Palmerston Square


This post was published on Thursday 10 January 2019.

A couple of Kiwis we’ve told about us visiting Palmerston North have said, why?! I know we’ve only been here a few hours, but it seems to have an undeserved rep. It’s fairly busy – it’s a city – but has a lovely square in the centre, with all sorts of great places to eat. In fact, it’s know for it.

Here’s the square, before and after dark...

We walked down to the New Zealand Rugby Museum, which charts the history of the All Blacks. Jess was very patient while I walked round soaking it all in... I think the bit she enjoyed the most was the size 20 rugby boots made for an All Black whose medical treatment involved growth hormones... his feet grew several sizes and he had to have special boots made!

On the way we found a school sign that made us chuckle... I presume it makes sense to those who understand the NZ school system, but we did wonder... are the students intermediate or normal? Where is the abnormal school?


Our last night on the North Island (well, until the journey back – tomorrow lunchtime we will be taking the ferry to the South Island) will be spent here, at the Cornwall Motor Lodge... it’s rather more grand than we expected, given the price! Yes, in the corner that’s an enormous whirlpool bath / hot tub!