Located on the southern North Island of New Zealand, Palmerston North is the beating heart of the Manawatu region, which is popular for its forested hills and peaceful lifestyle of the country. Overlooking the Manawatu River, it is a hub of diverse, thrilling activities and top tourist attractions. You can get an amazing experience by hiking to witness the aboriginal forests, cycling with riverside trails, mountain biking, and exploring the stunning West Coast beach. With its wonderful craft brewery, booming art scene, live theatre scene, and cosy restaurants, there are plenty of things to do and see to get an adventurous experience. Its verdant terrain, stunning rivers, thrilling bike trails, and abundance of history make Palmerston North a hidden gem that awaits to be discovered.
Things To Do In Palmerston North
Palmerston North is a paradise for adventure lovers and nature enthusiasts, offering several adventurous activities, art galleries, urban street art, and heritage collections. It also has a colourful array of restaurants and cafes that serve amazing dining that pleases your taste buds. Apart from that, with its beautiful attractions and exciting activities that keep you entertained and joyful, you will make the journey to Palmerston North unforgettable.
1. Visit Victoria Esplanade Gardens And The Scenic Railway
Image Credit: Jonathan Harker for Wikimedia Commons
It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Manawatu region. Victoria Esplanade Gardens is one of the exclusive parks located in Palmerston North and is spread over 26 hectares of land. You will find thousands of trees and splendid roses, along with a bunch of picnic and barbecue spots. Not only for adults, the park also has beautiful playgrounds, paddling pools, safety parks, and the major attraction, the Esplanade Scenic Railway, making it a fun destination for kids.
Location: 1 Palm Drive, West End, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand
Timing: 8 am–6 pm
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2. Explore The New Zealand Rugby Museum
Image Credit: Michal Klajban for Wikimedia Commons
Rugby is the national game of New Zealand, and nothing is more interesting to know about the primary sports of the country. So, it’s not surprising to have the world’s first museum dedicated to rugby in Palmerston North. There is no better place to learn about New Zealand rugby than the rugby museum, which holds a rich history of this sport. The museum is fully equipped with hidden treasures and rich heritage, from the first all-black match programme to today’s playing kit, that takes you into that era of sports. The museum is a must-visit destination for all rugby lovers and sports fanatics from all over the world.
Location: 326 Main Street, Palmerston North Central, City Centre 4410, New Zealand
Timing: 10 am – 4 pm
3. Enjoy Artwork And Theatre
Image Credit: Michal Klajban for Wikimedia Commons
On the walking streets surrounding the Square of Palmerston North, you’ll find beautiful street art or murals and an amazing collection of antique sculptures by local, national, and global artists, making it a perfect spot for clicking pictures. You will also find the beautiful galleries around the square that attract art lovers easily and portray the modern art of New Zealand. The street is also popular for music, dance, comedy, musicals, and drama shows, which is one of the fun things to do in Palmerston North. Some of the most popular performing theatres on this street are Centrepoint Theatre, The Regent on Broadway, and the Globe Theatre.
Location: Palmerston North Central, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand
Timing: 10 am – 4 pm
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4. Enjoy Thrilling River Rafting
Image Credit: Rob Chandler for Wikimedia Commons
Just a short distance away, you’ll find a stunning river valley in Palmerston North that offers thrilling rafting trips on the Rangitikei River. If you are looking for adventurous activity in Palmerston North, head to Rangitikei, one of the most beautiful rafting rivers in New Zealand. It offers rafting trips in two different phases, grade 2 trips are an all-day experience with a picnic lunch on the riverside, while grade 5 trips are about 3 hours in duration and about 11 kilometres in length. Both trips offer a spectacular journey with lots of ups and downs.
Location: Rangitikei River
Duration: From half-day white water rafting to 5-day multi-day rafting trip
Best Time To Visit Palmerston North
Image Credit: Michal Klajban for Wikimedia Commons
The ideal time to visit Palmerston North is when many students return home from mid-November to mid-January. This is the time when the climate in Palmerston North is more peaceful, which makes it the perfect season to explore. January and February are the peak months with the highest temperatures and the least rain. Beautiful gardens and autumn colours are in full bloom here during the spring, when the nature of the region takes rebirth.
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How To Reach Palmerston North
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Anyone can easily get to Palmerston by train, by bus, or by air. It is located in the Manawatu region of the southern North Island, New Zealand, overlooking the Manawatu River. If you are planning to reach Palmerston, take advantage of this guide:
By Bus: Travelling by road is a preferable option for those who are travelling from the same city, all the buses arrive and depart from i-SITE during the daytime and opposite the Courthouse on Main Street at night.
By Train: Travelling by train is a good option, and Palmerston railway station is the nearest railway station, located just a walking distance away from the main area of Palmerston. Tourists can take local buses, taxis, or rickshaws to complete further rides.
By Air: Travelling by air is another convenient option for tourists, and the nearest airport is Dunedin Airport, located about 95 kilometres from Palmerston. To reach your final destination, you can hire a taxi from the airport.
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Palmerston North is a paradise for adventure lovers that offers a variety of exciting and thrilling activities and fun. With its visual art features like paintings, murals, sculptures, photographs, carvings, mosaics, glassworks, and galleries, you can learn lots of new things about New Zealand’s rich history and culture. This blog covers the best things to do, the best times to visit, and how to reach and ensure comprehensive information on Palmerston North. So, what are you waiting for? Plan your trip to New Zealand with our guiding tour package and explore the hidden gem and untouched treasure of New Zealand.
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Cover Image Credit : AnnWoolliams for Wikimedia Commons
Frequently Asked Questions About Palmerston North
What is Palmerston North known for?
Palmerston North is known for its visual art features like paintings, murals, sculptures, photographs, carvings, mosaics, glassworks, and galleries, you can learn lots of new things about New Zealand's rich history and culture.
Is Palmerston North a good place to live?
Palmerston North is one of the great cities on the North Island and is very affordable to live in. It is populated enough for you to get the benefit of all the perks of the big city. From cosy restaurants to scenic beauty, it has everything to make it a good place to live.
Is Palmerston North worth visiting?
With its thrilling hiking to witness the aboriginal forests, cycling with riverside trails, mountain biking, and exploring the stunning West Coast beach offers an unconditional experience that anyone can’t afford to miss.
Is New Zealand good for Indians?
The annual average salary in New Zealand is around INR 44L, which is comparatively higher than the cost of living in New Zealand. Which makes it a good place to live for Indians.
What is the good time to visit Palmerston North?
The good time is from mid-November to mid-January when the climate in Palmerston North is more peaceful, making it the perfect season to explore.
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