This Info Pack has been designed to help educators plan and coordinate field trips to Palmerston North and Manawatū, for students focusing on key aspects of Tourism or Hospitality in their studies.

Information has been provided about available and discounted accommodation and food options for groups, as well as interactive sessions at operational business and activity sites. Sessions include a combination of talks from industry professionals, on current and relevant business and tourism topics, as well as discounted activity options, for those looking to combine practical learning opportunities with time spent in an operational environment. More information on Education and Training options in your region can be found at www.tourism.net.nz.

Activity And Talk Options

Central Energy Trust Wild Base Recovery

Central Energy Trust Wildbase Recovery is a world class rehabilitation Centre for native wildlife recovering from illness or injury. The Centre provides shelter and care to a range of native wildlife during their recovery after treatment at Massey University’s Wildbase Hospital. Every animal cared for in the Centre is an ambassador for their species and the challenges that face them in the wild.

Talk Topics:

• Native wildlife conservation
• Volunteering roles and conservation careers

Activity Options: Visit the Centre at your leisure or book in for an Education Programme or Guided Tour. Explore the walkthrough aviary and observe native birds and tuatara in a natural setting, learn about the current recovery patients and their journeys back to the wild, and spend time in the Powerco Education Centre.

Timings: Education Programmes run for one to two hours and can be timed to suit the needs of the group.

Location: Victoria Esplanade, 20 Victoria Drive, West End, Palmerston North, 4410

Opening Hours: The Education Programme runs from Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 12:30pm. The public Open Hours are found at www.wildbaserecovery.co.nz

Contact: Educator - [email protected]

Cost: Entry to the Centre is free. Education Programmes are free but a koha donation is recommended for groups. Guided Tours are $10 per person. Max. 25 people in a group, multiple groups can come through in a day.

Other: The nearest food option is Café Esplanade, food cannot be taken into the Centre. Central Energy Trust Wildbase Recovery is a recovery centre for sick or injured native animals, not a zoo. Please ensure students are respectful of their surroundings and are able to be quiet, at times.

Daytona Indoor Raceway Palmerston North

Daytona Indoor Raceway is the only Go Kart track in Palmerston North and one of the best in NZ. DIR caters to corporate functions, birthday parties, special events and casual racers. Students will receive a full driver’s briefing on rules and safety and a race program, supervised by fully qualified staff.

Talk Topics:

• Health and Safety
• Risk Management
• Operating an entertainment facility

Activity Options: 15mins of casual racing in intermediate karts. Other options available, please enquire when booking

Timings: 15min of racing + 15mins safety briefing and set up

Location: 23 Bennet Street, Palmerston North

Opening Hours: Weekdays 12pm - 10pm, Sat 10am – 10pm, Sun 12pm – 6pm

*School groups, please book on weekdays

Contact: Karen and Stephen King; Managers - [email protected] / 06 353 5082

Cost: Please enquire about school group rates

Other: Daytona Indoor Raceway is popular and often booked up, please provide at least 4 weeks’ notice for bookings

Cloud9 Trampoline Park

Defy gravity at this trampoline Park bringing some firsts to Palmerston North. Cloud 9 has a permanent kids’ zone, an Olympic Trampoline, foam pit area, ninja assault course, games area and more. After the video safety briefing, students are able to take to the tramps.

Talk Topics:

• Visitor safety
• Environmental considerations
• Community contributions

Activity Option: 1hr trampoline access. Multiple hour access available.

Timings: Sessions run for 1hr and start every 30mins

Location: 37 Taonui Street, Palmerston North

Opening Hours: Mon – Thurs, 11am - 8pm. Fri and Sat, 10am - 9pm. Sun 10am - 8pm

Contact: [email protected] / 06 777 5001

Cost: $18

THER: A Café with seating is onsite, serving a range of hot and cold snacks and counter food options.

Palmerston North i-SITE

Chat to the friendly team about making the most of your visit to Manawatū; they’ll help uncover hidden gems, make confident choices and enhance your experience in the region.

Talk Topics:

• Attractions in Manawatū
• The role of i-SITE in New Zealand
• Domestic visitor demographics

Timings: Allow 30mins for the talk

Location: The Square, Palmerston North

Opening Hours: Weekdays 9am - 5pm, Saturday 9am – 2pm

Contact: Mark James; i-SITE Manager - [email protected] / 021 432 640

Cost: FOC

Te Manawa – Museum of Art, Science and Heritage

At the cultural heart of Palmerston North, Te Manawa draws art, science and heritage together to reflect our past, illuminate the present and inspire a creative and sustainable future for our growing region and its people. The museum offers exciting learning programmes run by their team of educators. Self-guided tours are available and visitor-hosts are on-site who can also answer questions.

You can find up-to-date information about the Learning Programmes offered at Te Manawa on their website here

Activity Options: Bookable learning programmes and self-lead through the Museum and Art Gallery – discover the current Museum exhibitions here and Art Gallery exhibitions here.

Timings: School sessions generally run for 1.5 - 2hrs

Location: Te Manawa Museums Complex, 326 Main Street, Palmerston North

Opening Hours: 10.00am-5.00pm Tuesday to Sunday (Also open Mondays during public and school holidays).

Contact: Learning & Outreach Team – [email protected] / 06 355 5000

Cost: Free to local schools within the Palmerston North City Council and Manawatū District Council regions, $5 per student for schools outside the region. General admission is free but donations are encouraged.

Other: Te Manawa has provided Gateway opportunities to students looking at the Service Industry Pathway in the past; roles involve greeting and helping visitors and supporting pack down and set up of activities, events and venue hire. 

The Lido Aquatic Centre

Relax, slide, swim, or workout! The options are endless at Palmerston North’s Lido Aquatic Centre. Join over 300,000 other users each year and enjoy a truly iconic Palmerston North Experience. The Lido is managed by Community Leisure Management, one of the leaders in NZ’s Recreation and Leisure industry.

Talk Topics: Please enquire about potential topics when filling out the online booking form

Activity Options:

• Leisure Pool, 25m Pool, Spa Pool
• Outdoor 50m Pool and Dive Pool
• Steam Room and Sauna
• Outdoor Hydroslides and Aquapark
• Gym

Timings: The Lido Aquatic Centre offers a range of different swimming programs for the community, so please be aware that not all areas of the centre will always be accessible.

Location: Park Road, West End, Palmerston North 4410

Opening Hours: Weekdays 6am – 8pm, Weekends 8am – 8pm

Contact: Juliana Henderson; Customer Services Coordinator – 06 357 2684 / [email protected]

Cost: Student group bookings $3.80, for pool access. Access to indoor and outdoor slides, additional $9.50pp

Other: Outdoor slides only available in Summer months, during school holidays and weekends. Please be aware that the leisure pool is limited to 40 people every hour, to manage social distancing across varying Alert Levels. . The Lido Aquatic Centre also has its own onsite Café offering a range of cabinet food items.

New Zealand Rugby Museum

The New Zealand Rugby Museum, based in Palmerston North, is a museum dedicated to the sport of Rugby union. The museum is viewed as the leading sports museum in NZ, with a collection in excess of 40,000 items, world class displays and activities. Group visitors will be greeted by a volunteer host, who can provide a guided tour of the museum.

Talk Topics:

• Preservation, protection and display of NZ Rugby and Heritage
• The global exposure the All-Blacks brand brings to NZ
• Visitor demographics
• Operations

Activity Options: There is an interactive zone which includes a one-man scrum machine, tackle bags and a kicking area. The Museum goes through rugby in the decades.

Timings: Tours range from 20mins to 1.5hrs

Location: 326 Main Street, Palmerston North, City Centre 4410

Opening Hours: 10am – 4pm, daily 

Contact: Stephen Berg; Museum Director – 06 358 6947 / [email protected]

Cost: $6 for students. 1 Teacher free per 8 paying students. $13 for tertiary students.

Other: Please ensure students are well supervised in the interactive zone, to minimize risk of injury. There is no on-site café in the Te Manawa complex but the museum is centrally located &and only minutes from the Convention Centre, Public Library and The Square’s café’s and restaurants. The interactive zone only allows for 1 group at a time.

The Department of Conservation

Visit the Palmerston North Regional Office for more information on what the region has to offer. Rangers have first-hand, in-depth local knowledge about conservation places and activities. Visit the DOC website to find out more

Activity Options: Manawatū/Whanganui has bush covered ranges, beautiful rivers & spectacular gorges you can visit.

Timings: Walks vary in length

Location: Palmerston North Visitor Centre, 28 North Street, Palmerston North

Opening Hours: 8am – 4.30pm, Mon - Fri 

Contact: [email protected] / 06 350 9700

Cost: FOC

Food And Talk Options

The Eatery

Menu: Inspired by food truck culture from around the world, The Eatery has a range of retailers onsite with varied, fresh, healthy menu options. All food is prepared onsite, with GF and vegetarian options available. Retailers include:

• Gracias (Tex-mex)
• Graze Kitchen (Burgers & Wings)
• Nourish Cafe & Deli 
• Cauliflower (Indian cuisine)
• Flavour Bistro (European cuisine)
• Sweet Dreams (Bakery)
• FireHome (Turkish)
• Naughty but Nice Ice Creamery

Best For: Lunch and Dinner

Location: 70 Broadway Avenue, Palmerston North

*Centrally located and within a 10min walk to the Rugby Museum, Te Manawa and the Palmerston North i-SITE

Opening Hours: The Eatery is accessible from 10am, daily; each food outlet operates according to their own hours, so please check ahead of arrival. All cafes open from 7am.

Contact: Meg Letheard; Social Media Coordinator - 06 358 3305 / [email protected]

Cost: Prices vary amongst outlets, please check individual menus for details

Other: Plenty of inside seating available. On fine weather days, takeaway options are available. There is also a cinema inside The Eatery complex.

Breakers Palmerston North

Menu: Breakers provides a relaxed, informal and friendly dining experience, offering an extensive, yet affordable menu filled with classic iwi favourites from seafood, salads, steak, and burgers.

Best For: Lunch and Dinner

Location: 168 – 190 Rangitikei Street, Palmerston North

Opening Hours: Daily, 11am - Late

Contact: Sonny Ratima; Restaurant Manager - 06 952 7700 / [email protected]

Cost: Options from $6.50. $20 lunch and early evening special available 11am – 6pm, weekdays. Please check the website for a sample menu.

Other: Bookings for <10 can be made online. Please call for larger bookings. Indoor and outdoor dining available.

Lone Star Palmerston North

Menu: Lone Star Palmerston North has been loved for 18+ years for their family-friendliness and classic Lone Star experience. Their friendly and welcoming team are vibrant and genuinely has fun while they take care of guests. Lone Star offers a good range of Kiwi classics, southern style comfort food and can also cater to dietary requirements.

Best For: Dinner

Location: 41 – 42 The Square, Palmerston North

Opening Hours: 4pm – 8:30pm Mon – Thurs, 4pm – 9pm Fri – Sat, 4pm – 8pm Sun 

Contact: Shannon Andrews; Sales and Events Manager - 06 355 1986 / [email protected]

Cost: Kids menus from $15.00. Gourmet Burger options for $24.00. Please check the website for a sample menu here Mains Menu - Lone Star

Other: Lone Star has plenty of indoor space for big groups and wheel chair access but please book ahead. Group sizes <6 can be made online. For larger group sizes and more information please contact me to discuss your budget or requirements, we offer delivery and catering options as well. Call Shannon now.

Accommodation And Talk Options

Palmerston North Holiday Park

Accommodation Type: Palmerston North Holiday Park provides convenient accommodation, looked after by its friendly staff for nearly 20 years. There are 29 cabins in 5 different grades of accommodation, sleeping from 2 - 6 people comfortably in each. Some cabins come with kitchens but there is also a communal kitchen onsite. 65 tent sites available.

Location: 133 Dittmer Drive, Palmerston North

Contact: Steven and Jolene; Managers - [email protected] / 06 358 0349

Cost:

• Standard Cabin without Kitchen facilities: $58/night for 2pax and $20/night for each additional guest
• Cabin with Kitchen: $66/night for 2pax and $20/night for each additional guest
• The Group Unit with Kitchen, Toilet, Shower, TV, Fridge/Freezer, Radio: min. charge $110 sleeps 8
• Other accommodation types available, please contact Jan or Ron

*Cabins sleep max. 6pax

Other: $100 bond/cabin refundable 10 days after vacating. Guests must supply own blankets, sheets and towels. Pillows and cases provided. Onsite laundry.

Highland Home Christian Camp

Accommodation Type: Highland Home is a camping complex that has been developed to cater for varying group sizes and types. Situated in the Pohangina Valley, north of Palmerston North, the Camp offers fully catered and self-catered options in a beautiful, natural setting.

Forlong Lodge – sleeps 60

• Lounge/Kitchenette
• 6 bunkrooms with 4 single bunks in each (sleeps 8/room)
• 2 rooms with queen bed and a single bunk in each (sleeps 4/room)
• 1 room with super king bed (or 2 king singles) and a single bunk bed (sleeps 4)
• Each bunkroom has its own toilet and shower

Highland Homestead - sleeps 29

• 3 bunkrooms with 8 beds each (sleeps 8/room)
• Upper room is a fully self-contained unit with lounge, kitchen, toilet and shower and 4 separate bedrooms; 3 bedrooms with single beds, 1 with a queen bed (sleeps 5)

Location: 1352 Pohangina Valley East Road, Pohangina

Contact: Mathew and Emma Foster; Owners - [email protected] / 06 329 4716

Cost:

• Self-catered: $25/night during off-peak season and $32/night during peak season
• Catered: $49/night during off-peak season and $57/night during peak season

*Highland Home offers competitive prices but all prices are subject to change base. Please contact Matthew or Emma for current rates.

*Catered accommodation includes: breakfast, lunch and dinner prepared and cooked by onsite cook. Drinks will be provided for morning and afternoon tea and supper but groups must bring their own snacks. All cutlery and crockery provided.

Other: Please provide notice 7 days’ before your stay with final numbers and any dietary requirements. A $200/day booking fee is required to secure your booking but will be returned when the camp is left clean and tidy, no damage has been made and any invoices have been paid. Highlands also run a range of activities onsite including: Top Team, Geocaching, Caving, Shooting Gallery, Initiatives, Water Slide, Marshmallow Pit, Glow Worm Grotto, Burma Trail. Highlands also have equipment to hire including: BMZX bikes and long boards. The team can also arrange: tramping, hiking, basketball, cricket, gymnasium use, earth boards, uni cycles, volleyball, trampolines, river and bush studies, arts camp and motorbike camp.