Feilding to Palmerston North

  • Walking
Difficulty
Medium
Length
17.4 km
Journey Time
4-5 hours
Region
Manawatu/Whanganui
Sub-Regions
ManawatūPalmerston North
Part of Collections
Te Araroa - New Zealand's TrailTe Araroa - North Island
Track maintained by
Te Araroa Trail Trust

Te Araroa section: Make your way past rolling farmland and along rural roads to the city of Palmerston North. At Palmerston North walkers are rewarded with art galleries, museums, cafes, restaurants and urban street art. Palmerston North is bordered by the Tararua and Ruahine mountain ranges and defined by Te Apiti – the Manawatū Gorge. 

Feilding to Bunnythorpe — 9km / 2-2.5 hours

  • Continue along South St for 1.5km to Aorangi St /Waughs Rd (at the end of South St).
  • Cross the road ahead and turn right onto Waughs Rd.
  • Follow the shared footpath/cycleway for 1km. Cross the Oroua River bridge.
  • Turn left at the next intersection. Cross the railway line then turn right (south) onto the Campbell Road footpath/cycleway.
  • Follow Campbell Rd path for 4.5km with the railway line to your right. You will pass Taonui Aerodrome on your left.
  • Where the main road crosses the railway line, hikers must also cross over and turn left onto the quieter Waughs Rd.
  • Follow Waughs Rd south for 1km to its end, with the railway line to your left.
  • Climb two stiles and continue along a track outside the fence line. Go through the small gate and keep to the right down to the Mangaone Stream crossing. Take care crossing in wet weather.
  • Continue left up the other side. After about 150 metres cross the small Jacks Creek and continue along the track until you reach Kairanga/Bunnythorpe Road.
  • Do not go straight ahead (it is a very busy highway between Bunnythorpe and Palmerston North), but turn left, cross the railway line and then turn right into the village of Bunnythorpe which has toilets and a dairy.

Bunnythorpe to Napier Rd, Palmerston North – 7.5km / 1.5 - 2 hours

The footpath through Bunnythorpe passes the old Glaxo factory. GlaxoSmithKline, one of the top 10 pharmaceutical companies in the world, had its genesis here in Bunnythorpe in 1904.

  • South of the village, turn right into Stoney Creek Road.
  • After 150m, cross the stile on your right and follow the marked trail south, across paddocks, to the Clevely Line/Sangsters Rd intersection.
  • Head south along Sangsters Rd, with the railway line to your right. At the end of the road, climb over the stile and follow the marked trail across farmland and along farm driveways until reaching the Roberts Line/Railway Rd intersection.
  • Cross the railway line at Roberts Line, turn left onto Railway Rd and follow the shared path towards Palmerston North.
  • Keep left at the roundabout, cross the bridge over the railway line and continue straight ahead through the traffic lights onto Vogel St.
    • There is a toilet available for public use in the branch library, 25m down Kipling St, at the start of the small Roslyn shopping centre.
  • Continue along Vogel Street, on the left, for 1.5km.
  • Take the sealed path down into the old cemetery. When inside the cemetery, turn left and follow one of the paths to the main gate. Exit onto Napier Rd.
  • Cross Napier Road.
    • For a short route into Te Marae o Hine (The Square) in the city centre, turn right. You can take a 111 or 112 bus to and from the city centre.
    • To continue on the trail, turn left (east)

Napier Road to Fitzherbert Ave Bridge – 7.5km / 1.5 hours

  • After crossing the road from the cemetery exit, turn left (east) on Napier Rd and follow the footpath 500m to the start of the shared walkway beside the Gas Works Drain.
  • Follow the shared path for 1.5km, from the Napier Road entrance down to the Manawatū River where it connects with the main Manawatū River shared path along the edge of the city.
  • Turn right and follow the river path downstream for 5.5km until you reach the Fitzherbert Ave road bridge which crosses the Manawatū River.
  • At the Fitzherbert Ave bridge, you can leave the trail and take a 2km diversion north into the city centre.

Conditions

Potential Hazards:

  • Vehicles on road or track. Stay as far off the road as possible
  • Track exposed to sun, wind or cold
  • Few water sources

How to get here

Northern Start: South Street, Feilding

Southern End: Fitzherbert Avenue Bridge, Palmerston North

Transport

  • Air New Zealand - Palmerston North Airport - Airport Drive, Milson P: 0800 737 000 
  • InterCity Buses arrive/leave from The Square

Rail

Trains Depart from Train Station - Off Tremaine Avenue, Palmerston North

Local transport

Accommodation

  • Te Araroa homestay and camping, just 50m off the trail near the Fitzherbert Bridge over the Manawatū River. Beds available or camping if preferred. Hot shower, use of kitchen, laundry, linen provided, bikes available. Payment by koha/contribution. Hosted by Paula and Brian, Te Araroa Manawatū Trustees P: 027 6900 260 or 027 222 3742 E: degoldiway@gmail.com
  • Whiowhio Hut - Palmerston North (close to the Manawatū River Shared Path). Please phone or text before arrival. P: 027 470 9829 - E: whiowhiohut@swampthing.co.nz Urban tramping hut. Kitchen, shower, laundry, bikes and even electricity. Payment by koha (donation). Hosted by Te Araroa walkers, Te Araroa Manawatū Trustees, and Whio (native blue duck) enthusiasts Anthony and Fiona (a.k.a. Whin and Whiona).
  • Feilding Trail Angels Abby, Tim and daughter Eleanor offer space on their front lawn for tents and/or a comfortable bed in their sleepout, showers and laundry etc. Stay 1 night or several if you need to recharge. Can potentially pick up/drop off between Whanganui and Palmerston North. Koha welcomed in the form of conversation over a shared meal (usually based on produce from their garden) or a bit of help around the house/garden. Please arrange in advance if possible. abbykerrin@gmail.com or 021 774 864
  • Palmerston North Holiday Park. 133 Dittmer Drive (off Ruha St) Palmerston North. P: 06 358 0349 E: palmerstonnorthholidaypark@xtra.co.nz  https://palmerstonnorthholidaypark.co.nz/
  • Local accommodation businesses

Food And Supply

  • Pak N' Save - 327 Ferguson St, Palmerston North
  • Countdown - Cnr Ferguson and Ashley St, in the Plaza
  • New World Melody’s Supermarket - 299 Broadway Ave
  • Bin Inn – 688 Main St
  • 4 Four Square - 354 Albert St, Hokowhitu
  • New World Aokautere, 198 Ruapehu Drive

Resupply options for the Tararua Ranges are in the next section of the trail notes.

Track Elevation and Map

More information

Te Araroa Manawatū-Whanganui trail notes, including information about accommodation transport and resupplying

Before starting Te Araroa either as a through-walker of the whole country or a section walker, please register on Te Araroa website. Please also visit the website or download the app for detailed maps, trail alerts and other relevant information.

 

We encourage you to continue gaining the skills and knowledge required for a safe trip. The NZ Mountain Safety Council has lots of free resources and information you can use. These can be accessed via www.mountainsafety.org.nz.

We recommend trying these online learning tools:

Additionally, check out the range of helpful videos available from the NZ Mountain Safety Council YouTube channel.

Mountain Safety Council Plan My Trip
Page last updated: Jan 18, 2024, 8:23 AM