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Wanganui is ideally situated between Rotorua and Wellington and is a natural stop for people travelling through the North Island. From Wellington, Wanganui is a two and a half hour easy drive, and passes through the picturesque small towns of Levin, Foxton, and Bulls. Take State Highway One to Bulls and State Highway Three from Bulls to Wanganui.

From Rotorua and Taupo, Wanganui is a scenic drive through some of the most beautiful parts of the North Island. State Highway Three takes you down the country from Rotorua, through Taupo with State Highway Four taking you through to National Park, Raetihi and then on to Wanganui. You may wish to stop at National Park and enjoy a days skiing on Mount Ruapehu before heading down to Wanganui. The skifields are only an hour and a half drive from the city.

As an alternative route to State Highway-Four is to take the historic and scenic Whanganui River Road from Raetihi to Pipiriki and down to Wanganui. This road takes you through the beautiful Whanganui National Park and the settlements of Jerusalem - home to James K Baxter Mother Aubert two historical New Zealand figures - Ranana and Atene, with many historical points of interest along the way. The River Road is renown for its unspoilt loveliness but it is a scenic route and not for those in a hurry as it is windy and unsealed in places.