Palmerston North Picnic Spots

Palmerston North

Palmerston North Victoria Esplanade Gardens

Lovely garden settings, miniature railway, paddling pool, bird aviaries, adventure playground, rose gardens, native bush walks, cafe, BBQ’S.
Location:Opposite Harringtons Motor Lodge Palmerston North Motel.

Memorial Park

Fenced Swimming pool, skating rink, play ground, picnic areas, lagoon and electric BBQ.
Location: From the Palmerston North square take Main Street east toward Napier road.

Feilding

Makino Park

Adventure playground, boating lake, mini golf, picnic areas. Also Makino Aquatic Centre with Olympic sized pool, diving pool, children’s paddling pool, indoor pool, BBQ facilities.
Location: From Palmerston North take SH 54 to Feilding. (15 minute drive). Enter the aquatic centre off Grey Street or Manchester Street. Enter the playground on Church Street.

Kowhai Park

Picnic area, exotic and native bird aviaries, lagoon, rose garden, toilets, play area and BBQ’s.
Location South Street, adjacent to Feilding Showgrounds and Manfield Park. Off SH 54 from Palmerston North turn onto South Street after Turners Road.

Timona Park

Picnic area with tables, play ground, BMX track, playing fields, swimming, BBQ’s.
Location: From Palmerston North take SH 54 to Feilding. After Turners Road turn left into East Street, then left again into Campbell Street.

Ashurst/Woodville

Ashhurst Domain

Picnic area, adventure playground, camping area, bush walks, swimming in the Manawatu river.
Location 14 km from Harringtons Motor Lodge Palmerston North Motel on SH 3, heading east towards the Manawatu Gorge and just over the Ashhurst bridge.

Manawatu Gorge Scenic Reserve

Picnic area with tables and entry to scenic reserve.
Location: From Palmerston North take SH 3, drive through the Manawatu Gorge. Turn right over the Balance Bridge. The reserve is on the right side of the road.

Mount Lees Reserve

Lovely gardens with exotic and native trees. A quiet rural reserve with gardens, a bushwalk, picnic area, daffodils in season, and other attractions. Summerhouse, lawn tennis court, play area. Open 9am-5pm, 7 days.
Location: From Palmerston North take SH 3 toward Sanson. Turn right onto Mt Biggs Road up the Mount Stewart Hill. Take the second road on the left, Ngaio Road. Mt Lees is sign posted.

Horseshoe Bend

Picnic area, shelter, native bush swimming.
Location: From Palmerston North take SH 57 to Tokomaru and it is sgin posted from there.

Duddings Lake Picnic Park

Picnic area, camping facilities and shop, lake is used for water skiing and speed boating. There is good swimming and fishing, as well as a children’s play area. There is a charge to enter.
Location: From Palmerston North take SH 3 toward Wanganui. After the Lake Alice turn off look for the large sign on the left-hand side of the road. Duddings Lake is approximately 43 km from Palmerston North.

Totara Reserve

Picnic area, BBQ facilities, play area, nature trail, bush walks, fishing, swimming and a formal camping ground.
Location: 32km from From Palmerston North. Take SH 3, travel through Ashhurst, then right into Pohangina Valley Manawatu East Road.

Pohangina Valley Scenic Reserve

Picnic area, swimming. Walks through an impressive stand of Kahikatea and Rata.
Location: The Scenic Reserve is 2km past the Komako Church on the eastern side of the Pohangina Valley.