1 / 3Kowhai Park Family Playground
📍 Whanganui East, Manawatu-Wanganui
A huge, free riverside playground in Whanganui East that works for a wide age range, with a pirate ship, castle, slides and flying fox, plus BBQs and picnic spots. Cheap train and go-kart rides if you want extras.
Free park in Whanganui where you can do a lot of things. You can bring food and eat out with family. There is a bbq place tgat you can use. Children can enjoy the play grounds. There is a train ride for few dollars. Can rent small manual cart for a dollar to go round and round for quite some time. There is a bicycle and skate park at the end of the park. If you go further there is an area where you can play mini golf and ride a go kart and race with your love ones. Some people do fishing on the side of the park.
🏆 Family Action Verdict
This is a solid, free day out if you've got kids across a range of ages - there's the pirate ship, castle, slides and flying fox for the older ones, and plenty of gentler stuff for littlies. Pack a picnic and make an afternoon of it by the river, and know there are cheap paid extras like the train and go karts if you want them.
ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go
💬 What Families Are Saying
View all reviews →1,367 Google reviews
Rodel Lopez
“Free park in Whanganui where you can do a lot of things. You can bring food and eat out with family. There is a bbq place tgat you can use. Children can enjoy the play grounds. There is a train ride for few dollars. Can rent small manual cart for a dollar to go round and round for quite some time. There is a bicycle and skate park at the end of the park. If you go further there is an area where you can play mini golf and ride a go kart and race with your love ones. Some people do fishing on the side of the park.”
Temp Direct
“This park has been designed for play for the young and older age group. Beautifully maintained play structures on rambling Park grounds beside the Whanganui River. A great example of a playground coexisting with natural elements. There are many play options here,including a pirate ship, castle and good old swings. Great walking, running and cycle paths give you options on travel. Plenty of vehicle parking and established trees for shade.”
Nahed Alhaj
“Kowhai Park in Whanganui is a fantastic spot for families, especially with younger kids. The playground is huge, creative, and well-maintained, with fun themed equipment like dinosaurs, trains, and castles. There’s plenty of shade, picnic areas, and even a splash pad in summer. It’s free, safe, and full of charm—perfect for a relaxed afternoon or a birthday outing. Highly recommended for locals and visitors alike!”
Katherine Lynch
“Fantastic and huge play space for kids of all ages. Amazing themes and so many slides here! Really good day out for us and loved the flying fox, castle and pirate ship. Amazing.”
Reviews from Google
Overview
A sprawling free playground along the Whanganui River, with enough going on to keep a mixed-age crew busy: the pirate ship, castle and flying fox pull in the bigger kids while there's gentler gear for littlies. Pack a picnic or fire up one of the BBQs and settle in for the afternoon. When someone needs a change of pace, there are cheap paid extras like the train ride and go-karts. Pram-friendly with parking on site.
