A vibrant riverside city on the west coast, Whanganui is rich in history, culture, and natural beauty. Nestled along the banks of the Whanganui River, it boasts a unique blend of heritage architecture, thriving arts and cafe scenes, and access to stunning outdoor adventures.

With a strong sense of community and a lifestyle that balances relaxation with opportunity it’s an increasingly popular choice for families, creatives, and those seeking a change of pace without sacrificing modern conveniences.

Michaela Palacio from Bayleys Whanganui says the area has big city appeal without the huge size.

“You've got the hospital and all the shops like Farmers and The Warehouse, but it doesn't come with the massive population or the crazy five o'clock rush hour traffic. So, I think that's what makes it really appealing.”

“It’s definitely a more relaxed lifestyle. We've still got a lot of historical buildings, galleries and art, and with the river it just makes the whole place really picturesque.”

Palacio says 30% of current buyers are coming from outside of Whanganui with increased connectivity and proximity to other main centres.

“A lot of these people are working from home and working remotely while enjoying Whanganui which is great.”

There’s a huge variety of housing to cater to them as well, including older style dwellings, new builds, subdivisions, coastal properties and even lifestyle blocks on the outskirts of the city.

Palacio says there’s a lot to keep residents entertained with too.

“There’s a great vintage weekend, the bi-annual New Zealand Masters Games and lots of events hosted at the many wonderful venues, like the Royal Whanganui Opera House.”

There’s also plenty of job opportunities across the area.

“We have a mix of large employers and a thriving small business sector, providing a number of roles across key industries, including manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, education and retail.”

So, what are the four up and coming areas across Whanganui, and what can you expect from each of them?

WHANGANUI EAST

Whanganui East is located alongside the Whanganui River right near a collection of essential shops and children's playgrounds.

“The area is quite attractive to first home buyers and young families and there's a lot of options in that suburb.”

Most of the houses are established dwellings with a few new homes dotted throughout.

“Some of the houses are a bit outdated but can easily be renovated by repainting or laying new carpet.”

“The suburb has a very reasonable price point, so there’s also a bit of investor appeal there as well with a lot of them slowly starting to return to the market.”

Palacio says the side closest to the city centre has a selection of great little shops and takeaway stores, as well as access to the river walkway and family friendly areas.

“If you want to shop somewhere a bit bigger, it’s just a 10-minute drive to the city centre or a 25-minute walk.”

So how much will a property likely set you back? Right now, the median sales price for a spot in Whanganui East is $440,000.

SPRINGVALE

Palacio says Springvale is a suburb that’s mostly sought after by families and retirees, with 80 sales there over the past month.

“It's definitely a family friendly suburb, close to all levels of schooling as well as shops with established properties and modern homes.”

“It’s also currently undergoing structured development to accommodate residential growth.”

She says the Springvale structure plan is being carried out with the Whanganui District Council to identify land that’s suitable for new housing.

“The plan also includes the rezoning of land to facilitate those developments. So that really makes it up and coming, especially if it’s going to expand and bring in new houses which broadens the appeal.”

“There are still dated properties in the area, but with this new development happening it will really bring up the quality of the houses.”

Palacio says there’s a lot of work already being done on Mosston Road.

“It’s exciting because it is one of the nicest suburbs in Whanganui already so hopefully it just gets better.”

As for local amenities, there’s a garden centre, chemist, bakery, cafes and it’s really close to the hospital.

“The hospital is just at the end of one of the main roads that goes through Springvale so it’s really appealing for retirees and downsizers.”

Right now, the median sales price in Springvale is $550,000.

WHANGANUI CENTRAL

As its name suggests, Whanganui central is positioned in the heart of the city.

“Buyers here are looking for an urban style environment close to the CBD and surrounded by historic buildings, vibrant cafes, galleries and the main street of Whanganui.”

“It’s definitely a popular suburb for young professionals and also retirees.”

There’s a mix of new and old-style housing that’s designed around the ‘flat style’ of home.

“Lots of units, studios and small apartments that are great for people wanting to get onto the housing market or who aren’t focussing on family life.”

Palacio says a lot of them are based inside historical buildings.

“There would absolutely be room to renovate or just even modernise the interiors.”

There’s obviously the added convenience of being in the CBD and all within walking distance to many cafes, restaurants and businesses.

So how much will a home in Whanganui Central set you back? Right now, the median sales price is $425,000.

CASTLECLIFF

Castlecliff is a coastal suburb right on the beach with a lot of first home buyers purchasing there and then renovating their homes.

“That’s been helpful to lift the street appeal. It's a relaxed lifestyle, there aren’t so many shops but there are dairies and cafes and things like that.”

“Definitely with the combination of the affordability, proximity to the beach and the increasing number of developments as well, it's an ideal place for a lot of different people.”

It’s around a 10-minute drive into the central city, and Palacio says the main interest in the suburb is coming from younger first home buyers or investors because of the lower price point and opportunity for future gains.

There is also opportunity to grow, with Whanganui District Council currently looking at rezoning land around the local golf club to increase the housing supply. It’s also investigating infrastructure enhancements to support that residential expansion.

Right now, the median sale price for Castlecliff is $388,000.

“To get a house so close to the beach for such a low price is basically unheard of.”