Discover Palmerston North

Palmerston North (Palmy in Kiwi-speak) is the beating heart of Manawatu, a region loved for its forested mountain ranges and relaxed country lifestyle. Here you can follow riverside cycle trails, whoop it up in mountain bike parks, hike to see original native forest, explore west coast beaches and visit the largest livestock saleyards in the southern hemisphere.

The city provides a perfect base for exploring the wider region. With its thriving art and live theatre scene, excellent craft brewery and a good choice of restaurants, there's plenty to see and do when you're not chasing adventure outdoors.

About our flights to Palmerston North

Air New Zealand operates daily non-stop flights to Palmerston North from Auckland and Christchurch, with connections across the New Zealand domestic network. With all our New Zealand domestic airfares you can choose seat, seat+bag, flexichange or flexirefund fare types. Flexichange gives you the flexibility to change your flight with no change fees while flexirefund is fully refundable. Find out more about our New Zealand domestic seat options.

The forest-covered Te Apiti - Manawatu Gorge between the Ruahine and Tararua Ranges is a place of ancient Maori legends, abundant wildlife and magnificent landforms, with walking tracks that range from 30 minutes to four hours.

Where to go and what to see in Palmerston North

Mixing urban fun with outdoorsy adventures is easy in Manawatu. You'll find accommodation in and around the city centre, or you can choose a farmstay, Airbnb or lodge in the countryside. There are some excellent eating places and watering holes in the city, including Little Savanna for South African/Kiwi fusion food and Brew Union, a craft brewery gastro pub with a talented, award-winning chef. If deep relaxation and renewal is on your agenda, book a day spa session at Hiwinui Country Estate, a five-star luxury lodge just 15 minutes drive from the city.

Experience the grandeur of Te Apiti - Manawatu Gorge

The forest-covered river pass between the Ruahine and Tararua Ranges, known as Te Apiti or Manawatu Gorge, is a place of ancient Maori legends, abundant wildlife and magnificent landforms. Walking tracks through the lush native forest range from an easy 30-minute loop to around four hours one way. There are also mountain bike trails, guided horse treks and safe swimming spots for you to enjoy. Te Apiti is one of the most highly rated Manawatu and Palmerston North tourist attractions.

Discover He Ara Kotahi Bridge and the Manawatu Cycleway

If you're looking for exercise near the city, locate the He Ara Kotahi pathway and stroll to Massey University over the iconic He Ara Kotahi Bridge. There's also a 10km pathway along the Manawatu River for biking and walking.

Or why not pack your bike to do some of the Manawatu Cycleway, a country road ride that's part of the New Zealand Cycle Trail. 

Visit the New Zealand Rugby Museum

Discover the history and folklore behind our national game. Not only will you learn about the 100-year connection between rugby and New Zealand society, you'll uncover fascinating stories of legendary players and see some of the rarest rugby artefacts in the world. You can even try out your rugby skills in the 'have a go' area where you can tackle, kick the oval ball, leap, push and sprint - just like an All Black! This is New Zealand's only rugby museum and it's rated among the top places to go in Palmerston North. 

Enjoy art works and theatre

In the streets surrounding The Square, you'll find a great collection of public sculptures and an extensive variety of street art and murals from local, national and global artists that are perfect for Instagram posts. Art lovers will also enjoy browsing the excellent galleries around The Square, which showcase contemporary art from New Zealand. In inner-city areas like Berrymans Lane, street art wall murals capture the spirit of the city.

Catching a show is definitely one of the fun things to do in Palmerston North. There's a great selection of local and touring comedy, music, dance, musicals and drama shows to choose from. Be sure to check what's on at the beautifully restored Regent on Broadway, Centrepoint Theatre, The Dark Room and The Globe Theatre.

Explore hidden treasures

The top Palmerston North sightseeing attractions include three scenic driving routes - Stormy Point, Peep-o-Day and the Manawatu Scenic Route. Collectively known as 'The Country Road', they lead you away from the main highways through rural towns to country cafés and bars, scenic reserves, day walks, gardens, galleries, river swimming holes, picnic spots and more. These routes are best taken at a slow pace with plenty of stops, so you can meet friendly locals and learn about the area's hidden gems. Just be sure to begin with a full tank, as the only petrol station along the way is in Kimbolton on the Peep-o-Day Route. 

Top 10 things to do in Palmerston North

Explore Te Apiti - Manawatu Gorge
Discover the waterfalls, native forests, birdsong and untamed beauty of this spectacular river divide between mountain ranges.

Drive the Manawatu Scenic Route
Spend a day or two meeting locals and exploring the swimming holes, forest walks, farms and rural villages along this celebrated touring route.

Ride epic mountain bike trails
Take a shuttle to experience the 30+ kilometres of purpose-built bike trails at Arapuke Forest Park, grades 2 through to 5.

Immerse yourself in local and New Zealand heritage
Gain fascinating insights at Te Manawa, a museum of art, science and heritage, and the New Zealand Rugby Museum - they're top attractions for family fun.

Experience rural New Zealand
Head to Feilding on a Friday to visit the livestock saleyards, the award-winning farmers' market and the Coach House Museum.

Discover the arts, theatre and coffee culture
Home to an array of theatres presenting a variety of local, national and international performances, and a perfect eclectic offering of cafes and eateries.

Go white water rafting
Book a rafting, kayaking or camping adventure on the magnificent Rangitikei River from Awastone.

Hit the beach
Swim (between the surf lifesaving flags), surf, fish or explore the huge sand dune fields at Himatangi Beach, just 30 minutes west by car.

Dine out on Broadway Avenue
Discover a world of delicious local and international flavours on Broadway Avenue, the eat street of Palmerston North.

Enjoy world-class gardens
Wander through the beautiful Cross Hills Gardens and Heritage Park Rhododendron Gardens at Kimbolton.

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If you're interested in cheap fares to Palmerston North, or cheap flights from Palmerston North to Auckland or Christchurch, we run regular special offers. You can sign up for low fare alerts to receive early notice of these offers. You can also sign up to receive regular email updates about cheap airfares, packages, competitions and exclusive offers.