EVENT GUIDE

Held on Sunday 24th of January 2021, the Billy Webb Challenge is a headlining event of Bayleys Whanganui Vintage Weekend, one of the largest festivals in the region. Visitors from all over the country come to Whanganui to enjoy a packed programme of events and attractions that celebrate this humming place, and they love nothing more than to start their Sunday off on the banks of the Whanganui River, watching this prestigious race.

Prizegiving is held at 12.30pm on the stage of the Riverside Shindig, which kicks off straight after with live music, dancing, a pop-up bar, food trucks and family fun all afternoon.

Together, these events make for a great day out for locals and visitors on the banks of the Whanganui River.

Spectators and Supporters are welcome to come and watch the live racing action from 10.30am on Sunday 24th January 2021.

ENTRY INFO

The ‘Billy Webb’ is open to rowers of any age or experience, giving any rower the opportunity to race!  The Categories are:

• Single
• Coxless Pair
• Double Scull
• Coxed Four
• Coxless Four
• Coxed Quad
• Coxless Quad

The cost to enter is $20 per single and $40 per pair/double/four. Entries close on Wednesday 20 January 2021. Trophies and cash prizes up for grabs!

EVENT TIMELINE

10.00am          RACE BRIEFING, at the starting point

10.45am          BOATS ON WATER

11.15am          RACE BEGINS

11.55am          ALL BOATS OFF WATER

12.30pm          PRIZEGIVING, on stage at the Riverside Shindig

All competitors must attend the Race Briefing and the Prizegiving.

COURSE DETAILS

The race starts and finishes adjacent to the silver ball sculpture on Moutua Quay, less than 100 meters from the Paddle Steamer Waimarie launch area.

From the starting point, competitors race upstream towards and through the Railway Bridge (this is the second bridge as firstly, they will pass under the Dublin Street Bridge).

Immediately through the Railway Bridge, competitors must turn and race downstream to the finishing point.

Spectators and supporters line the riverbank and both bridges to watch the spectacle.

The 'live' music this Saturday, 23rd January, comes by the way of the very popular local band 'FLASHBACK' - they'll ensure you have a great night!

Come on down, we'd love to see you.

From the team at the St Johns Club

Bridge to Nowhere offer you a complete Whanganui River experience.

Jet boat tours to the Bridge to Nowhere
Unique lodge accommodation in Whanganui National Park
Canoe trips to untouched parts of the River
Transport for trampers and mountain bikers to and from Whanganui National Park
The Mountain to the Sea
Mountain bike trip accommodation & transport packages

We offer lots of ready made tours and experiences for you to choose from - But we are happy and able to tailor our packages for your specific requirements.

Bridge to Nowhere Lodge – Accommodation, Dinner, Bed and Breakfast

Lodge accommodation fully catered – ideal for trampers, canoeists, guests staying extra nights.

Package includes; comfortable accom – buffet dinner and breakfast

Whanganui River TOP 10 Holiday Park is situated right on the banks of the mighty Whanganui River.

Whether you want a high quality Motel, a budget-stretching Cabin, or a site for your Tent or Campervan, we have something for everyone. And it’s all set in a peaceful, spacious, relaxing, family friendly park setting.

We have accommodation with fantastic river views where you can watch the paddle steamer Waimarie go by – we’re the only holiday park in New Zealand to have a working paddle steamer pass by and give a ‘toot-toot’ to waving guests.

WATCH VIDEO

Activities 'Day Pass'

For just $5 per person you can visit Whanganui River TOP 10 Holiday Park and take advantage of all our fantastic facilities from 9:00am to 5:00pm.
Entry price includes: unlimited use of the swimming pool, playgrounds, jumping pillow, kitchen, dining, BBQs, shower facilities, Games room and TV lounge.
Bring the family down for a picnic and a relaxing day out, or book a birthday party for the children. Call us for special rates for parties or school groups.

Please be aware of that groups of 10 or more should be pre-booked in advance. Call us on 06 343 8402 to book.

Activities

Outdoor heated Swimming Pool (Up to 30 degrees from September-April)
° Jumping Pillow
° Playground areas
° Bouncy Castle (Summer Only)
° BBQs
° Spa Pool for hire (Maximum of 5 people)
° Excellent kitchen and dining facilities
° Immaculate shower facilities
° Games room with table tennis, pool, air hockey and arcade machines
° TV Lounge with full Sky TV
° Picnic Areas
° Fun Trikes for hire
° Kayak Hire

We also have a large open field for games of football, volleyball etc. 
All our facilities are available to overnight guests and to day visitors. Day visitor pass is just $5 per person. 

Spa Pool

Here at Whanganui River TOP 10 Holiday Park we have a private spa pool heated to a toasty 40 degrees, where you can relax and let the stresses of the day wash away. 

The Spa is available to overnight guests and locals alike.

Hire is just $13 for a half hour session for maximum of 5 people. 
Bookings highly recommended. Call us on 06 343 8402 or pop into reception.

Click here to view more 

Kayak Hire

Hire a kayak from Whanganui River TOP 10 Holiday Park and experience the Whanganui River up close and personal for yourself. You don’t have to be staying here to hire our kayaks, just give us a call on 06 343 8402 to book your kayak. Single and double kayaks available. Launch from our boat ramp by the hour, or take a trip 5km or 8km up the river and make your own leisurely way back. We will drive you up the river and leave you to explore the river at your own pace before arriving back at our boat ramp.

Prices per person:
$20 for an hour
$35 for half a day
$35 for 5km trip
$50 for 8km trip
(20% discount to TOP 10 Members)

PEAT PARK DEER SANCTUARY, PLAYGROUND & FIELDS

Peat Park is an established park with wide open spaces and large trees at the base of Christie’s Hill on Peat Street, Aramoho.

In 1911 the park was gifted to the children of Whanganui by David Peat, who believed that schools did not provide adequately for children to play. It has picnic tables and two play areas, with a climbing frame for older children. This park offers the unique opportunity to get up close with deer.

Toilets and drinking fountains are on-site.

Credit - Whanganui District Council

Features

• Deer Sanctuary
• Childrens Playground
• Sports Fields
• Accessible
• Outdoor Gym Equipment
• Picnic Tables
• Toilets
• Walking Trails Unpaved
• Animals
• Drinking Fountain
• Trees

Wanganui Greyhounds race in the afternoon every Wednesday and in the evenings on a Friday (from 5..00pm, the first of 12 races). And there's always a friendly welcome guaranteed.

Why not join the LOYALTY CLUB and get 10% off food and drinks!

Can't ask for better than that. Always a fun night of entertainment ... so get along and be part of it!

BAYLEYS WHANGANUI VINTAGE WEEKEND 2021

FRIDAY 22 - MONDAY 25 JANUARY 2021

In Whanganui, we begin every year with a big, loud, colourful party! While enjoying an eclectic range of vintage and celebration-themed events, we rejoice in how lucky we are to live in this humming place filled with treasured heritage buildings and framed by a stunning natural environment. We make music and art, we dance, we dress up, we travel in style. 

All the locals come out and we invite the neighbours to come over - there’s simply no better time to experience the Whanganui feeling than at Bayleys Whanganui Vintage Weekend.

The Whanganui River Markets are simply a 'routine' for many on a Saturday morning - from a social scene to the stalls themselves, it is just a great place to be, in a delightful setting down by the river.

From hot drinks to delicious food and lots of craft stalls offering a huge variety of their creations. And not to forget the Farmers Market when you can pick up your fresh locally grown produce.

Open from 8.30am to 1.00pm every Saturday.

'BUY LOCAL'!

Here's one stall you can see there:

What’s in a moment…..

Is it the moment you dare to dream of a world less ordinary? The can’t-wait-to-explore moment when you embark on a new adventure? Perhaps it’s the moment you connect with a complete stranger, the moment you find familiarity in a foreign place or the moment you laugh so hard your stomach aches.

No matter your magic moment, we want you to share it with us. The head-turners, the jaw-droppers the eye-openers. The moment when you grasp what really matters.

Explore

Where the early Maori locals lived and European settlers travelled. You will be travelling into the magical world of misty mornings clouds and awakening forests.

Discover

The hidden History and places of interest….

Connect

With times gone buy as you travel meeting local people and form new friendships

info@WhanganuiVintageWeekend.nz