride is very affordable!

Nice experience with the short tunnel with colourful lights. Durie hill lift is very old school but very well maintained. Nice view from the top. Worth visiting if you haven’t been there. Prefer to park the car at the car parking close to the river bridge and go for a short walk and enjoy the tunnel walk and hill view.

Cool view overlooking the town. Fun for kids to walk the tunnel with the lights

A great place to climb to the top and view the Whangnui river of to the Sea, and surrounding area. Wonderful for photos. The platform at the top is open, but fenced. Probably a dozen parking spots at the foot of the tower

This is a real kiwi hidden gem. Well worth a look if you are a visitor to Whanganui. The Elevator is one of only two in the world and was built to allow a new garden suburb to be developed in 1919. A real social experiment. At the top of the ride is the suburb worth a few minutes exploring especially the different building styles of the 1900s to 1930s. It's only a couple of dollars ,the staff are passionate and knowledgeable. Photos are taken from the WW1 tower at the top of the elevator ride

We chatted with the visitor center employee. She was very welcoming and pleasant. We received tips and recommendations on routes and the weather, which made us enjoy our time in the area even more. The center is very educational and beautiful. There is an accessible parking lot with public restrooms. For sure, we are gonna come back. Thanks Carol!

Awesome staff, very knowledgeable, helpful and friendly. Surprisingly, a fantastic place to buy gifts for Christmas. Big range, great prices. Pieces from local artists also for sale. Situated on the river with Mud Duck next door. So much to do in Whanganui that it is worth a visit to find out what's available that you might otherwise miss.

Used to live in this town a long time ago in 2010. Last visited in 2016. Good memories last forever. Hope to come here again. ❤️❤️❤️

Situated conveniently right beside the river (that has a riverside board walk for cycling & walking on, plenty of seating, recycling rubbish containers & even a drinking water station. Really helpful staff, plenty of pamphlets about various activities & road maps. An awesome to scale 3D model of Taranaki on a large table that you can walk around and visually see distances between places. There are public toilets inside the building and bicycle stands outside. Plenty of free 1hour parking. Mud Ducks café adjoins the Visitor centre.

Friendly and welcoming staff. Has a cafe and nice snacks souvenirs for sale.

Very helpful, clean and tidy, wonderful models to view and gifts , coffee shop on site.

Helpful staff. Very knowledgeable

Really disappointing. So many of the items kept in the museum are gone. The lovely old Victoria Ave walk at the turn of the century was so special as a memory of such a historical town.... I was so looking forward to sharing with my children, but it has all been taken away. Perhaps if all the pictures were moved to the new Art Gallery, it may have made room for the historical items that are locked away from the public. (nice to see the sunfish has remained).

A fab museum, runs off donations (free entry). Not huge but the perfect size for an hour or two of exploring. Nice that it has the regional history rather than just repeating the national history. Friendly lady welcomed us and explained what was included in each exhibit and where to find the toilets! There was also a toy/game station to amuse children near the entrance and a couple of other games/activities around the upstairs exhibits too.

Very interesting Museum, with lots to learn about Māori and their history. You should plan enough time or visit on two different days, to have enough time to look at everything. The ladies from the reception were also very lovely and helpful. Totally recommend to come and visit when you’re in the area.

Easy accessible,wheel chair friendly, awesome displays that are very educational, interesting not to over whelming. Great areas for children fun and educational. Koha donation. Well worth the visit!

This a great museum with awesome displays of many New Zealand Historical items and events. The displays were well laid out and the explanations were excellent. It would be one of the best museums I have visited in New Zealand. The staff at reception were most helpful and very polite. They answered all my questions and helped to make my visit very worth while.

Very interesting! The Maori canoe is 22m and held 70 warriors! Great collection Maori culture artifacts, paintings and very early photographs and portrait paintings of Maori royalty, Skeletons from Moa (a bird related to the ostrich...their backs are 6ft high!). Early settler equipment. Photographs and artefacts from early Whanganui town centre.

NASA announced that organic molecules have been found on Mars. Organic molecules are the key building blocks of life on Earth. It is theorized that life on earth got kick started from the arrival of meteorites. The Mokoia meteorite in the Whanganui Regional Museum collection is made of carbonaceous chondrite, the rarest of all meteor types. Carbonaceous chondrite is mainly composed of carbon: the atom that defines organic molecules. It has been dated as 4.57 billion years, which makes it the oldest known material in the solar system. Larger bodies like planets and meteorites started forming 10-50 million years later. It is of such significance, that fragments of the specimen are now held in the University of New Mexico, the American Museum of Natural History, the Natural History Museum in London, Arizona State University and The Field Museum in Chicago, the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle in Paris and the Geological Survey of India in Calcutta among others. Science is about collaboration which allows scientists to combine their knowledge and resources to form new ideas and make breakthroughs, that might not have been possible by working alone. It is a fantastic museum, well worth visiting. Darwin would be proud. During his stay in New Zealand Darwin collected insects, shells, fish, rocks and a gecko. His detailed observations were carefully recorded in his journal of the Beagle expedition, which was published to much acclaim in 1839. He later wrote that the voyage had been ‘by far the most important event in my life, and has determined my whole career.’ In 1871 Darwin published The Descent of Man, which argued that human beings shared a recent common ancestor with the great African apes.

Rueha was a heartless cruel guide. Because of her i had a broken ankle and was left to fend for myself. The wound hasnt healed yet. They even put up a bogus complaint on tripadvisor.com and i had to complain to get it removed. So if you use them, go well prepared. If something goes wrong they won't help you and you are on your own

Lovely, very well maintained small size lake. Popular with walkers and joggers. Nice vegetation with lots of paths, all around. You could say, it's romantic too.

Always good values. Lots of waterfowl. Great gardens. Shadey well-maintained walkway. Walk-through Avery. Wintergardens. Enchanting.

Beautiful gardens, especially with Autumn colours. Very family friendly.

Very fond memories from my childhood of this park... and I was not disappointed some 50 years later. Still plenty of ducks and a couple of large swans. A fun encounter as they came out of the lake wanting food. The Winter Garden was beautiful... and loved the Christmas theming.

What a magical place for walks picnic with family etc etc. Beautiful walk around the lake well maintained clean tidy. Just love going for walks around here. Lovely winter garden and bird sanctuary. Must visit when you are in whanganui.

Virginia Lake is an excellent place to wind down, whether that be a walk around the lake, or a stop at the nearby coffee shop further up the bank. There are numerous wildlife living in and by the lake, many of which will come up to you. The greenery is well-kept, and it is a pleasure to see as you walk around the outskirts of the lake.

A really delightful place for either a short or longer walk around the lake. Beautifully peaceful