Palmerston North

Palmerston North has a population of 80,000, of which about 18,000 are students. It is the seventh largest city in New Zealand and is the largest provincial city in the region. 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.

Founded as 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. Another common name used by the native Māori inhabited is Papaioea.

• Visitor Information Center, The Square, ☏ , fax: +64 6 350 1929, manawatu.visitor-info@xtra.co.nz.  
• Palmerston North mcity website

• 1 Palmerston North Airport (PMR  ^IATA) (on the outskirts of the suburb of Milson and 5 km (3.1 mi) north-east of the CBD). The airport has scheduled domestic operations, charter flights and general aviation. Road access to the airport is from either Airport Drive or McGregor Street. Air New Zealand Link operate flights from Auckland, Christchurch, Hamilton and Wellington.  

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.

• From Auckland, follow State Highway 1 south to Sanson, then follow State Highway 3. You'll approach the city from the north.
• From Napier and Hastings, follow State Highway 2 south to Woodville, then follow State Highway 3. You'll approach the city from the east.
• From Wellington, follow State Highway 1 north, turning off onto State Highway 57 just south of Levin. North of Shannon, you have two options: continue following State Highway 57 to approach the city from the south, or turn off onto State Highway 56 to approach it from the west.

• Intercity offers the cheapest land transport option into Palmerston North with 4 coaches per day from Wellington.

Palmerston North is on the main railway line between Auckland and Wellington.

• Northern Explorer, three times per week in each direction. See the article on rail travel in New Zealand for more detail.
• Capital Connection, to and from Wellington region via Levin and Shannon, runs daily on weekdays. The train leaves Wellington at 5:15PM, arriving at 7:20PM; the south bound train leaves at 6:15AM.

Palmerston North is built around The Square. Railway lines used to run through the Square to the station, goods and shunting yards on Main Street west. This proved to be extremely impractical so the station was moved in 1964-66 and the site was turned into a park, known as the Railway Land. The roads radiating outwards from the Square are so wide because they used to accommodate the railway tracks.

Most places are easily accessible by foot.

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. All routes converge at the Main Street Bus Hub, located just east of The Square. Regular services also connect suburban areas with Massey University, as well as the nearby towns of Ashhurst and Feilding.

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. The main route to Massey University along Fitzherbert Avenue is packed with cyclists every morning.

• Massey University.  
• Universal College of Learning.  
• 1 Te Manawa, 396 Main St, ☏ , fax: +64 6 358-3552, enquiries@temanawa.co.nz. 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.  
• 2 New Zealand Rugby Museum, 326 Main St, ☏ , info@rugbymuseum.co.nz. Daily 10AM-5PM. 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, ☏ , fax: +64 6 351 4102, pncl@pncc.govt.nz. Mon Tue Fri 9:30AM-6PM; Wed 10AM-6PM, Thu 9:30AM-8PM, Sat 10AM-4PM, Sun 1-4PM. Central Library in the old DIC department store building. 
• 3 Mount Cleese, Awapuni Resource Recovery Park, Maxwells Line, Awapuni. Mon-Sat 7:30AM-4:30PM, Sun noon-4PM. 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. (updated Jan 2026)

• Centrepoint Theatre, Pitt & Church St, ☏ , fax: +64 6 354-5743, centrepoint@centrepoint.co.nz. 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. 
• 1 Lido Aquatic Centre, Park Rd (alongside the Palmerston North Holiday Park and the Esplanade), ☏ , lido@clmnz.co.nz. 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. 
• 2 Regent on Broadway, 63 Broadway Ave, ☏ , fax: +64 6 350 2108, manager@regent.co.nz. Stages many plays. Stunningly refurbished.  
• Ruahine AFC, info@ruahineafc.co.nz. 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 noon-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 in the grounds. 
• DIY Guided Bike Tours. Bike while enjoying a fully supplied audio guide commentary 
• Indoor paintball and go karts, 23 Bennett St, ☏ (paintball), (go karts), daytona.nz@xtra.co.nz. 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. 

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

• Barista, 59 George St, ☏ . 8AM-late. Innovative and interesting casual dining. Best coffee in town. 
• 1 Breakers Cafe & Bar, 168-190 Rangitikei St, ☏ . Daily 11AM to late. Small NZ chain of 9 restaurants across the North Island. $15-34. (updated Oct 2017)
• Downtown Centre Foodcourt. Wide selection.
• Eon Cafe, 737 Main St (in the Modena Building), ☏ . 7-4PM. Sandwiches and other snacks. 
• Kruo Thai, Square Edge Courtyard, ☏ . Thai. 
• 2 Lone Star Restaurant, 36 The Square, ☏ . Mon-Thu 5:30PM to late; Fri-Sun 5PM to late. Tex-Mex restaurant well known for its large meals. $25-38. 
• Monsoon Asian Kitchen, 200 The Square (opposite the Library), ☏ . Asian. Small. Tasty food. 
• Mr India Tandoori Restaurant, 79E George St, ☏ . Pakistani 
• Pompeii's, 355 Ferguson St, ☏ . Italian. Go for the pizza. 
• Restaurant De Coree, 94 Fitzherbert Avenue, ☏ . Serves delicious Korean meals. 
• The Stage Door Cafe, King St (Behind the Regent Theatre right next to the stage door), ☏ . Coffee, great food, and retro furniture. Very popular with students from UCOL. 

• Thai House Restaurant, 88 Fitzherbert Ave, ☏ . Good authentic food. 
• 3 Yatai Japanese Izakaya Restaurant, 316 Featherston St (cnr Pirie Street), ☏ . Tue-Sat 6PM-late. Warm and welcoming. Great Japanese food and drink. 
• Zumak Sushi Bar, 406 Main St, ☏ . Japanese and Korean cuisine. $1 off all meals over $10 on Tuesdays. 

• Rose and Crown Olde English Pub, 743 Main St, ☏ .  
• The Brewers Apprentice- Monteiths Bar, 334 Church St, ☏ . Stylish and respectable. 

• Check out the specialist boutiques along George Street.
• Downtown Complex, 42-60 Broadway Avenue, ☏ . Stores Mon-Fri 9AM–5:30PM, Sat 9:30AM-4PM, Sun 10AM-4PM; Cinema daily 10AM-11PM. Incorporating Event Cinemas (8 screens) (updated Nov 2018)
• 1 The Plaza, 84 The Square (cnr Church Street, parking off Ferguson Street), ☏ . Mon-Wed & Sat 9AM-5:30PM, Thu 9AM-9PM, Fri 9AM-7PM, Sun 10AM-5PM (individual stores may vary). More than 90 stores, including anchors Woolworths, Kmart, Farmers and JB Hi-Fi.  (updated Dec 2025)

• 1 Braemar Motor Lodge, 177 Ruahine Street, Roslyn (opposite Palmerston North Hospital), toll-free: , info@braemarmotorlodge.co.nz. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. 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. NZD152. (updated Nov 2025)
• 2 Pavilion Motel, 262 Fitzherbert Ave (cnr Manawaroa St), ☏ , toll-free: . 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. $115-185. (updated Mar 2017)
• 3 Avenue Motel, 116 Fitzherbert Ave, ☏ , toll-free: . On a quiet back section. Private spa pools, and free wifi. $120-180. (updated Mar 2017)
• 4 Hotel Coachman, 140 Fitzherbert Ave, ☏ , toll-free: , (Free call within NZ). Check-in: 1PM, check-out: 10AM. 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. $99-400. 
• Railway Hotel Backpackers, 275 Main St, ☏ . from $33. (updated Dec 2017)