​​Manawatu Attractions

 

The North Island's Manawatu – has all the charm of rural New Zealand, offering authentic New Zealand outdoor experiences.



The Manawatu's diverse landscape stretches from the Tararua and Ruahine ranges, over vast areas of hills and a wide river valley to the beaches of the Tasman Sea.

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The Manawatu offers a blend of Country life and outdoor adventure, from which there are many ways to enjoy the rural setting.  

 

You can enjoy the adrenaline of an extreme flying fox over the Rangitikei river or you can experience country stock sales at the largest stock saleyards in the southern hemisphere.



For early Māori, the Manawatu gorge was was the only route through the ranges, and to the regions beyond.  From 1840, missionaries and traders arrive in the area and started small settlements near the Manawatu river mouth and inland along the riverbank.  

 

With the european arrival, Foxton became the European gateway to the Manawatu.

 

Within 25 years, the European population in the Manawatu region had grown from 1429 to 14,000 people.



Manawatu’s fertile plains and hills are known for their productive agricultural tradition, wind is harnessed to create safe, sustainable power from two major wind farms and Manawatu’s expansive plains and swift moving rivers provide adventure thrills for all levels including the highest tandem bridge swing, white water rafting or bush walking.

 

 

 

Manawatu consists of 9 main townships, all within the one region.

 

Please click on the region below to go to the area applicable, within the box you'll find the towns relative to the region in question. Travel distances between sights in each region average between 30mins to 1hr.