Manawatu

This part of New Zealand encompasses quiet rural landscapes from fertile farmland to the beautiful gardens of Palmerston North.

In the Manawatu region, the landscape is dominated by rolling hills and dotted with villages that offer an authentic slice of New Zealand farming life; from the unpretentious university city of Palmerston North to country villages where you can join the gumboot-clad locals for a ‘couple of quiets’ at a pub that’s served the community for generations. Exciting outdoor activities and wilderness experiences also abound in the region. The university town of Palmerston North is a bustling service centre with a wide range of shops and amenities, including plentiful accommodation. In the countryside beyond lie small country villages such as Feilding and Shannon. To the north is the Rangitikei region and Taihape, and in the south is Levin, gateway to the Kapiti Coast.

DO IT. Visit Te Manawa – a combined museum, gallery and science centre, hike in the rugged Manawatu Gorge, admire manicured gardens at The Esplanade, browse the farmers market in the country town of Feilding, bungy jump at Mokai Gravity Canyon, compete in ‘gumboot throwing’ at Taihape’s Gumboot Day in March.

Destinations

Palmerston North University city with a rural heart.
Feilding Pretty farming village.
Taihape Small country town in the Rangitikei District.

Getting there and around

Air Palmerston North Airport has a range of daily flights to main centres within New Zealand.
Road Palmerston North is 2 hours, 10 minutes from Wellington and 7 hours, 40 minutes from Auckland. Coaches service the region.
Rail Palmerston North is on the main trunk line between Auckland and Wellington.

Gumboots & blank singlets

If you look hard enough, you might find a present-day example of the traditional Kiwi bloke in his black woollen singlet and gumboots. Once upon a time, the garb was almost uniform for the Kiwi farmer – and not just on the farm! Today the more fashion-conscious have moved on to other garments, but the tradition has not completely died out.

Country comes to town

Book a Saleyards Tour at the Feilding information centre for an authentic taste of farming life at the largest working stock sale yards in the Southern Hemisphere.