Whanganui National Park was founded in 1986, and there is no fee to enter it. Its best-known experience is the Whanganui Journey, a river trip by canoe with overnight stops at huts and campsites along the way. In the Great Walks season those huts and campsites must be booked and paid for in advance; outside it they cannot be booked and work on a first come, first served basis.
Unguided groups have an age guideline for young paddlers and need enough adults to look after children and teens if something goes wrong. Nothing is sold at the huts or campsites, so all food comes with you, and so does toilet paper.
The trade-off is the season. In the colder months the river often runs high, the water is very cold and the weather wet, and the trip is then only for paddlers with real experience of remote New Zealand rivers in winter. For most families, that makes the Great Walks season the window, which is also when the booking pressure is.
Family FAQ
How much does Whanganui National Park cost?
There is no fee to enter Whanganui National Park.
Do you need to book Whanganui National Park in advance?
Huts and campsites on the Whanganui Journey must be booked in advance from 1 October to 30 April; the rest of the year they are first come, first served.
Where are the toilets at Whanganui National Park?
Huts and campsites have toilets but no toilet paper, so pack your own.