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Manawatū River Pathway

Experience the ever-changing views of the Manawatū River and its surrounds on this open, flat path which follows the river from the end of Maxwells Line through to Riverside Drive. While the entire route may not suit an evening stroll or cycle, numerous access points allow for shorter excursions.

Photo shows a woman standing on the pathway next to the riverbank, holding a small shaggy dog and gazing out over the water to the trees on the opposite bank.

The Napier Road entrance to the river emerges to this vista.

Track difficulty rating:  1  2  3  4  5   (1 = easy : 5 = difficult) 

Approximate distances

  • Maxwells Line - end of Dittmer Drive (Paneiri Park to Victoria Esplanade): 2.37 kilometres
  • End of Dittmer Drive - Fitzherbert Avenue:  1.31 kilometres
  • Fitzherbert Avenue - Albert Street:  1.69 kilometres
  • Albert Street - Waterloo Crescent:  0.61 kilometres
  • Waterloo Crescent - Ayr Place:  0.60 kilometres
  • Ayr Place - Ruahine Street:  0.92 kilometres
  • Ruahine Street - Ruamahunga Crescent:  1.10 kilometres
  • Ruamahunga Crescent - Napier Road:  0.34 kilometres
  • Napier Road - Riverside Drive:  0.94 kilometres

Total Distance:  9.86 kilometres

Contour:  Flat to mildly contoured

Surface:  Mainly asphalt (limestone between Paneiri Park and Dittmer Drive)

Photo shows people biking and running and a couple walking their dog along a pathway at the top of a stopbank with a grassy field below and hills and trees in the background.

The pathway near Ruahine Street.

Access points

Riverside Drive (off Te Matai Road), Napier Road, Ruamahunga Crescent (Ruamahanga Wilderness Area), Ruahine Street, Ayr Place, Waterloo Crescent (Waterloo Park), Albert Street, Fitzherbert Avenue (Hardie Street Reserve), Victoria Esplanade, Dittmer Drive (Dittmer Reserve), Buick Crescent (Ahimate Reserve), Maxwells Line (Paneiri Park).

Amenities

Carparks at Riverside Drive, Napier Road, Ruahine Street, Fitzherbert Avenue, Palm Drive, Dittmer Drive, and Maxwells Line accessways.

Toilets are available at three access points: Maxwells Line, Fitzherbert Avenue and Ruamahunga Crescent.

Special attractions

River views, river access, bike jumps and pump track, open-air gym equipment

No cars or trail bikes

Motorised trail bikes or vehicles not permitted on any section of the track.

Photo shows woman walking a dog along the river pathway.

The Ahimate Reserve end of the pathway is limestone.

Horses and dogs welcome

Dogs must be on-leash between Fitzherbert Bridge and the Holiday Park. The rest of the pathway is a dog exercise area, where you can walk your dog off-leash.

Please pick up after your dog and ensure it's under your control at all times.

Note, there are often livestock grazing in paddocks next to the pathway between Ruamahanga Crescent and Riverside Drive. 

Photo shows people enjoying the tree-lined pathway in autumn: a young couple with takeaway coffee in hand, a woman pushing a baby in a stroller and two toddlers on kick-scooters.

The pathway near Ruamahanga Reserve.

Photo shows a map of the shared pathway along the northern side of the river, from Riverside Drive to Maxwells Line.

The pathway is shown in red.

 

Photo shows children swinging on climbing bars in the Domain playground.

Parks and playgrounds at Alert Level 2

All parks and playgrounds are open again, including skate parks, basketball courts, and the dog park at Ahimate Reserve. It's OK to let your dog off-leash again but people should still maintain physical distance.
Photo shows black text on a yellow background that reads: "Level 2 service update."

Our services in Level 2

Find out what the change in alert level means for Council services.
Photo shows family walking two dogs on leads at a city park.

Exercising your dog

Check our online map to see where you can and can't take your dog in Palmerston North. Places you can exercise your dog off-leash are coloured green.