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City in Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand
Photo: PhilBeeNZ, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Palmerston North (Māori: Te Papaioea) is a city in the Manawatu district of the lower North Island of New Zealand. 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.
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Combines a museum, art gallery and interactive science center, to create a fusion of life, art and mind.
Tour and rugby groups by arrangement. Contains NZ's biggest and most comprehensive collection of rugby memorabilia and records.
Central Library in the old DIC department store building.
When English comedian John Cleese (of Monty Python fame) toured New Zealand in 2005 tour, he rubbished Palmerston North as the "suicide capital of New Zealand". The city had the last laugh, naming a 45-metre high mound in the city's landfill in his honour.
Performances on Tu at 6:30PM, W-Sa 8PM, no performance M. Stages a wide variety of plays. Has a fully-licensed bar plus coffees and desserts.
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.
Stages many plays. Stunningly refurbished.
Palmerston North's best youth football games.
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 in the grounds.
Bike while enjoying a fully supplied audio guide commentary
Fun whatever the weather.
Enjoy the beauty and diversity of the New Zealand bush, and views of the spectacular gorge along the way.
Innovative and interesting casual dining. Best coffee in town.
Small NZ chain of 9 restaurants across the North Island.
Sandwiches and other snacks.
Thai.
Tex-Mex restaurant well known for its large meals.
Asian. Small. Tasty food.
Pakistani
Italian. Go for the pizza.
Serves delicious Korean meals.
Coffee, great food, and retro furniture. Very popular with students from UCOL.
Good authentic food.
Warm and welcoming. Great Japanese food and drink.
Japanese and Korean cuisine. $1 off all meals over $10 on Tuesdays.
Stylish and respectable.
Motor lodge featuring Wi-Fi and flat-screens in 1- to 2-bedroom units with living areas, dining tables, and kitchens or kitchenettes. Upgraded units have bathrooms with wet rooms and 2-person whirlpool baths. There's no air-conditioning. Room service, BBQ facilities, parking and continental breakfast are available.
17 modern units including studio and 1-bedroom units. All with microwaves and a kitchenette, and 2-bedroom apartments with full kitchens. Most units have spa baths.
On a quiet back section. Private spa pools, and free wifi.
72 hotel & motel rooms with SkydigitalTV, mini bar. Some studio motel rooms have cooking facilities. Pool, gymnasium and a sauna. Has a bar and facilities suitable for weddings and functions. 24 hr reception&room service, guest laundry. Incorporates La Patio Cafe restaurant.
Incorporating Event Cinemas (8 screens)
More than 90 stores, including anchors Woolworths, Kmart, Farmers and JB Hi-Fi.
By car
Palmerston North is 7 hr by car from Auckland and 2 hr from the capital, Wellington. The city is located on State Highway 3 (SH 3), with State Highways 56 and 57 passing close by.
By bus
By train
Palmerston North is on the main railway line between Auckland and Wellington.
By bus
Connect - Horizons Regional Transport runs the bus network within Palmerston North. The city has seven cross-city routes running at least every 30 minutes from 6:30AM to 9PM, 361 days a year.
By bicycle
One of the advantages of Palmerston North is that it is compact, flat and easy to cycle around. The main educational institutions have cycle-lanes from the city centre.
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Palmerston North · Regional · PMR
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