Palmerston North is situated at the foot of the Tararua Mountain Range in Manawatu that is on the west of the main ranges. Although the city is flat, it is bordered in the east by the Ruahine and on the west by Tararua. However, there are irregular rise in elevation in the northeast and on the southern side of the river.
Tourist Attractions
There are good number of facilities and attractions found in Palmerston North. The city is the gateway to other regional attractions including Tongariro National Park, Ruahine and Tararua Ranges.
One popular attraction here is the Rose gardens dotting the area, including the Dugald McKenzie rose breeding centre which is a nature paradise. The Te Manawa gallery and museum complex is not to be missed. For sports enthusiasts, the rugby museum is a must-see.
Palmerston North is also popular for interesting dramatic productions that could be watched at the local theatres. There is some exceptional scenery to be seen while going for a walk through the magnificent Manawatu Gorge.
Accommodation
Visitors to Palmerston can enjoy a range of options to visit including museums, restaurants and rose gardens. The city is home to Massey University with a lively population of university students. For visitors to Palmerston looking for accommodation, there are good numbers of options available to chose from that meets the budget and preference. Among the different types of accommodations are the five-star hotels, self-contained motels, luxury lodges, as well as numerous motels. A special attraction here is the friendly bed and breakfast accommodation and some stunning resorts.
There are also accommodations that are suitable for women only while some are gay friendly. In addition, in certain accommodations, visitors can bring in pets, playground and safe fencing to protect children. There are bed and breakfasts as well as farmstays that are a specialty here.
The comforts available at these accommodations are at par with the best in the world, with a selection of spacious and modern style apartments that are well-appointed and are ideal for business and leisure visitors.
Many of the original homesteads with magnificent gardens and fascinating tales have been turned into cafes, restaurants and boutiques. Visitors here can try their hands at horse riding and sheep rearing.
Transportation
Palmerston North is an important road and rail junction and functions as a centre of freight distribution.
There are four major streets that meet at the square. These are the State Highway 3, which is the main state highway here, the Main Street East, the Main Street West, and Fitzherbert Avenue.
The Palmerston North International Airport is in the Milson suburb and is around 5.5 km from the central business district.
The city is also an important passenger and freight stop on the North Island Main Trunk railway.