Plan your Manawatū trip
Manawatū rewards those who follow their nose and get off the beaten track to find the hidden gems to see and do. For the adventure seekers, the innovators, the eco and culture-conscious and the thinkers of this world, dive right in to get a flavour of Manawatū.
Stay
Manawatū has a number of unique accommodation options to make your stay memorable. From hotels and motels, thorough to farm stays, luxury lodges and hilltop glamping, there is something for everyone here in Palmerston North, Feilding and beyond. Consider turning your stay into an experience in our rural villages of Āpiti and Kimbolton where there are plenty of activities on offer, or find somewhere urban and have access to theatres, arts, and more at your doorstep.
Check out the range of accommodation on offer here and start planning your stay.
Eat
Manawatū has outstanding places to grab a bite to eat both in the city and in the countryside. In Feilding, some standouts include 4 Flames, and The Strong Room. In the wider region, Ginger Bird in Colyton is a café not to be missed, along with The Herb Farm Café in Ashhurst and Orlando Country for delicious meals and epic views. In Palmerston North, the options expand with standout spots like Little Savanna, Brew Union, The Fat Farmer, and Yeda, are sure to satisfy any craving.
The city is home to more than 126 different cultures, and you can feel this reflected in our vibrant dining scene. With cuisine from across the globe, from high end Japanese and Korean barbecue to noodle houses and Vietnamese street food – you'll find plenty to choose from here in Manawatū.
Explore
Make the most of your time in Manawatū! Discover breathtaking outdoor adventures, from walking the iconic Te Āpiti – Manawatū Gorge to exploring lush gardens and scenic trails or catching a sunset at our rugged west coast beaches. Uncover the region's vibrant arts and culture scene, with galleries, museums, and live performances and dive into our unique cultural heritage as you explore our many river pathways. Whether it’s unwinding in nature or diving into local experiences, Manawatū offers the perfect balance of productivity and play.
Explore Manawatū’s food, fibre and agritech sector
A leading hub of food research, science and innovation, Manawatū is home to more than 3,100 scientists and researchers as well as three Crown Research Institutions. With many world leading organisations such as Finistere Ventures, Sprout AgriTech, The Factory, Synlait, and FoodPilot, choosing to operate from the region, Manawatū is recognised as housing the largest collection of pilot-scale food processing equipment in the southern hemisphere.
In the research and development precinct of Palmerston North city is an impressive collection of organisations including FoodHQ - a collaboration of internationally recognised companies, research and educational institutions providing food companies and innovators access to one of the world’s leading clusters of food science expertise and facilities. You’ll also find AgResearch, The Riddet Institute, and of course the Fonterra Research and Development Centre, one of the largest dairy research facilities in the world, with more than 300 researchers, engineers and scientists from 46 countries, with a combined 130 PhDs. It’s no wonder that Palmerston North is home to the highest number of PhD’s per capita in New Zealand!
Field trips
Monday 26th May
For the first time, there is an opportunity to join four different half-day field trips to visit aspects of the food and fibre value chain in the Manawatū.
After the field trip finishes, you will be brought to Matt and Jana Hocken’s award-winning farm for a casual dinner in their hay barn. Dinner is an opportunity to mix and mingle. There will be a small number of speakers to set the scene for the E Tipu Summit.
The field trips will take place from 1.30–5.00 pm. Dinner will take place at Grassmere Farm from 5.30–8.00 pm.
The cost of the ticket is $120. All field trips will have return transport from the I-Site in Palmerston North Square.
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Capacity: 35 spaces
Want the opportunity to visit an award-winning farm? Come and join us for an afternoon visit to two local award-winning dairy farms that use virtual fencing and a lean approach to farming.
Stewart Dairylands is part of a generational family farm that has been farming the land in Hiwinui for over 120 years. Situated in Manawatū, on the boundary of Palmerston North, the Stewarts farm 580 hectares of land. As a seasonal dairy farm, they milk over 800 cows twice a day for around 300 days of the year. They have diversified into feed crops and tourism with a five-star lodge for weddings, boutique accommodation, and a health and beauty spa.
Grassmere farm consists of approximately 920 Friesian dairy cows, 500 young and replacement cows and 100 Friesian and Angus cross bulls. The Hocken’s have two dairy platforms of approx. 130 and 153 hectares effective, each with a 50-bale automated rotary shed. Grassmere are leaders in innovation and technological advancement on farm. As part of the Rural Innovation Lab, they are a pilot SmartFarm and are often the first to test cutting edge Ag technology that will improve farming practices.
Tour hosts: James Stewart and Mat Hocken
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Capacity: 35 spaces
Ever wondered what is behind the science of food production? Come and join us for an afternoon around the FoodHQ campus at Fonterra and Plant and Food Research.
At Plant and Food Research, you will have the opportunity to visit the unique Pilot Clinical Facility, showcasing food products developed for health functions. You’ll also see how molecular genetics and genomics are applied to understand genetic control in plants. Then, you’ll head over to the Food Development team, who focus on process and product development, specialising in plant-based ingredients, insect bioconversion, and aquaculture feeds. The tour of Plant and Food Research will conclude with a look at their clinical trials which focuses on investigating the health-promoting properties of plant- and marine-derived functional foods for support.
Discover the future of Food Science at Fonterra Research and Development Centre (FRDC). Located in Palmerston North, the Fonterra Research & Development Centre (est. 1927) is one of the world’s largest dairy research facilities and is home to 350+ people comprising of nutritionists, scientists, researchers, and engineers from diverse nationalities. Don’t miss this chance to witness where the future of food science is being shaped! Join us for an opportunity to explore the FRDC. Our Centre overview will provide you with insights into our pioneering research and innovative projects. Following this, we will take you through to see our Pilot Plant facilities, Whole Genome Sequencing Suite, Microscopy lab, and invigorating Food Lab.
Tour host: Victoria Hatton FoodHQ
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Capacity: 12 spaces
Te Utanganui – Central New Zealand Distribution Hub is a key pillar project for the region and will play a critical part on contributing to the movement of FMCG, primary goods, and manufacturing as we gear up to meet the government’s target of doubling exports by 2034. Or you might just be interested to see how toilet paper and chocolates get from the factory to the supermarket. The tour will open with a presentation about Te Utanganui and then have a site visit to two distribution centres and conclude with a full precinct tour.
All delegates will need to have a high vis vest and closed toe footwear. All delegates will leave with a goodie bag.
Tour host: Jerry Shearman CEDA
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Capacity: 25
Whenua Haumanu is a collaboration between Massey University and the Ministry for Primary Industries, supported by the Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund. It’s New Zealand’s most comprehensive program focused on regenerative pastoral practices. During the tour, you’ll visit our research sites to learn about the practical impacts of our work on farmers, primary industries, and the food sector.
You'll also visit The Feast Lab to get an inside look at how we conduct sensory and consumer testing to predict product preferences and help industries create products that meet consumer needs.
At FoodPilot on Massey University’s Manawatū campus, the team turns food and beverage ideas into real products using the largest collection of pilot-scale food processing equipment in the Southern Hemisphere. The FoodPilot team works with New Zealand food businesses to address production challenges. Lastly, at the Human Nutrition Research Unit, you'll discover how we assess the impact of different foods and diets on people’s health and wellbeing.
Tour Hosts: Professor Danny Donaghy, Professor Joanne Hort, Nikki Middleditch, Professor Louise Brough, and Dr Janet Weber