Located less than 1.5 hours from Palmerston North in the gorgeous hills of Āpiti, these horse treks allow you to experience the serenity of high-altitude horse trekking on a 600-acre sheep farm. Treks range from gentle beginner rides on undulating farmland and pine forest, through to an epic ride through the native bush – on this trek, the sure-footed, well-trained horses will be scrambling up banks, wading through swamps and skidding down tracks – or a ride up a 1000-foot ridge for spectacular views. There are also basic riding lessons on offer.

This world-class conservation centre is a beautiful place for injured or sick wildlife to recover – it is where you can get up close to baby tuatara, albatross, penguins, and other native wildlife while they are nursed back to health, in enclosures filled with greenery and water features. There are also resident birds and tuatara that are there full-time. The knowledgeable and friendly volunteers can take you through and teach you about the animals in each enclosure. Many of the wildlife patients have received treatment from the Massey University Wildbase Hospital. What’s more, it’s free of charge to visit and has a specially designed interactive education centre for the kiddos to enjoy as they learn.

Palmerston North’s central city has in recent years become a vibrant scene of stunning street art and edgy murals. Street art festivals have literally left their marks around the town – with imagery from light and cheerful to heavy and provocative taking on local themes. Pick up a free map from the Palmerston North City i-SITE and take yourself on a tour of these artworks, many by accomplished street artists. Look out for a large-scale mural of Āpirana Ngata, Edmund Hillary, and Kate Sheppard by well-known artist Graham Hoete. The alleyway Berryman’s Lane is one formerly bland strip that has been transformed into a mural-lined masterpiece packed with colour and culture.

Take a gentle drift by raft down the beautiful Rangitīkei River, to have lunch in a mystical boulder garden in the forest: the Whitecliffs Boulders. These giant “cannonball concretions” formed millions of years ago when chemical reactions took place involving river sediments and debris. Now, they look like moss-covered marbles from giants, scattered among the trees, and are truly a wonder to explore.

This beautiful walking and biking pathway gives you a taste of Palmerston North’s surroundings: its rivers, streams, dairy farms, pā sites, military camp, and forests. The He Ara Kotahi Bridge is designed to resemble a karaka tree (which once grew in groves in the area) and connects the town with the educational centres over the river, as a safe and beautiful way to avoid highway traffic. Along the path, check out what a sustainably-run university dairy farm looks like at Dairy 1 Farm, or maybe you’d like to cross Greenwoods Bridge to the raised boardwalk above a canopy of native forest. The 45m Kahuterawa swing bridge connects to Linton Military Camp (keep an ear out for the gun range here). All along the way, you may spot wildlife: species such as karearea (New Zealand falcon), herons, kereru, pheasants, and gecko frequent the surrounds. For a map and more information see here.

These steps are breath-taking – if the views over the river and surroundings from the top don’t take your breath away, then climbing the steps will!   Here’s a killer hill workout if you’re looking for one: you can also just take your time and enjoy the views as you ascend. This hillside was created from the steep Anzac Cliffs to allow for a subdivision nearby, and the steps were then constructed to create a connection to the river. One set of 222 steps takes you down to the river from the observatory above, and another 189 steps lead back up to Vaucluse Heights. The name of the steps honours Tāne Mahuta, the god of the forest who pushed the sky father Ranginui and the earth mother Papatūānuku apart.

The steep, forested Te Āpiti Manawatū Gorge is the divider between the regions of Manawatū and Hawke’s Bay – and features the main 11.2km walking track which takes you high above the river with panoramic views, and also winds its way through native bush filled with birdsong. The highway through the gorge hasn’t been used since 2017, this is nature’s domain now! If you’re after a shorter loop option, there’s the 4km Tawa Loop option as well, from the Ashhurst end of the track where you’ll meet Māori Chief, Whātonga immortalised in a 6ft sculpture.

Learn to wakeboard or refine your moves to an expert level at Off the Loop in Foxton, 30 minutes west of Palmerston North. This wakeboard cable park tows you on a cable around a freshwater lake. Beginners can simply get used to the sensation of cable wakeboarding for the first time and learn to turn, and experts can practice their air tricks, or negotiate obstacles such as a 20cm-high box or a 2m-high rooftop rail.

For an exhilarating 4WD ride through farmland, rivers, past waterfalls, you must visit Makoura Lodge. Go for the safari option if you’d like an expert driver to take you places you wouldn’t dare, or if you’re up for taking the wheel yourself, that’s also an option. The track is professionally designed as a 4WD training facility to offer every tricky scenario you can think of encountering – so there’s mud, river-crossings, steep sections and bumps galore.

Experiencing the market vibe of Feilding Farmer’s Market is a wonderful way to begin a Friday morning. Set in a cobblestone quadrant amongst heritage buildings, from 8.30am it’s bursting with fresh produce, artisan delicacies, fresh-cut flowers, seedlings, great coffee, music, and it’s a great opportunity to meet some local growers and makers. At 11am, head over to take your $10 guided tour of the Feilding Saleyards, one of the largest saleyards in the Southern Hemisphere. You’ll experience the buzz of the sheep and cattle auctions (15,000 sheep and 1400 head of cattle are sold per week!) and learn about the history of livestock selling that goes back to the 1800s. That evening, go for dinner at The Strong Room – this place has a very cool vibe, and the food and service are second to none. Book a table because it’s very popular.