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Local advice, place guides and suburb guides from around Palmerston North.
Rivers and Freshwater Swimming HolesPohangina River at PiripiriRiver Swimming and Water Quality near Palmerston NorthHead up the Pohangina Valley to Piripiri for a classic Kiwi river swim and picnic, and check LAWA for toxic algae alerts first.Secondary SchoolsManukuraZone, NCEA Results & School FactsManukura is a state, co-educational secondary school for Years 9 to 13 at 233 Tennent Drive, Palmerston North, Palmerston North. It opened in 2016 and had 188 students on its roll at 1 September 2026. It has no home zone, so any student can apply. MANUKURA describes itself as a designated special character school based …Rivers and Freshwater Swimming HolesRuamāhanga River at Double BridgesRiver Swimming Day Trip from Palmerston NorthEscape to Double Bridges near Masterton for a cool Ruamāhanga River swim and a riverside picnic in Mel Parkinson Reserve.Secondary SchoolsLongburn Adventist CollegeZone, NCEA Results & School FactsLongburn Adventist College is a state-integrated, co-educational secondary school for Years 7 to 13 at 100 Walkers Road, Longburn, Palmerston North. It opened in 1908 and had 220 students on its roll at 1 September 2026. It has no home zone, so any student can apply. The school’s site describes a Christian life built on …Coastal and BeachWaitārere BeachSwimming, Surf Patrols and Water QualityHead to Waitārere Beach for wide sandy shores, summer surf patrols, gentle paddling for kids and the famous buried Hydrabad shipwreck.Secondary SchoolsFreyberg High SchoolZone, NCEA Results & School FactsFreyberg High School is a state, co-educational secondary school for Years 9 to 13 at Freyberg Street, Roslyn, Palmerston North. It had 936 students on its roll at 1 September 2026. Its home zone includes all of Ashhurst, Bunnythorpe, Milson, Terrace End, Roslyn and Kelvin Grove, and parts of Whakarongo, Newbury, Hokowhitu, Palmerston North Central, …Coastal and BeachWaikawa BeachSwimming, Water Quality and Getting ThereDiscover Waikawa Beach, a peaceful Horowhenua beach with a stream estuary for kayaking, a footbridge onto the sand and a handy picnic reserve.Secondary SchoolsFeilding High SchoolZone, NCEA Results & School FactsFeilding High School is a state, co-educational secondary school for Years 9 to 13 at Churcher Street, Feilding. It opened in 1921 and had 1,650 students on its roll at 1 September 2026. Its home zone includes all of Awahuri, Colyton, Aorangi, Maewa and Feilding, and parts of Bunnythorpe, Newbury, Rongotea, Ashhurst and Kairanga; the …Coastal and BeachĀkitio BeachSwimming, Water Quality and East Coast Day TripEscape to Ākitio, a remote east coast surf beach with sand dunes, shipwreck history, great fishing and summer water testing by Horizons.Secondary SchoolsAwatapu CollegeZone, NCEA Results & School FactsAwatapu College is a state, co-educational secondary school for Years 9 to 13 at 434 Botanical Road, West End, Palmerston North. It opened in 1976 and had 867 students on its roll at 1 September 2026. Its home zone includes 5 suburbs in full and parts of 10 more, among them Awapuni, Fitzherbert, Linton, West …Coastal Surfcasting SpotsWaitārere Beach FishingSurfcasting and Kontiki in HorowhenuaWaitārere Beach is a wide, sandy surf beach on the Horowhenua coast, about 14 km north-west of Levin, where the sand slopes gently out into deep water. Horowhenua District Council lists kahawai, snapper, groper, gurnard, flounder and sole as the most common catches. Anglers surfcast from the sand, and on calm nights many launch kontiki …Bush, Ranges and River ValleysWaihi Falls DannevirkeEasy Waterfall Picnic Spot Tararua DistrictStunning waterfalls and serene picnic spots await at Waihi Falls near Dannevirke; discover the hidden trails and activities that enhance this natural paradise.