Palmerston North

New_Zealand

Palmerston North (Māori: Te Papaioea) is a city in the Manawatu district of the lower North Island of New Zealand.

Art Deco building in the square

Palmerston North has a population of 80,000, is the seventh largest city in New Zealand and is the largest provincial city in the region. It's the home of the largest campuses of Massey University and the Universal College of Learning (UCOL) and also the Institute of the Pacific United (IPU), making Palmerston North a student-oriented city home to 18,000 students. It is also the home of the Linton Military Camp and has the Air Force Base, Ohakea, close by. The Adidas Institute of Rugby, based at Massey University, focuses on improving the skills of the All Blacks, the national rugby union team, though sightings of them there are rare.

Originally named Palmerston, the city was renamed Palmerston North in 1871 by the Post Office to distinguish it from the town of Palmerston in the South Island.

Information centre

  • Visitor Information Center, The Square, +64 6 350 1922.

Visitor Information Center, The Square, +64 6 350 1922.

  • Massey University.
  • Universal College of Learning.
  • Te Manawa, 396 Main St, +64 6 355-5000. Daily 10AM-5PM including weekends and public holidays (except Christmas Day). Combines a museum, art gallery and interactive science center, to create a fusion of life, art and mind. Free admission to Life and Art galleries. Mind galleries: $6 adult, $4 child, $15 family.
  • New Zealand Rugby Museum, 326 Main St, +64 6 358 6947. Daily 10:00-17:00. Tour and rugby groups by arrangement. Contains NZ's biggest and most comprehensive collection of rugby memorabilia and records. Adult $5, child $2.
  • Central Library, 4 The Square, +64 6 351 4100. Mo, Tu, Fr 09:30-18:00; We 10:00-18:00, Th 09:30-20:00, Sa 10:00-16:00, Su 13:00-16:00. 'New' award-winning Central Library in the old DIC department store building.
  • David Warnock Medical Museum. 1st and 3rd Friday of each month 2pm- 4:30pm. Museum showing medical instruments and equipment Gold coin donation.

Massey University.

Universal College of Learning.

Te Manawa, 396 Main St, +64 6 355-5000. Daily 10AM-5PM including weekends and public holidays (except Christmas Day). Combines a museum, art gallery and interactive science center, to create a fusion of life, art and mind. Free admission to Life and Art galleries. Mind galleries: $6 adult, $4 child, $15 family.

New Zealand Rugby Museum, 326 Main St, +64 6 358 6947. Daily 10:00-17:00. Tour and rugby groups by arrangement. Contains NZ's biggest and most comprehensive collection of rugby memorabilia and records. Adult $5, child $2.

Central Library, 4 The Square, +64 6 351 4100. Mo, Tu, Fr 09:30-18:00; We 10:00-18:00, Th 09:30-20:00, Sa 10:00-16:00, Su 13:00-16:00. 'New' award-winning Central Library in the old DIC department store building.

David Warnock Medical Museum. 1st and 3rd Friday of each month 2pm- 4:30pm. Museum showing medical instruments and equipment Gold coin donation.

  • Centrepoint Theatre, Pitt & Church St, +64 6 354 5740. Performances on Tu at 6.30PM, W-Sa 8PM, no performance M. Stages a wide variety of plays. Has a fully-licenced bar plus coffees and desserts.
  • Lido Aquatic Centre, Park Rd (alongside the Palmerston North Holiday Park and the Esplanade, +64 6 357 2684. Indoor facility open M-Th 6AM-8PM, F 6AM-9PM. Public holidays and weekends 8AM-8PM. Outdoor facilities open during the summer months M-F 6AM-7PM, weekends and public holidays 8AM-8PM. Covers an area of 1.62 hectares with indoor and outdoor pools, spa pool, toddlers' pool, a diving tower and two hydroslides. Adult $5, child $4.
  • Regent on Broadway, 63 Broadway Ave, +64 6 350 2100. Stages many plays. Stunningly refurbished.
  • Ruahine AFC. Palmerston North's best youth football games.
  • Victoria Esplanade. Open from dawn to dusk. The Education Centre and conservatory is open weekdays 10AM-4PM and weekends 12PM-4PM. Beautiful gardens (including a stunning rose garden), conservatory, walks, strolls along the Manawatu River, picnics, an aviary, playground for the kids, paddling pool, free electric BBQs and a scenic railway. Victoria House, a historic building (the original Palmerston North's post office) is situated in the grounds.
  • DIY Guided Bike Tours. Bike while enjoying a fully supplied audio guide commentary
  • Indoor paintball and go karts, 23 Bennett St, +64 6 353 5092 (paintball), +64 6 353 5082 (go karts). Fun whatever the weather.
  • Manawatu Gorge walking track. Enjoy the beauty and diversity of the New Zealand bush, and views of the spectacular gorge along the way.

Centrepoint Theatre, Pitt & Church St, +64 6 354 5740. Performances on Tu at 6.30PM, W-Sa 8PM, no performance M. Stages a wide variety of plays. Has a fully-licenced bar plus coffees and desserts.

Lido Aquatic Centre, Park Rd (alongside the Palmerston North Holiday Park and the Esplanade, +64 6 357 2684. Indoor facility open M-Th 6AM-8PM, F 6AM-9PM. Public holidays and weekends 8AM-8PM. Outdoor facilities open during the summer months M-F 6AM-7PM, weekends and public holidays 8AM-8PM. Covers an area of 1.62 hectares with indoor and outdoor pools, spa pool, toddlers' pool, a diving tower and two hydroslides. Adult $5, child $4.

Regent on Broadway, 63 Broadway Ave, +64 6 350 2100. Stages many plays. Stunningly refurbished.

Ruahine AFC. Palmerston North's best youth football games.

Victoria Esplanade. Open from dawn to dusk. The Education Centre and conservatory is open weekdays 10AM-4PM and weekends 12PM-4PM. Beautiful gardens (including a stunning rose garden), conservatory, walks, strolls along the Manawatu River, picnics, an aviary, playground for the kids, paddling pool, free electric BBQs and a scenic railway. Victoria House, a historic building (the original Palmerston North's post office) is situated in the grounds.

DIY Guided Bike Tours. Bike while enjoying a fully supplied audio guide commentary

Indoor paintball and go karts, 23 Bennett St, +64 6 353 5092 (paintball), +64 6 353 5082 (go karts). Fun whatever the weather.

Manawatu Gorge walking track. Enjoy the beauty and diversity of the New Zealand bush, and views of the spectacular gorge along the way.

  • Check out the specialist boutiques along George Street.
  • Downtown Complex, 42-60 Broadway Avenue, +64 6 358 3305. Stores Mo-Fr 09:00–17:30, Sa 09:30-16:00, Su 10:00-16:00; Cinema daily 10:00-23:00. Incorporating Event Cinemas (8 screens)
  • The Plaza, 84 The Square (cnr Church Street, parking off Ferguson Street, +64 6 358 1989. Mo-We & Sa 09:00-17:30, Th 09:00-21:00, Fr 09:00-19:00, Su 10:00-17:00 (individual stores may vary). 90+ stores, including anchors Countdown, Kmart, Farmers and JB Hi-Fi.

Downtown Complex, 42-60 Broadway Avenue, +64 6 358 3305. Stores Mo-Fr 09:00–17:30, Sa 09:30-16:00, Su 10:00-16:00; Cinema daily 10:00-23:00. Incorporating Event Cinemas (8 screens)

The Plaza, 84 The Square (cnr Church Street, parking off Ferguson Street, +64 6 358 1989. Mo-We & Sa 09:00-17:30, Th 09:00-21:00, Fr 09:00-19:00, Su 10:00-17:00 (individual stores may vary). 90+ stores, including anchors Countdown, Kmart, Farmers and JB Hi-Fi.

Palmerston North has more eating out places per head of population than anywhere else in NZ.

  • Barista, 59 George St, +64 6 3572614. 8am-late. Innovative and interesting casual dining. Best coffee in town.
  • Breakers Cafe & Bar, 168-190 Rangitikei St, +64 6 952-7700. Daily 11:00 to late. Small NZ chain of 9 restaurants across the North Island. $15-$34.
  • Downtown Centre Foodcourt. Wide selection.
  • Eon Cafe, 737 Main St (in the Modena Building, +64 6 354 5124. 7-4PM. Sandwiches and other snacks.
  • Kruo Thai, Square Edge Courtyard, +64 6 355 1222. Thai.
  • Lone Star Restaurant, 36 The Square, +64 6 355 1986. Mo-Th 17:30 to late; Fr-Su 17:00 to late. Tex-Mex restaurant well known for its large meals. $25-$38.
  • Monsoon Asian Kitchen, 200 The Square (opposite the Library, +64 6 359 2919. Asian. Small. Tasty food.
  • Mr India Tandoori Restaurant, 79E George St, +64 6 354 5075. Pakistani
  • Pompeii's, 355 Ferguson St, +64 6 359 0059. Italian. Go for the pizza.
  • Restaurant De Coree, 94 Fitzherbert Avenue, +64 6 354 1444. Serves delicious Korean meals.
  • The Stage Door Cafe, King St (Behind the Regent Theatre right next to the stage door, +64 6 359 2233. Coffee, great food, and retro furniture. Very popular with students from UCOL.
    * Stage Door Cafe now also has a Mini cafe in the UCOL Atrium.
  • Thai House Restaurant, 88 Fitzherbert Ave, +64 6 357 0883. Good authentic food.
  • Yatai Japanese Izakaya Restaurant, 316 Featherston St (cnr Pirie Street, +64 6 356 1316. Tue-Sa 18:00-late. Warm and welcoming. Great Japanese food and drink.
  • Zumak Sushi Bar, 406 Main St, +64 6 353 5441. Japanese and Korean cuisine. $1 off all meals over $10 on Tuesdays.

Barista, 59 George St, +64 6 3572614. 8am-late. Innovative and interesting casual dining. Best coffee in town.

Breakers Cafe & Bar, 168-190 Rangitikei St, +64 6 952-7700. Daily 11:00 to late. Small NZ chain of 9 restaurants across the North Island. $15-$34.

Downtown Centre Foodcourt. Wide selection.

Eon Cafe, 737 Main St (in the Modena Building, +64 6 354 5124. 7-4PM. Sandwiches and other snacks.

Kruo Thai, Square Edge Courtyard, +64 6 355 1222. Thai.

Lone Star Restaurant, 36 The Square, +64 6 355 1986. Mo-Th 17:30 to late; Fr-Su 17:00 to late. Tex-Mex restaurant well known for its large meals. $25-$38.

Monsoon Asian Kitchen, 200 The Square (opposite the Library, +64 6 359 2919. Asian. Small. Tasty food.

Mr India Tandoori Restaurant, 79E George St, +64 6 354 5075. Pakistani

Pompeii's, 355 Ferguson St, +64 6 359 0059. Italian. Go for the pizza.

Restaurant De Coree, 94 Fitzherbert Avenue, +64 6 354 1444. Serves delicious Korean meals.

The Stage Door Cafe, King St (Behind the Regent Theatre right next to the stage door, +64 6 359 2233. Coffee, great food, and retro furniture. Very popular with students from UCOL.

* Stage Door Cafe now also has a Mini cafe in the UCOL Atrium.

Thai House Restaurant, 88 Fitzherbert Ave, +64 6 357 0883. Good authentic food.

Yatai Japanese Izakaya Restaurant, 316 Featherston St (cnr Pirie Street, +64 6 356 1316. Tue-Sa 18:00-late. Warm and welcoming. Great Japanese food and drink.

Zumak Sushi Bar, 406 Main St, +64 6 353 5441. Japanese and Korean cuisine. $1 off all meals over $10 on Tuesdays.

Rose and Crown Olde English Pub, 743 Main St, +64 6 355 3660.

The Brewers Apprentice- Monteiths Bar, 334 Church St, +64 6 358 8888. Stylish and respectable.

From centrally located Palmerston North it's an easy 2-3 hr drive to the wineries of Martinborough and Hawke's Bay, the skifields of the Central Plateau and the Art Deco buildings of Napier.

  • Dannevirke and Hawke's Bay with its wineries
  • Feilding – nearby to the north
  • Shannon – nearby to the south-west
  • Masterton and on to the Martinborough wineries in the Wairarapa
  • Whanganui
  • Central North Island - Whakapapa and Turoa skifields, and on to Taupo