Take a walk up Puketapu Hill (Sacred Hill) and you will be rewarded with 360–degree views of valleys, hills, mountains and an unspoiled coastline that surrounds Palmerston.
To see some of the views up close, drive out to Tavora Reserve or Anderson’s Lagoon for stunning coastal walks wildlife viewing. Shag Point is also nearby and here you can walk around a colony of New Zealand Fur Seals who will be sleeping, playing or basking in the sun.
From Palmerston, turn onto SH85 to visit Dunback and Macraes.
Walking Track Time: 2-3hrs (route dependent)No dogs allowed From SH1 in Palmerston, turn onto Tiverton St and carry on down Goodwood Rd until Bushy Hill Rd. Turn left here and almost immediately right onto Anderson Rd. Park up here, climb the stile and make your way past the lagoon to
There are at least four options for you on this route. All rides start from
Palmerston turning off SH1 onto Tiverton St which continues on to Goodwood Rd. There are beautiful sights along the way, great views of our mountain Puketapu and different length rides to choose from taking 1-3 hrs.
Walking Track Distance : 3.8km This begins outside the Athenaeum Building that was commissioned on 30 October 1876 by an Act of Parliament. The original purpose for the building was for a Mechanics Institute/ Public Library for Palmerston. Across the road is the Zealandia Statue – a memoriam to those
A walk up Puketapu (sacred hill) offers stunning 360-degree vistas over Palmerston township, rolling farmland down the Shag Valley and out to sea. The track is steep in parts, but it is well formed.
Shag Point/Matakaea Reserve is a great spot for wildlife viewing and is part of a geologically curious and intriguing coastline. New Zealand fur seals can normally be seen in good numbers on the rock shelves around Shag Point. There are two short seal-viewing walks where visitors can watch the seals
Biking route Time : 1-2 hours Distance : 13km (mostly gravel) Park and begin riding at the Palmerston Sports Hall on Gilligan St. Go down Gilligan St, past the squash club – it’s a short down, up and down to Brough St. Turn left onto Brough St (gravel), veer left
The “Mixed Dozen” has variety for sure – gravel road, sealed surface, steep hill sections, farmland, pine plantations, downhill sections, quiet countryside, a swimming hole and beautiful rural views.