Traveller Rest

If you need to take the activity level down a notch, head for the Manawatu Estuary Bird Sanctuary (10 minutes’ walk), on the river of the same name. In this area of protected wetlands, you might spot migrating godwits flying all the way from Alaska, as well as spoonbills. The Te Manawa Museum in Palmerston North (40 minutes’ drive) has artworks, natural history artefacts and technological objects, as well as heritage and ethnographic displays from the Pacific region. Travel inland to Arapuke Forest Mountain Bike Park (50 minutes) for a glorious network of trails for all ages and abilities (going up to a hair-raising Grade 6) – all of them surrounded by lush forested mountains.