Things to do in Palmerston North
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Esplanade Scenic Railway
Victoria Esplanade is a riverbank park. Mooch around the adventure playground, aviary, conservatory, bike trails, walkways, the Esplanade Scenic Railway or just chill out on the lawns. The Dugald MacKenzie Rose Garden, once voted among the world's top five prettiest gardens, brings tears of pride to local eyes, and there's a permanent orienteering course here too. Pick up a map from the park café or i-SITE.
reviewed
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New Zealand Rugby Museum
Rugby fans holler about the New Zealand Rugby Museum. This amazing room overflows with rugby paraphernalia, from a 1905 All Blacks jumper to the actual whistle used to start the first game of every Rugby World Cup. After a humiliating exit from the 2007 World Cup in France, NZ is hosting the 2011 event – time to brush up on your haka. The museum is planning to relocate to Te Manawa in time for 2011 – look for it there if it’s not on Cuba St.
reviewed
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Orienteering Course
Victoria Esplanade is a riverbank park. Mooch around the adventure playground, aviary, conservatory, bike trails, walkways, the Esplanade Scenic Railway or just chill out on the lawns. The Dugald MacKenzie Rose Garden, once voted among the world's top five prettiest gardens, brings tears of pride to local eyes, and there's a permanent orienteering course here too. Pick up a map from the park café or i-SITE.
reviewed
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Victoria Esplanade
Victoria Esplanade is a riverbank park. Mooch around the adventure playground, aviary, conservatory, bike trails, walkways, the Esplanade Scenic Railway or just chill out on the lawns. The Dugald MacKenzie Rose Garden, once voted among the world’s top five loveliest gardens, brings tears of pride to local eyes, and there’s a permanent orienteering course here too. Pick up a map from the park cafe or i-SITE.
reviewed
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Te Manawa
Te Manawa has merged a museum, art gallery and science centre into one complex. Vast collections (around 55,000 items) join the dots between ‘life, art and mind’. The museum has a strong Maori focus, while the gallery’s exhibits change frequently. Kids will get a kick out of the hands-on exhibits at the science centre. The New Zealand Rugby Museum will be relocating here as part of a wholesale redevelopment.
reviewed
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Tararua Wind Farm
On the southwestern edge of Manawatu gorge, about 40 minutes drive from Palmerston North, is the Tararua Wind Farm, allegedly the largest wind farm in the southern hemisphere. From Hall Block Rd there are awesome views of the turbines. Spinning similarly, north of the gorge is Te Apiti Wind Farm. Ask at the i-SITE for directions.
reviewed
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Bella’s Café
Romantically candlelit Bella’s has been around for a while now, its warm red walls continuing to conjure an inviting atmosphere for a mature crowd. Windows fold open in summer revealing an Italian-Pacific menu – pasta rules at lunchtime, dinners are more agricultural (beef, lamb, chicken and salmon).
reviewed
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Bar Mode
Ground zero for live bands in Palmerston North, Bar Mode is a big beery room with a big stage and a big sound system. Rock, punk, indie, metal and ska – big. Usually full of pool-playing, jukeboxing students, unwinding after a hard day spent aspiring to adulthood.
reviewed
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Barista
No matter what time you wander past, Barista seems to always be open. It's a big, bustling café-restaurant with professional staff shuffling out plates of pasta, meat, seafood and salad (try the Cajun chicken salad). The coffee will knock your socks off.
reviewed
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Fish
A progressive, stylish, Pacifically-hewn cocktail bar, the Fish has got its finger firmly on the Palmy pulse. DJs smooth over the week’s problems on Friday and Saturday nights as a sexy, urbane crew sips Manhattans and Tamarillo Mules (yes, they kick).
reviewed
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Halikarnas Café
Angling for an Ali-Baba-and-the-Forty-Thieves vibe, with magic carpets, brass hookahs and funky trans-Bosphorus beats, Halikarnas plates up generous Turkish delights, from lamb shish kebabs to felafels and kick-arse Turkish coffee.
reviewed
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Timeless Horse Treks
Flee the city with a visit to Timeless Horse Treks. Gentle trail rides take in the Manawatu River and surrounding hills, or saddle up for a half-day trek to the Tararua Wind Farm. Palmerston North pick/drop-off available.
reviewed
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Brewer’s Apprentice
What was once a grungy student pub is now a slick Monteiths-sponsored bar. Business crowds flock for lunch (lunch $10 to $17, dinner $27 to $29), and 20-somethings fill the beer terrace after dark. Live music Friday and Saturday nights.
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Aqaba
Family-friendly cafe classics (pasta, fish and chips, soups, nachos, steaks and pies) served inside a cavernous former Masonic Hall (no secret handshake required). R&B beats are spun as you dine in the Egyptian interiors.
reviewed
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Moxies
This chipper corner cafe is decked out in primary colours with big windows. Staff members are equally upbeat, the all-day menu is top value (stellar omelettes) and if you’ve got gluten issues, this is the place for you.
reviewed
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Café Cuba
Need a sugar shot? Proceed to Café Cuba – the cakes here are for professional chocoholics only. Supreme coffees and traditional cafe fare (risottos, salads, corn fritters) also draw the crowds. Live music Friday nights.
reviewed
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Mao Bar
Cool cafe by day, full-scale cocktail bar by night, serving East-meets-West fusion food. The interior is aptly bamboo-strewn, with tall screens, red lanterns and dark timbers.
reviewed
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IndIan2nite
A million miles from Bollywood schmaltz, this upmarket place won’t break the bank. Behind George St picture windows, northern Indian curries are served by superpolite waiting staff. Try the dahl makhani.
reviewed
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Celtic Inn
The Celtic expertly offsets the Fish nearby with good old-fashioned pub stuff, labourers, travellers and students bending elbows with a few tasty pints of the black stuff. Friendly staff, live music, red velvet chairs, kids darting around parents’ legs – it’s all here
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Stage Door Café
A low-key affair with mellow tunes, spiky green plants, orange plastic chairs and students on the run from the books. Big on coffee, eggs, curries, salads, wraps, muffins and cakes.
reviewed
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Lido Aquatic Centre
When the summer plains bake, dive into the Lido Aquatic Centre. It’s a long way from Lido Beach in Venice, but it has a 50m pool, waterslides, cafe and gym.
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Aberdeen Steakhouse & Bar
A plush, cow-coloured space studded with photos of prize bulls. Chew into ‘The Buster’ prime rib, or ‘The Contender’ Wagyu –the ‘granddaddy of marbled steaks’.
reviewed
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Feilding Saleyard Tours
Local farmers instruct you in the gentle art of selling livestock at this small town north of the city centre. Farmers market from 9am to 2pm every Friday.
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CinemaGold
In the same complex as the Downtown Cinemas, CinemaGold has plush seats and a booze licence to enhance art-house classics and limited-release screenings.
reviewed
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Hiwinui Jet
Manawatu Gorge jetboat tours, departing from Balance Bridge, Ferry Reserve (or pick-up from Palmerston North i-SITE $20 extra).
reviewed
