Virginia Lake, WHANGANUI

Rotokawau ❤️

Translation: the lake of the black shag “Roto”=lake, “kawau”=Black shag

I’m going to count last weeks walk around the lake as Hike 2 for 2021. We took the high track (there is a low, middle and high track. I usually take the low track), which I hadn’t done before. Which took 30mins and was 2km.

This is one of my favourite places in Whanganui. Even though I’ve walked around the lake more times that I could even begin to count, I still love to wander and I spot something beautiful every time.

I have hundreds of photos on my phone from walks around the lake, so I thought I would just write up a post with some information about the place and try to give you a small selection of pics that showcases the lake through the seasons.

Things to do/overview:

• Walk roughly 25-30minutes around the lake
• Explore the winter gardens, admire the beautiful flowers around the lake. Maybe stop and smell the roses if that’s your thing
• Feed the ducks- feed can be purchased at the funky duck cage for $2
• Grab an ice choc or snack at the Funky Duck Cafe
• Watch the fountain-great in the day, better at night
• Look for painted rocks (very popular activity)
• Bird watch (see below Whanganui brochure for information on birds you can spot at the lake)
• Pose with the swan mural or Peter Pan sculpture, and check out the local talent on display with sculptures around the lake
• Visit at night for a beautiful light show, installed Dec 2018
• Spot turtles sunbathing or swimming (I’ve never managed to see them, but have seen lots of picture)
• update 2022: I have spotted a turtle and can confirm they are not just a myth!

History and information:

Virginia Lake was originally named Rotokawau, but was renamed after the Virginia family who owned the land for some time when Whanganui was first colonised. It’s original name was officially reinstated in 2016 and, like many places in New Zealand, the lake now has two formal names to honour tangata whenua and indigenous knowledge + stewardship of the land.

The local Maori creation story about Rotokawau is recorded and retold on a beautiful sculpture of Tainui, the daughter of a highly regarded chief. I won’t attempt to retell the story, however the general idea is that the lake was formed by the tears of Tainui as she wept for her lover Turere (who could speak to the birds and taught Tainui their language), at the place where he was killed by Ranginui (who Tainui was to marry). Ranginui was killed by lightening by the gods, who were angry at the death of their beloved Turere. Tainui learnt of all that had happened from the birds, who told her what had happened.

Interestingly, Virginia Lake is one of the largest lakes formed by a natural hollow (the lake is formed by water in a natural hollow between two sand dunes) without an outlet. The lake is very deep, and I’ve heard stories of a Chinese trader falling in, along with his horse and carriage, who was never able to be recovered due to the overwhelming depth. I am very suspicious about the accuracy of that story, but it’s a good tale nonetheless.

Sculptures / Art:

Tainui

As I mentioned above, there is a beautiful sculpture of Tainui, along with the local creation story of the lake. The sculpture was made by Joan Morrell in 1978 from bronze. It is a memorial for Maxwell James Grant Smart, a Whanganui historian and honorary direction of the Whanganui Regional Museum. Maxwell was a passionate collector of Maori history, customs and mythology and wished for the legend of Tainui and Turere to be depicted at the lake.

Pura McGreggor Waka

This sculpture is the newest at the lake, only having been opened in September 2020 (after a few cancelled events due to COVID-19 restrictions). Pura McGreggor was the first Maori Woman to be awarded the Order of the British Empire for her services to the Whanganui community. This sculpture was made by local artist Cecilia Kumeroa and replaces the original wooden carved waka that was erected by her husband after her death in 1920. Sadly, the original waka rotted in the 80s and had to be removed, however there is a picture of the original artwork on the nearby information board.

Peter Pan

There are 2 Peter Pan sculptures at the lake. One was made by Cecil Thomas is 1967. This is one of two Peter Pan sculptures made by the artist, the first once being found in the Dunedin Botanical Gardens.

Peter was designed to be child friendly, posed with his hands on hips, standing on a beech tree stump. Around the stump are the Lost Boys and unique New Zealand creatures – snails, penguins, a limpet, a fantail, a morepork, skink and a tuatara.

Lily Fountain

Known as the Higginbottom Fountain, after philanthropist Percy Higginbottom who gifted the fountain to the city in 1971. The fountain is operated by coin, and is beautiful during the day, and spectacular at night. The fountain is illuminated by coloured lights for 40minutes each day when the street lights turn on, or can be started by a coin if you miss that time window!

Payment by coin is at a power box, which is adorned by a large swan with outstretched wings, painted by Whanganui resident Amla Meijer (I found this picture of her taking a break during the instalment online). Amal’s beautiful addition to the lake was unveiled in December 2018 and I have often seen kids (and adults) posing for photos that give them wonderful white wings.

Ok, so. To end here’s just a bunch of pics I like that I’ve taken over the last few years.

Happy wxploeing

Xx

Moochelle