Manawatu Region Attractions

Eketahuna - Eketahuna is a great place to have a game of golf, take a swim in the town pool, or follow the heritage trail.

Utiku, Mangaweka - Check out the bungy action in the Mokai valley. There are also sightseeing walks, a cafe and flying fox.

Foxton - The original river port of the Manawatu region and centre of the flax industry. The town has a horse-drawn tram and trolley bus museum.

Manakau, Otaki - Manakau has a beautiful bay called Waikawa Beach. Otaki has served as a whistle stop for travellers to refresh since the days of stagecoaches.

Bulls - Bulls has a fun atmosphere making the most of its quirky name with 'un-forget-a-bull' adaptations of the word 'bull.'

Norsewood - Just north of Dannevirke, home of Norsewear knitted garments. Norsewood still retains its village-like ambience and has strong links to its Nordic past.

Ashhurst - A farming service town that is the gateway to the northern end of the Manawatu Gorge. Good trout fishing can be had in the nearby Manawatu River.

Sanson - Sanson is a small farming community in the heart of the Manawatu. It's main street has art and craft shops, and it is within easy driving distance of west coast beaches.

Hunterville - On the main trunk line between Wellington and Auckland, Hunterville has a settler's museum and native bush reserves.

Marton - A prosperous farming town, with the Dudding Lake Reserve, which offers swimming, boating and trout fishing. Also check out a maze made of maize!

Waitarere Beach - Whitebaiting, fishing, surfing and boating are popular activities on this west coast beach. Also, due to the sometimes windy weather, land yachting is catching on a favourite hobby.

Mangatainoka - Famous throughout New Zealand as the home of the Tui Brewery. Take a tour of the brewery then sample the product!

Foxton - The original river port of the Manawatu region and centre of the flax industry. The town has a horse-drawn tram and trolley bus museum.

Rangitikei River has a range of remote overnight and multi-day river tours for people of all ages. Tours take you through sandstone and papa gorges to bush and tussock-clad hills in the upper ground.
The Rangitikei River supports an excellent trout fishery, or you can have fun on the river white-water rafting, kayaking or jet boating.

Ruahine Forest Park is one of a number of small mountain ranges forming the spine of the North Island. The central and northern Ruahine Ranges are a hiker’s delight with wonderful forest and alpine walks. The park can be accessed from Taihape or Mangaweka.

Manawatu Gorge is a classic example of what happens when a mountain range intersects a river. It is also one of only a few places in the world where a river flows east to west through a main divide.

Victoria Esplanade Gardens in Palmerston North are an oasis of inspiration and relaxation only minutes from the city centre.

Palmerston North's Dugald McKenzie Rose Breeding and Trialling Centre was voted one of the world’s top five rose gardens in 2003.

Pohangina Valley, celebrated for its spectacular autumn colours, wide Manawatu hill country views, totara reserve and bushwalks.

Feilding has been voted New Zealand's 'Most Beautiful Town' 12 times. It's a town of collectors (you can visit private museums) and is also known for its beautiful gardens and Edwardian buildings.

Ashhurst Domain, views of the Pohangina Valley, the Te Apiti Wind Farm and the Ashhurst Wetlands, a protected wetland of national significance.

Tararua and Te Apiti Wind Farms have become an iconic tourist attraction. Try a quad bike, mini van tour or horse trek through the wind farms. You will get a great view of the Tararua Wind Farm, a total of 158 majestic turbines, from the tiny town of Ballance.

Whariti Peak is the gateway to many bushwalks in the Ruahine Ranges. Other bush bushwalks include the Klein Track, the Coppermine Valley Creek Walk and the Woodville Gorge Scenic Reserve and Walkway.

Dannevirke’s scenic domain features a deer park, picnic areas, rose gardens, a Viking ship playground and an aviary.