New Zealand Rugby Museum

Top choice in Palmerston North


Fans of the oval ball holler about the New Zealand Rugby Museum, an amazing space overflowing with rugby paraphernalia, from a 1905 All Blacks jumper to a scrum machine and the actual whistle used to start the first game of every Rugby World Cup. Of course, NZ won back-to-back Rugby World Cups in 2011 and 2015, but failed ingloriously in 2019: quiz the staff about the All Blacks' 2023 prospects.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Palmerston North attractions

1. Te Manawa

0.01 MILES

Te Manawa merges a museum and art gallery into one experience, with vast collections joining the dots between art, science and history. The museum has a…

2. The Square

0.23 MILES

Taking the English village green concept to a whole new level, The Square is Palmy’s heart and soul. Its Māori name, Te Marae o Hine, was chosen to…

3. He Ara Kotahi Bridge

1.01 MILES

Palmerston's North's iconic new landmark is this elegant 194m-long bridge over the Manawatu River – a critical link in a 9km network of cycling and…

4. Tararua Wind Farm

9.53 MILES

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…

5. Te Āpiti Wind Farm

11.88 MILES

Spinning north of Manawatu Gorge is Te Āpiti Wind Farm. The 55 turbines create enough power for around 39,000 New Zealand homes each year. It's on private…

6. Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre

25.06 MILES

About 30km north of Masterton, this 10-sq-km centre is one of NZ's most successful wildlife and captive breeding centres. The scenic two-hour Te Arapiki o…