Outdoor adventures and wildlife
Rivers, valleys, mountain ranges and endless acres of farming land set the scene for all kinds of outdoor challenges.
- Have fun white water rafting, kayaking and jet boating on the Rangitikei River
- Spend a day at Mount Bruce National Wildlife Centre, where some of New Zealand's endangered species are bred and returned to the wild
- Follow the Rangiwahia Track to magnificent views and a comfortable hikers' hut
- Venture into the Tararua Ranges for fishing, hunting, walks and challenging overnight hikes
- Visit Pukepuke Lagoon and Ashhurst Wetlands to see fascinating plant and bird life
- The Dugald McKenzie Rose Breeding and Trialling Centre in Palmerston North is a scented paradise in spring and summer
- Walk or bike the historic bridle track that runs beside the Manawatu River
- Enjoy a couple of hours at The Herb Farm's themed gardens, therapeutic body products shop and café.
The charm of small towns
New Zealand's rural settlements are famous for their character and friendliness.
- Kimbolton is an enchanting rural township set high above the Manawatu Plains. It offers wonderful views of Kapiti Island and is home to world-renowned rhododendron gardens
- Feilding has been named New Zealand's most beautiful town many times and has the largest stock sale yards in the Southern Hemisphere. It also has great cafés and a farmers’ market every Friday.
- Taihape is the 'gumboot capital of New Zealand', which explains the giant corrugated gumboot icon that marks the town
- Norsewood is proud of its Scandinavian heritage. The township features an award-winning organic goat cheese factory, the Norsewear clothing factory shop, antiques, a museum and the unique Troll Stroll
- Woodville is home to the Gottfried Lindauer Replica Studio - a unique collection featuring one of New Zealand's most celebrated artists
- Dannevirke's Fantasy Cave is a must for families with young children
- At Mangatainoka you can tour the famous Tui brewery, easy to find because its high-rise Art Deco brewing tower can be seen for miles
- In Shannon you'll find a bird park that's all about owls
- Wander around the region's beautiful private gardens and historical homesteads
Fascinating landscapes
Charge your camera in preparation for some amazing photographic opportunities.
- View the Tararua and Te Apiti wind farms. Tour options include quad biking and horse trekking.
- The Pohangina Valley is a 'must-do' for the self-drive traveller
- Manawatu Gorge is one of only a few places in the world where the river flows east to west through a main divide. The gorge is a place for hiking, steam train trips, and kayaking.
- At Himatangi you'll find New Zealand's largest sand dune field.
- On a rafting trip you can visit the ancient Ohingaiti Boulders or experience a magical nighttime glowworm float.
History and culture
Museums, galleries and other cultural venues put you in touch with the region's heart and soul.
- Feilding's Steam Train Museum, Horse Drawn Era Museum and Homeprint are run by local enthusiasts
- Te Manawa Art Gallery, Museum and Science Centre in Palmerston North celebrates life, art and the mind
- Foxton, a town with Dutch heritage, has a fully operational windmill
- Norsewood and Dannevirke were settled by Scandinavians. Local attractions include a Troll Stroll, Fantasy Cave, pioneer cottage museum and historic jail
- Palmerston North has a strong theatre scene - see what's playing at Regent on Broadway or Centrepoint Theatre
- Rugby enthusiasts will appreciate the New Zealand Rugby Museum
- You can tour Massey University - New Zealand's largest tertiary facility
Wild rides and unusual thrills
Kiwi ingenuity has given birth to some interesting forms of entertainment.
- The Mokai Gravity Canyon offers all sorts of gravity-driven thrills - bungy jumping, canyon swinging, a flying fox and a chairlift drop
- Stay on a working farm and experience rural life first-hand
- Ride a small boat with a big motor on a tight, purpose-built circuit at Flat Hills Jet Sprint
- Get lost, haunted and entertained in Manawatu's Amazing Maze 'N Maize near Sanson - a giant maze within a maize field
- White water rafting and kayaking experiences come in every strength from Grade 2 to Grade 5
- The Rangitikei River has the highest bungy jump in the North Island; it also has the highest tandem bridge swing and fastest flying fox in the world.
- Try the electric bicycle at Awapuni Sustainable Development Centre.
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