Palmerston North Airport is on the north side of the city that it serves. The airport connects Palmerston North to Auckland, Wellington, Nelson, Hamilton and Christchurch with regular flights. It is New Zealand’s 8th busiest airport, handling around half a million passengers a year.
Pick up your Hertz hire car and explore Palmerston North and this fascinating part of New Zealand’s North Island. Located in the eastern Manawatu Plains between the Tararua and Ruahine mountain ranges, Palmerston North is only a two-hour drive from the country’s capital, Wellington, and six hours from sunny Auckland. The world-famous Hawke’s Bay wine region is just a couple of hours drive through the scenic Manawatu Gorge.
This city of Palmerston North itself is a city of culture, parks and gourmet experiences.
This vibrant city caters to a wide variety of interests, from its street art and café culture, through to its sports entertainment, and to its respected theatre scene. Home to New Zealand’s largest university, Massey University, it also prides itself on its burgeoning local music scene.
For sports enthusiasts, no visit to Palmerston North is complete without a trip to the New Zealand Rugby Museum, the first museum devoted entirely to rugby. Home to the greatest rugby playing nation in the world and the world-renowned rugby union team The All Blacks, the museum is a must-see for anyone interested in one of the country’s favourite sports.
For a taste of its prominent and internationally recognised theatre entertainment, Palmerston North is home to the iconic Centrepoint and Regent on Broadway Theatres, in addition to four other community theatres that regularly feature local and international stage shows. Looking for something new to explore? The Dark Room theatre prides itself on providing a stage for new talent to experiment and showcase their work, from comedy to music, to film, and more.
Local music is also a staple in this modern university town, with overwhelming local support for its many up-and-coming artists, especially in venues such as Great Job and The Stomach. You can also enjoy free outdoor live music in the summer in the beautiful setting of the Victoria Esplanade Gardens in West End.
Palmerston North possesses an enviable culinary culture, with a generous variety of fine dining experiences in the city’s centre. Home to an array of local, Asian and other international cuisines, there is no shortage of options available for whatever mood you’re in. Be sure to try out the popular European restaurant Nero along Amesbury Street for a world class dining experience and beautifully presented food.
If you have more than a day in the city, pick up a hire car and take a trip from the sea to the mountains through the Manawatu Gorge.
Located just 20 minutes’ drive from Palmerston North, the gorge runs between the Tararua and Ruahine mountain ranges. Concerted efforts by nature and conservation groups have helped to protect the Manawatu Gorge’s unique and spectacular flora and fauna.
From sport, to nature, to music and more, Palmerston North has an array of sights and sounds throughout the year for whatever piques your interest. Make the most of your time in this culturally diverse city and hire a car at Hertz Palmerston North Airport and explore the region at your own pace.
