Things to do in Palmerston North
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Palmerston North
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Summer is best overall, warmest at 22 to 23 degrees, with the Lido outdoors open and speedway in full swing.
Autumn is best value, with Field Days in March and calmer, clearer walking weather in April and May.
Winter is worst for outdoors, cold and wet with bare roses, but good for theatre, cafes and lower prices.
Spring brings blossom and returning roses, and the windiest weeks of the year in October and November.
What's on
- Central Districts Field Days mid March, 18 to 20 March in 2027
One of NZ's largest agricultural events at Manfeild, Feilding, drawing over 26,000 people over three days.
- Superstock Teams Championship February, typically early to mid February
The signature speedway weekend at Robertson Holden International Speedway, and the city's loudest.
- Festival of Cultures March
Food and performance celebrating the city's diversity, in and around The Square.
- Manawatu Jazz Festival late May to early June
National jazz acts at the Regent and smaller rooms, anchoring an autumn arts weekend.
- Feilding Farmers' Market every Friday
The region's weekly food market under the Feilding clock tower. Pair it with the Coach House Museum.
Best things to do in Palmerston North
Victoria Esplanade
Twenty six hectares of bush walks, roses, conservatory and a miniature railway on the river, and Palmy at its best.
Te Manawa Museum of Art, Science & Heritage
A free regional museum of art, science and heritage with a river story and a hands on discovery area for kids.
New Zealand Rugby Museum
The country's only rugby museum, inside Te Manawa, with All Blacks history and have a go interactive challenges.
Te Marae o Hine - The Square
The garden square and clock tower at the exact centre of the city grid, best used as your compass and coffee stop.
Centrepoint Theatre
Professional Kiwi theatre since 1974 in an intimate room where there is no bad seat, the best night out in Palmy.
Regent on Broadway
A restored 1930 picture palace and Category 1 heritage theatre, the most beautiful interior in the city.
Lido Aquatic Centre
The city's aquatic centre beside the Esplanade, with indoor and outdoor pools, slides and a diving pool.
Coach House Museum
Feilding's rural heritage museum of coaches, farming machinery and tractor collections, built by volunteers.
Where to stay in Palmerston North
The Square and CBD
first visits, shows and eating out
Walk to Te Manawa, both theatres and Broadway dining in minutes, with the Esplanade a short walk away.
Fitzherbert Avenue corridor
Massey, the Esplanade and drivers
Quieter nights, easier parking and a straight run to the Lido, river paths and the university.
Think twice about
- Pioneer Highway motel strip
Not unsafe, but noisy, car dependent and charmless as a base, with nothing walkable nearby.
- Outer Rangitikei Street highway motels
Traffic noise and a drive to every sight, meal and show. Base in the centre or on Fitzherbert Avenue instead.
Best restaurants in Palmerston North
Nero Restaurant
Palmy's fine dining name, polished European New Zealand cooking in a quiet room off Broadway.
AMAYJEN The Restaurant
Modern produce led fine dining, famous for a sharing beef short rib and inventive desserts.
The Fat Farmer
A buzzy Hokowhitu dining room built on sharing plates like duck pancakes and pork belly bao.
Little Savanna
A South African New Zealand flame grill house with espetada, ostrich and generous portions.
Brew Union Brewing Company
The city's brewpub, house craft beer and wood fired pizza in a big mingling room on Broadway.
Libre
Mexican inspired tacos and cocktails on George Street, casual, colourful and reliably lively.
Joseph Street Kitchen
The cafe locals queue for, artisan sourdough, pastries and excellent coffee in West End.
Cafe Cuba
The long running all day cafe, generous breakfasts from 7am and famous cabinet cakes.
Outdoor things to do in Palmerston North
Manawatu Gorge Track
The signature 11.2 km gorge traverse through ancient bush above the river, past the Whatonga sculpture.
Te Apiti - Manawatu Gorge Tawa Loop Track
The 4.1 km loop version of the gorge walk, with bush, a city lookout and the Whatonga junction at family effort.
He Ara Kotahi
A lit karaka tree bridge over the river and 5.8 km of shared path to Linton, spectacular at dusk.
Manawatu River Pathway
More than 10 km of flat limestone path along the river linking the Esplanade and He Ara Kotahi.
Sledge Track
A stream side valley walk past swimming holes and a swingbridge, easy for families and hard beyond.
Arapuke Forest Mountain Bike Park
More than 30 km of purpose built singletrack, grades 2 to 5, with a shuttle for downhill laps.
Palmerston North Golf Club
The welcoming visitor round, 18 holes par 72 with a range, teaching pro and clubhouse bar.
Manawatu Golf Club
Founded in 1895, the region's premier tree lined course and clubhouse, and the city's golf splurge.
Best hotels in Palmerston North
Distinction Coachman Hotel Palmerston North
The closest Palmy gets to a grand hotel, with a pool, spa pools, sauna and 72 suites.
Distinction Palmerston North Hotel & Conference Centre
Eighty five rooms in a 1927 heritage building in the CBD, minutes from theatres and the museum.
Quest Palmerston North
Forty serviced apartments with full kitchens and laundry, best for families and longer stays.
Copthorne Hotel Palmerston North
A full service chain hotel 500 metres from The Square, praised for staff and breakfast.
B-Ks Premier Motel Palmerston North
A classic Kiwi motel opposite the Arena and speedway, five minutes walk from the centre.
Is Palmerston North expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | NZ$110 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | NZ$220 a person |
| Splurge | NZ$420 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Centrepoint Theatre: a few days ahead
- Regent on Broadway: a few days ahead
- Robertson Holden International Speedway: weeks ahead
- Arapuke Forest Mountain Bike Park: a few days ahead
- Palmerston North Golf Club: a few days ahead
- Manawatu Golf Club: a few days ahead
- Rangiwahia Hut Track: weeks ahead
- Nero Restaurant: a few days ahead
- Book rooms early for Superstock Teams weekend, Field Days in March, graduation weeks and big Regent tours.
- Book Nero, AMAYJEN and the Fat Farmer days ahead for weekend dinners.
- Book Centrepoint and Regent tickets early for popular shows, and DOC hut passes for Rangiwahia.
Is Palmerston North safe?
- Emergency number is 111.
- Range weather changes fast, rivers rise after rain, and coverage is patchy in Kahuterawa and the gorge.
- Check DOC alerts on the day for every track, and lock cars at trailheads with nothing visible.
- The Square and Broadway get rowdy late on student weekends. Stay on lit main streets.
Palmerston North travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- The Plaza is a competent mall, not an attraction. Use Te Manawa instead on a wet day.
- The Square and Clock Tower are orientation, not a sight worth a special trip.
- The Esplanade rose garden is a fraction of itself from June to September.
- Never start the full Te Apiti traverse without transport arranged at the far end.
Getting around Palmerston North: public transport and more
- The centre is flat and fully walkable, Square to museum to Broadway dining in minutes.
- A car is essential for Te Apiti, Sledge Track, Arapuke, Feilding and the Ruahine foothills.
- The airport is about 10 minutes from The Square, with flights to Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
- City buses serve Massey and the suburbs, and taxis and rideshares are easy in the centre.
Who Palmerston North suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Good |
| Couples | Good |
| Bachelor parties | Not ideal |
| Families | Great |
| Bachelorette parties | Not ideal |
Make Palmerston North your trip
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