Wanganui Manawatu, New Zealand, Wanganui, Marton, Bulls, Feilding, Dannevirke, Palmerston

Taihape claims to be the ‘gumboot capital of New Zealand’. It takes this title seriously, hosting a gumboot festival every year. Certainly, gumboots are very useful in this agricultural and horticultural region.

If you have time to spare in Taihape, the town’s domain has a network of bush walks. Keen gardeners can enquire about visiting the area’s four showpiece gardens - Titoki, Rongoiti, Waitoka and Kiri Kiri. Local adventure activities include white-water rafting, abseiling, kayaking, jet boating and horse trekking. In winter, the ski fields of Mount Ruapehu are only a short drive away. Taihape has plenty of accommodation and a choice of eating places.

The picturesque river city of Wanganui has a long history. During the early days of European settlement, it was an important trading centre. The river served as a main highway for the transport of goods and people. Prominent heritage buildings in the city include the Royal Wanganui Opera House and the Sarjeant Art Gallery. Take time to explore the restored heritage areas, then board the paddle steamer for a memorable river cruise. One of Wanganui's more unusual visitor attractions is the earthbound elevator that rises to the top of Durie Hill. The regional museum has a magnificent collection of Lindauer portaits and Maori treasures.

The Whanganui National Park encloses the wild upper and middle reaches of the Whanganui River, which is New Zealand's longest navigable waterway. Beginning beneath the shadow of the central plateau's giant volcanoes, the 329 kilometre river winds its way to the Tasman Sea through an endless procession of forested valleys and hills.

The river was once an important transport route for Maori, and many defensive pa (forts) were constructed on headlands along its sinuous course. Early European settlers and traders also used the river for transport, guiding their shallow-draft boats through the long narrow gorges that today provide so much enjoyment for kayakers. The paddling adventure that begins in Taumarunui and finishes in Pipiriki is known as the 'Whanganui Journey'.

The park has a very distinctive landscape of river valley systems with steep slopes, razor-sharp ridges and an almost complete cover of native lowland forest. The park is at the centre of a large sedimentary basin, so the rocks are mostly mudstones - easily sculpted by the river into fascinating shapes.

For bird watchers, there is much to be seen. There are large numbers of kereru (native pigeon), piwakawaka (fantail), tui, toutouwai (robin), riroriro (grey warbler) and miromiro (tomtit). The beautiful whio (blue duck) is the target of a Department of Conservation recovery plan, and numbers are increasing steadily. You can also hope for sightings of kaka and yellow-crowned parakeets. At night it's possible to hear the call of the North Island brown kiwi.

As the largest town in the Rangitikei district, Marton has all the shops and services you’d expect of a rural centre. Traditionally, Rangitikei residents have been involved with sheep, cattle and deer farming. More recently the area has been attracting city dwellers looking for a slower pace of life.

The town began life as a private township in 1866, when shop and housing sections were sold at auction by local land owners. For three years the small village was known as Tutaenui, named after the stream running through its centre. In 1869 local citizens changed the name to Marton to honour the home village of Captain James Cook in Yorkshire, marking his landing in New Zealand exactly 100 years earlier.

Marton is blessed with many fine heritage homesteads; if you enjoy creative outdoor landscapes, there are inspirational gardens to visit in the area.

The small rural town of Bulls marks the junction of State Highway 1 and State Highway 3. It’s named after James Bull, an English settler who established the first general merchant store in the town in 1862.  You’ll find a good selection of places to eat, as well as a choice of antique and souvenir shops.

All through the town, there’s signage that capitalises on Bulls’ unusual name – look for Consta-bull (police station), Forgive-a-bull (church) and Cure-a-bull (medical centre).

Bulls is the closest town to Royal New Zealand Air Force Base Ohakea, which has an interesting museum with flight simulators, videos, historical displays, an aviation shop and a café.

Feilding is well known for its beautiful gardens. In fact, the town has been granted the ‘Keep New Zealand Beautiful Small Town Award’ on nine occasions.

The importance of Feilding to the local rural community is particularly evident just 100 meters from the shopping centre, where weekly stock sales are held in the saleyards. Feilding is also a town of collectors – you can visit private museums featuring vintage motorcycles, farm equipment, horse drawn conveyances and various kinds of rail transportation. Turn of the century buildings give the commercial area a special elegance, and many of the town’s grand old homes have been restored.

Dannevirke is known for its Scandinavian heritage, which dates back to 1872 when 21 Danish and Norwegian families arrived to settle the district. The town’s cemeteries are of considerable importance historically, and the settlers’ cemetery attracts many visitors. The Gallery of History provides an in depth look at Dannevirke from the 1870s onward. The town also has a proud Maori history, and at Makirikiri Marae you can admire the carvings at the Aotea meeting house. Dannevirke’s Fantasy Cave is a must for families with young children; the Viking Ship playground in the domain is another family attraction.

One of New Zealand’s largest provincial cities, Palmerston North has an attractive historic heart. The city was named "Palmerston" in honour of Viscount Palmerston, a former Prime Minister of Great Britain. Due to initial confusion, however, the suffix "North” was added in 1871 by the Postal Service in order to distinguish the settlement from Palmerston in the South Island. Locals frequently refer to the city simply as "Palmy".  The Maori transliteration of Palmerston North is "Pamutana"; however, this is largely unused, with Papaioea being the prefered option. Papa-i-oea is widely believed to mean "How beautiful it is”.

Many of the original stores (built in the 1920s and 1930s) have been restored and now function as boutiques, cafés and restaurants.

Rose gardens and museums should also be on your agenda, particularly the Dugald McKenzie rose breeding centre and the Te Manawa gallery and museum complex. For sports enthusiasts, the rugby museum is an essential stop. Palmerston North is known for interesting dramatic productions – check out what’s on at the local theatres. For exceptional scenery, walk the magnificent Manawatu Gorge.

Originally, Pahiatua was to have a railway right through its town centre. But the tracks were eventually constructed to the west of the town. The area that was to have borne the tracks was made into gardens, giving the town an attractive point of difference.

If you arrive in Pahiatua from the north, you’ll be greeted by a yellow WWII Harvard, which has been converted into a children’s slide. Those arriving from the south will notice the white stone Polish Memorial. For eight years from 1944, Pahiatua hosted a refugee camp for children from Poland.

The town has an assortment of accommodation, shops and eating places. Local trout fishing is excellent.

Foxton township was once an important deep river port serving the Manawatu region’s flax industry (New Zealand’s native flax is known as harakeke). In the late 1800s, there were 50 flax mills operating within a 16 kilometre radius of Foxton. Today, one of the town’s key attractions is the Flax Stripper Museum. Another major attraction is the De Molen Windmill – an exact working replica of a traditional 17th century Dutch flourmill. The nearby Manawatu River estuary and wetland is of international ornithological significance and has RAMSAR status – see if you can spot a royal spoonbill. Foxton Beach is popular for swimming, surfing and fishing.

Foxton is the oldest settlement in the southern Manawatu, although it was not always sited where it currently is. The original site of the town was to the east, closer to the present town of Shannon in 1842. The town was moved to its present site in 1885. In the early years of European settlement it was an important trading post and it was only with the advent of the Palmerston North-Wellington railway that Palmerston North began to overtake it as the most important centre in the Manawatu.

Situated between Levin and Palmerston North, the rural town of Shannon has a history of flaxmilling. Today the largest employer in town is a tannery; the district is also an important producer of onions and potatoes.

Local attractions include the historic railway station, a miniature village and the Mangahao Stream, which provides an international grade kayaking course known as the Mangahao Slalem. For many travellers, the owl zoo is the main reason to visit Shannon. You can meet the native owl (morepork or ruru), as well as a variety of other native birds.

Situated between Levin and Palmerston North, and under the Tararua Ranges, the rural town of Shannon has a history of flaxmilling. Today the largest employer in town is a tannery; the district is also an important producer of onions and potatoes.

Local attractions include the historic railway station, a miniature village and the Mangahao Stream, which provides an international grade kayaking course known as the Mangahao Slalem. For many travellers, the owl zoo is the main reason to visit Shannon. You can meet the native owl (morepork or ruru), as well as a variety of other native birds.

The main street is bordered by plane trees, and flower beds are dotted around the town. Historic Thompson House is situated in the botanic gardens  and serves as the town’s cultural centre.