With some awesome road trip options in the surrounding area, renting a car makes good sense. Without one, it’d be much harder to soak up all that Palmerston North, 30 miles away, has to offer. Explore the area beginning with The Square, New Zealand Rugby Museum and Arena Manawatu. The locals are also likely to point you in the direction of Eketahuna, 35 miles away. If you only see one attraction here, make sure it’s Middleton Model Railway. (But we’d also recommend Mark Dimock Gallery and Mount Bruce Lookout Walk.)