Ashhurst Domain

The Ashhurst Domain lies just 15 kilometres north of Palmerston North on State Highway 3 at the southern end of the Manawatu Gorge, nestled beside the Manawatu River and the Ashhurst township. The Ashhurst Domain is a native flora reserve over 54 hectares with a sheltered family picnic area, a B.B.Q shelter, camping ground, a children’s playground including a flying fox, walking tracks through open park land, around the sports fields, through established native bush, wetlands and down walking tracks to where the Pohangina River joins the Manawatu River.

Here you will see and hear the Bellbird, Fantail, Tui, Wood Pigeon, Pukeko, Silver eye and numerous introduced birds – Ducks, Geese, Paradise Ducks, Sparrow, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Grey Warbler, Magpie, Blackbird, Thrush and Rosella to name a few. A restored wetland to the north east is easily viewed from a viewing platform, with good views of the Ruahine Rangers.