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Parks, reserves and gardens
from Welcome to Whanganui 2021
by NZME.
Whanganui has a large number of parks, reserves and gardens that enhance our district and provide green spaces throughout the urban area. We have six premier parks including Kowhai Park (which includes a large children’s playground), Rotokawau Virginia Lake Reserve, Pukenamu Queen’s Park and Bason Botanic Gardens.
Other areas like Castlecliff Domain (part of the Castlecliff Coastal Reserve) and Majestic Square in the central city are also maintained to high standards. Our parks and reserves provide a wide variety of recreational opportunities, from casual recreational use to organised sports. To book a park, visit: www.whanganui.govt.nz/book-a-park Kowhai Park – Designed in the 1950s and a great favourite with children. Ride a brontosaurus, swing on an octopus, see-saw with a snake or picnic in a pumpkin, all in a gorgeous woodland riverbank setting on Anzac Parade.
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Cooks Gardens – One of New Zealand’s leading outdoor sporting venues, featuring a 250m Olympic- standard wooden velodrome and synthetic athletic track. Famous as the venue where Peter Snell broke Herb Elliott’s mile world record on a grass track, covering the distance in 3 minutes 54.4 seconds. Springvale Park – An 11-hectare complex, comprising multi-use amenities for a variety of sports, including the Splash Centre pool complex and the bike park which caters for very young riders up to teenagers wanting more of a challenge. Bason Botanic Gardens – The Bason Botanic Gardens are rated as a 4-star garden by the New Zealand Gardens Trust. Drive or walk through the gardens, use the free gasfired barbecues or take a picnic and enjoy the lake and birdlife. Three conservatories feature an extensive orchid collection, begonias and bromeliads. Free entry. Visit www.basonbotanicgardens.org.nz Bushy Park Tarapuruhi – This forest sanctuary includes 90 hectares of pristine native forest and Ratanui, believed to be the largest rata tree in the southern hemisphere.