Dannevirke: History, Gardens and Discoveries

Dannevirke brings together historic places, gardens and nature experiences. The Dannevirke Gallery of History preserves archives of the town and district; paths wind through a wooded hillside in Wahipai Reserve, while Dannevirke Domain combines gardens with facilities for a range of interests. You can tailor your stay around culture, outdoor activities or shared discoveries.

History, Art and Special Places

The Dannevirke Gallery of History is housed in the historically significant Old Court House. Its archives include old photographs, equipment and other artefacts from the history of the town and Dannevirke district. Visiting hours are listed as Monday to Friday, 10 am to 3 pm, and by appointment. Another historic building is the Arcadia Picture Theatre: completed in 1919, it is one of the few surviving examples in New Zealand from the silent film era.

Art and cultural discoveries can also be found elsewhere. Tiki 2 Gallery features outdoor garden art, pounamu, paintings and custom-made pieces. At Mākirikiri Marae, visitors can admire the carvings in the Aotea Meeting House. Dannevirke’s settler cemetery attracts many visitors. Those interested in woodwork can find wooden souvenirs made for Aotearoa’s tourism industry at the Native Woodcraft Factory Shop.

Gardens and Green Spaces

The gardens in and around Dannevirke vary in their layouts and features. At Kohatu Country Garden, three ponds lie among old totara trees, with a stone bridge providing access. Visits are by prior appointment only. Te Kiteroa Gardens is a large landscape garden with perennials, trees, shrubs, a pond, various structures and seating. This garden is also open by prior appointment only.

Dannevirke Domain features attractive gardens in a tranquil, landscaped 20-hectare setting. The rose garden has a fountain. There is also a children’s playground, bird aviaries and a wildlife park with deer; visitors can feed the ducks in the Domain. The gardens, playground and wildlife offer different reasons to spend time in this setting.

Nature and Outdoor Activities

Wahipai Reserve is an almost five-hectare, bush-covered hillside with native and exotic trees. Access is at the northern edge of Dannevirke via State Highway 2, just beyond Mangatera Bridge. The reserve also has a mountain bike trail graded intermediate to advanced, with several small jumps and obstacles.

For an outing beyond Dannevirke, Kumeti Reserve, 21 km away, offers another natural setting. It is connected to Ruahine Forest Park and includes a stream and a mown grassy area that can be used for a picnic or a rest. This gives you different landscapes to choose from during your stay: a wooded hillside on the edge of town or a grassy area beside a stream outside town.

Discoveries for Different Interests

There are special experiences beyond gardens and nature, too. Fantasy Cave on Dannevirke’s main street brings classic nursery rhymes and children’s stories to life with live animatronics and light installations. It has been entertaining children and adults for 25 years. Dannevirke Flying Club is based at Dannevirke Aerodrome. It promotes flying, flight training and general aviation in Dannevirke and the surrounding area as safe and enjoyable leisure activities for people of all ages and abilities.

The options range from archives and silent film history to garden art, nature and aviation. When planning your trip to Dannevirke, you can choose experiences that particularly interest you: a visit focused on culture and history, gardens with varied designs, or outdoor activities.

View the wider travel guide: Tararua District.