Palmerston North Rental Car Travel Itinerary

Rugby, rugby, rugby …

• You simply can’t visit Palmerston North without taking a look around the New Zealand Rugby Museum. Formed in 1969 the museum houses sporting memorabilia and relics from New Zealand and overseas. The NZ national rugby team the ‘All Blacks’ are the main feature, with the ‘Have A Go’ area the most popular with visitors.
• The museum is located on Main Street and is open 7 days from 10 am to 5 pm.
• Pay and display public car parks are available along Main Street directly in front of the Museum’s main entrance.

Lets hit the road today and explore some of the nearby towns.

• Just an hours drive from Palmerston North, Whanganui is today’s destination.
• Stop in at the Whanganui Riverboat Restoration Centre, where you can take a relaxing river cruise on the Waimarie, a restored paddle steamer.
• Cross the Wanganui City Bridge on foot to the Durie Hill pedestrian tunnel, where after 205 metres you will come to the famous Durie Hill Elevator.
• For spectacular views across the city and region, climb the nearby War Memorial Tower.

Staying in the Whanganui region, lets explore further.

• Bridge to Nowhere offers Jet Boat Tours along the stunning Whanganui River and through the nearby Whanganui National Park.
• Tours take approximately 4 hours, kicking off at 10.30 am.
• Feeling energetic? Combine the Jet Boat Tour with canoeing or walking trips and make an entire day of it.

Lets go north today, and make the most of beautiful rural New Zealand.

• Taking what’s known as the ‘surf’ Highway (45) to New Plymouth, its time for some surfing lessons. New Plymouth offers up some great surfing conditions and plenty of opportunities to learn to surf. Give Tarawave a call or Vertigo Surf to get you started.
• Feeling peckish after all that surfing? Grab some Fish and Chips from Snappers Fish and Chips on the waterfront and eat them ‘Kiwi Style’ down on the beach.
• Take the rest of the day to explore local attractions, such as the peaceful Pukekura Park, the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, and the Puketiti rhododendron and azalea gardens.

Staying in New Plymouth lets get up on that mountain.

• Exploring Mount Taranaki or Mt Egmont as it is sometimes referred to, is best achieved with the help of an experienced mountain guide or ecological guided tour.
• Taranaki Tours are a good place to start, or if you prefer, an aerial view of the mountain might be more your style.
• Scenic helicopter flights are available from several operators, try Beck Helicopters or PHL New Plymouth for some really great flight tours. On a good day the mountain is absolutely stunning. All flights will be weather dependent.
• You could also spend a day on the slopes skiing at the Manganui Ski Area.

Heading south again, make a day of the road trip and explore small town New Zealand.

• Hawera has a great little museum – the Tawhiti Museum that’s worth a look, or pay a trip to the historic Turuturu Mokai Pa, then climb the Hawera Water Tower that has been there since 1914 and go dam dropping.
• Waverley is a good place for morning tea and plan on a lunch stop back in Whanganui.
• Pitt stops in Bulls and Feilding will get you back to Palmerston North by dinner time. Try Nero on Amesbury Street for some fine dining or head over to Saigon Corner on Princess Street for something a little more casual.

Today is just about chilling out and doing your own thing.

• Whether you are an active relaxer or someone who likes to just go with the flow, Palmerston North has something for everyone. Fill your last day here with an assortment of activities and attractions, here are our top picks, but really, its up to you!
• The Robertson Holden International Speedway is one for the petrol heads out there, the speedway holds regular public events (mostly on Saturdays).
• The Dugald MacKenzie Rose Gardens, beautiful, is really all that needs to be said here, find the Rose Gardens at the West end of the Victoria Esplanade.
• The Te Manawa Art, Science and History Museum on Main Street. Admission is free and there are some great hands-on kids exhibits.