Legends Motel

About Palmerston North

by Pagie

Palmerston North is situated on the banks of the Manawatu River at the foot of the Tararua Mountain Range. The subdivision of Palmerston North began in 1866, with the most important stimulus to the growth of the town being the development of pastoral farming.

Palmerston North is a vibrant youthful city with the active student population, nearby Linton Military Camp, and several knowledge organisations including Massey University and the New Zealand Dairy Research Institute, hence it bears the distinction of being New Zealand's `Knowledge City'., all adding to a cosmopolitan atmosphere.
Shopping to rival that found anywhere in New Zealand awaits the serious 'retail therapist', whilst connoisseurs of fine food, a good espresso or a great nightlife will find themselves spoilt for choice from the tasty smorgasbord of restaurants, cafes and bars. One professional and two amateur live theatre companies, New Zealand's most successful multiplex cinema, and the recent 12 million dollar complete refurbishment of the city's magnificent 'Regent on Broadway' make Palmerston North a popular destination for enthusiasts of the screen and stage.

The calibre and central locations of the city's many venues ensure that Palmerston North hosts a number of national, international and special shows and events annually. Although on the doorstep of Manawatu's rural playgrounds, Palmerston North is home to an array of activities and attractions. An interactive Science Centre & Manawatu Museum, galleries, golf courses, parks and walkways, indoor climbing and karting...just a sample of those on offer! Palmerston North is served by an excellent international airport only a short distance from the city.

By road, Palmerston North is only seven hours drive from Auckland and two hours from the capital, Wellington. The City's central location also places it within easy two hour drives of the North Islands Central Plateau skifields, the beaches and wineries of the Hawkes Bay, Mount Taranaki and historic Maori sites of the Taranaki region, and the rural splendor of the Wairarapa.

Mother nature has endowed Manawatu area with endless opportunities to experience the great outdoors, from short walks in splendid native bush, half day walks through the spectacular Manawatu Gorge, to tramping in the majestic Ruahine, or Tararua Ranges. Museums, gardens and arts & crafts abound, with many cottage industries to be discovered in the beautiful Pohangina Valley. The area provides every type of accommodation - top class hotels, motels, hostels, bed and breakfasts, home and farmstays. An excellent array of restaurants and bars to suit all palates are a popular feature of the city.

The Maori translation of Palmerston North is "Pamutana".