The Manawatu River existed long before the Tararua Ranges, now south of the river, or the Ruahine Ranges, now to the
north. So, as the ranges rose, the unrelenting river carved the gorge.
The gorge walks offer an accessible nature experience the whole family can enjoy. This track is mostly through bush, offering
shade on a hot day.
The Gorge Track is not a circuit, but walking in either direction is fine and it’s only 10km. Either end involves a fairly steep
initial section, which then levels out a couple of hundred metres above the gorge. There are plenty of places to stop along the
well graded, mostly smooth trail; and five lookouts offer nice views into the gorge and out to wind and dairy farms.
In fact, a point of difference on this walk is the electricity-generating windmills. Love them or hate them, they’re rather majestic
structures, whether viewed en-mass across the gorge (Te Apiti Wind Farm) or individually up close (Tararua Wind Farm). You
hear them before your see them – an ominous swooshing.
The native bush is mainly tawa and podocarp forest, with nikau palms and giant maidenhair fern, which is unique to the
Manawatu, also in abundance.
There’s a significant conservation programme underway and birdlife is becoming increasingly abundant. Expect to see and
hear shining cuckoo, tomtit, riflemen and tui.
Another point of interest is the impressive 6.2m high metal sculpture of Whatonga, towering into the canopy near the western
end of the trail. Whatonga was one of three recognised chiefs on board the Kurahaupo Waka, which journeyed across the
Pacific. He continued his waka-bourne explorations around the New Zealand coast, eventually travelling up the Manawatu
River.

Himatangi Beach is a small coastal community in the centre of the largest sand dune geographical feature in New Zealand. It has a long sandy beach accessible to vehicles. Its coastal climate differs from the Manawatu with more sunshine hours, less rain and higher temperatures. Himatangi has a population of around 430 residents swelling to several thousand in the summer months. Its population is varied with artisans, commuters, first home buyers, weekenders and retired, all living together in a homogenous mix. Situated on the west coast of North Island New Zealand, this beach services Palmerston North, Feilding and the entire Manawatu.

Meridian Energy’s Te Apiti wind farm is located on Saddle Road north of the Manawatu Gorge, 10 kilometres from the city of Palmerston North. It is situated within 1,150 hectares of farmland owned by several landowners, including Meridian Energy.

The wind resource near the Manawatu Gorge is exceptional, even by international standards. The Manawatu gorge acts as a wind funnel, creating consistently high wind speeds.

Te Apiti was the first New Zealand wind farm to supply electricity into the national grid, which is owned by Transpower.

Other wind farms at the time supplied local networks.

Turbines

The wind farm’s 55 1.65 megawatt Vestas turbines have a total capacity of 90 megawatts. They generate electricity to meet the annual electricity needs of approximately 45,000 average homes.

Each turbine has a tower measuring 70 metres high, and is fitted with 3 blades each 35 metres in length. The blade rotations per minute can vary according to the wind speed but have a maximum speed of 17 revolutions per minute.

The turbines are electronically controlled, with microprocessors that automatically start, stop and monitor them. In very high winds the turbines automatically shut down to avoid damage.

Construction

Construction of Te Apiti wind farm started in November 2003. Major work was needed to construct 21 kilometres of roads and excavate the turbine foundations. The roads were built to 10 metres wide to carry the width of the 400-tonne crawler crane that was used to install the turbines. After the turbines were erected the roads were regrassed to 5 metres wide.

Te Apiti began generating electricity in August 2004. Construction of all fifty-five 1.65 megawatt turbines was completed in October 2004 and the site was officially opened by the Prime Minister, Helen Clark, on 9 December 2004.

Carbon credits

Meridian was granted tradeable greenhouse gas emissions units (carbon credits) as part of the Ministry for the Environment’s Projects to Reduce Emissions Scheme (PRE) in 2003/2004.

Wind farms are no longer eligible for carbon credits, although some developers have yet to collect the credits they were granted under the PRE. The last round of the PRE was in 2004. Wind farms do not receive a free allocation of carbon credits under the Emissions Trading Scheme.

Wind farms are built today only if they can generate electricity at a cost that is competitive with other forms of generation.

Visit

A public viewing area underneath one of Te Apiti’s turbines has views of the wind farm and an information display. The viewing area is open daily from 8.30am to 5pm and is clearly signposted from Saddle Road.

Raumai Reserve is a scenic picnic spot located right beside the river in the Pohangina Valley.

Take a leisurely walk or ride along the Manawatū River and experience the ever-changing views that it offers. This ride is a perfect family or beginners ride, as it is all flat to mildly contoured, with some limestone sections, as well as wide cement paths.  There are many access points to this trail, which runs for over 10kms between Maxwells Line in the west to Riverside Drive in the east.

When biking or walking the Manawatū River Pathway, take the chance to pop into Victoria Esplanade which runs alongside the middle section of the Manawatū River Pathway. With rose gardens, bird aviaries, BBQ facilities, playgrounds, miniature train rides and duck ponds, there really is something for everyone. Public toilets are also available here. For a relaxing break, visit the Cafe Esplanade for a fantastic selection of cabinet food and menu food all made fresh at the cafe. Grab an ice cream or refuel with an organic coffee.

A museum working beyond boundaries at the cultural heart of our city. Te Manawa draws art, science and heritage together to reflect our past, illuminate the present and inspire a creative and sustainable future for our people.

We pride ourselves on being a place that represents and celebrates diversity, courage and curiosity – shaping the future while honouring the traditions of our past.

For twenty years, Te Manawa has been governed by a charitable trust that has responsibility for the art and heritage collections of Palmerston North. As a non-profit organisation and registered charity, we’re reliant upon grants and donations to deliver this important mission.

We are the caretakers of the treasures and stories of our people… stories told, in all voices – in every sound, in every beat and in every colour.

We hope you’ll feel passionate and excited about Te Manawa, the collections we care for, and the experiences we shape with you.

Palmerston North is becoming more colourful as blank walls are transformed with murals.

When a mural artist looks at a blank wall, what they see is a bricks-and-mortar canvas of possibilities.

And when you see colour and expression as a vital part of a city, then you start to see the walls of Palmerston North in a new way. They embody potential.

"They tell a story of who we are at a particular time," says Palmerston North City Council planner Keegan Aplin-Thane. "Street art can act as a breadcrumb trail of what the city's values and places pride in." The word art is at the centre of this public display of creativity on a grand scale. Gone are the days, says artist Gembol Farrell, where people would look suspiciously sideways at people brandishing spray-paint cans at a white wall.

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.

The Bledisloe Park circuit extends across a variety of landscapes through native bush, pine forest and farmland. Leaving the Turitea Stream behind the track emerges into open space and a playground at the Atawhai Road access point, a great rest spot for adults and children alike. 

Walk among native trees in an area that mimics what the whole of the area would have been like before the city was developed.

Palmerston North’s premier park with 26 hectares of bush walks, bike tracks and formal gardens. It’s got something for everyone in the family – thousands of mature trees, splendid roses, barbecues, croquet lawns... and the kids will love the Junior Road Safety Park, miniature railway, playground and paddling pool.

One of the park's most popular attractions, is a 2.2km miniature railway, run by volunteers, with stations at the playground and near the Lido. 

With native bush, lush landscaping and beautiful gardens, the Esplanade offers a relaxing gentle walk through interesting surroundings, no matter your age or ability. Many of the pathways through the park are buggy and wheelchair-friendly.

Palmy's Junior Road Safety Park is always humming. It's the perfect safe space for kids to ride their bike or scooter.

Originally constructed in 1941 and refurbished in 2014, the conservatory is home to a range of tropical plants from Africa, the Americas and Oceania, providing a wonderful botanic experience for young and old. There are informative signs on many interesting plants and a “find the frogs” activity for the young  - and young at heart. Come in and find out what vanilla plants look like and discover the bug-eating pitcher plants.

Hokowhitu Lagoon was once an important fishery for Rangitāne that had a thriving eel population. Nowadays, this place is a hotspot for water sports, or an ideal place to go for a walk with a view. Come on down for an easy outing or stroll.

Hokowhitu Lagoon is the only one of the original 5 lagoons, present when Europeans first settled Palmerston North, remaining . As part of the Hokowhitu Reserve the lagoon remained in Maori ownership until 1892-1893, becoming part of what is now known as the Caccia Birch estate and used privately. In 1940 the lagoon was acquired by the Palmerston North City Council as a public reserve, and, as part of the Centennial celebrations of New Zealand in 1970 a road was built on the eastern side of the lagoon, named Centennial Drive. In the 1960s the area was developed and the footbridge constructed across the lagoon.

This ride offers plenty of great stopping points along the way, with awesome views from many of the higher points along the way. If you have time, pop in to Cartwheel Creamery for some artisan cheese tasting. The Pohangina Road is mostly gravel, but worth the effort for the scenery.  

Sledge Track presents a stunning and varied adventure past swimming holes and waterfalls and up a series of steps to Hardings Park, where serious walkers can take a breather before tackling the more challenging loop tracks. Officially opened in 2003, Sledge Track follows an old roadway to Hardings Park, a scenic reserve of more than 860 hectares of native bush at the southern end of the Turitea Water Reserve. The track was restored by retired farmer Ian Argyle and volunteers using global positioning system readings and old survey maps to ensure the track sits within the road reserve. Families with small children can enjoy the first part of the track up to the swimming hole and picnic table (10-15 minutes), or if they are keen, push on to Argyle Rocks (30-50 minutes). Older children will enjoy the challenge of reaching the Lookout Point near the Quartz Creek junction. Beyond here Sledge Track climbs steeply for 1.5km to reach Toe Toe Junction. This climb and the tracks beyond are recommended for fit and experienced trampers only. See the map and walking times for more detailed guidance. Whether you are on the track for an easy walk to a cool swimming hole and picnic spot or a serious tramp, keep an eye out for kapokapowai, the giant bush dragonfly, or New Zealand’s native carnivorous land snail (Powelliphanta sp) and its favourite food the large native earthworm (up to 60cm long!) The track’s leaf litter is also home to a rare centipede. Overhead, listen out for the many Tui, Korimako (bellbirds), Kereru, Ruru and Karearea (NZ Falcon) that call the valley home. Palmerston North City Council traps and poisons intensively in the area to support the native wildlife and plants. Make your journey’s destination the Argyle Rocks in the Kahuterawa Stream, which following rain offers a
spectacular sight of cascading water. Go a little further along, between the Jill White Falls and Pritchards Point, to view the valley’s massive rimu tree. Twenty-five metres tall, the five-metre circumference tree is believed to be 600-800 years old. 

When you want to combine fitness, the great outdoors and spectacular views, then Te Arapiki a Tāne should be your destination. Close to 600 steps take you down the cliffside reserve to the Manawatū River on a steep and challenging trail. Access is from Te Motu o Poutoa and off Vaucluse Heights, with the steps linking to other river network pathways, including He Ara Kotahi.

He Kupu Rangatira – The Proverb Pathway: Te Arapiki a Tāne is home to He Kupu Rangatira – The Proverb Pathway, a site-specific arts project that celebrates our bicultural foundations and our multiculturally diverse city through recreational activity. The pathway supports community unity through the wisdom of proverbs from around the world. The proverbs appear in the language of origin, with a te reo Māori equivalent, and an English translation. There are 10 languages represented over 12 signs

Turitea Pā formed part of a wider settlement known as “Te Kuripaka”, which included Te Motu o Poutoa to the east, and Marae-Tarata to the west. A tall viewing platform once stood on the same site when it was a Rangitāne o Manawatū pā. The lookout gave Rangitāne people an unobstructed view of who was coming up or down the river, with 360 degree views. Te Kuripaka dates to the 15th century, and the use of Turitea Pā as a lookout dates back as recently as the 1850s. Unfortunately, there are no remnants of the old platform that remain today.

Turitea means bright clear water. It is pronounced Tu – ri – te – a (Tu – rhymes with blue, Ri – rhymes with key, Te – said like tear, A – like you’re saying the ‘ar’ or the ‘a’ in car). Turitea Pā is about 2km up the pathway from the main He Ara Kotahi bridge. It is just a few hundred metres on from our Urban Eels platform, and has been commonly dubbed ‘the lookout’ since the pathway opened two years ago.

At 22 hectares, Ahimate Reserve in Awapuni is one of our largest riverside parks. Home to the city’s most popular riverside beach, a dog agility park and fenced enclosure, mountain bike tracks and a natural playground. You can enter the reserve from either Buick Crescent or the end of Maxwells Line, next to Paneiri Park. The Maxwells Line entrance is best for car parking and access to the dog agility park and enclosure. For quick access to the beach, walk in from Dittmer Drive.Dogs can walk leash-free throughout the park. We also have a fenced enclosure they can burn off energy in and an agility park to test their skills and train them.

Ahimate Reserve is a great place to access the Manawatū River Pathway.

Please be careful if you are swimming at Ahimate Reserve.

• All rivers are unpredictable
• The Manawatū River gets deep quickly and has a strong current
• Children need to be closely supervised
• Anybody entering the water should check for hazards such as unstable cliffs, sunken logs and debris