Manawatu Walking Festival – An annual walking event is focused on bringing together walkers from around New Zealand to experience the variety of great walks in the Manawatu.

Welcome to the 7th Manawatu Walking Festival!

Due to Covid-19 level 2 restrictions all walks that involve bus transport have been cancelled.

The 5pm Sculpture Walk with Te Manawa on Saturday March 6 is on as is the 9pm Starpath River by Night Walk on Sunday March 7..

The 7th annual Manawatu Walking Festival will be held from 5-7 March 2021 in Palmerston North and the wider Manawatu region, from the Ruahine and Tararua Ranges, to the sea. Details of the walks can be seen from November 5th 2020 and we will be able to take bookings from November 14.

Explore the walks

Friday 5 March

Saturday 6 March

Sunday 7 March

The festival brings together locals and visitors from around New Zealand to experience the stunning and scenic walks in the region, while learning from local experts who run the guided walks.

Hosting next year’s festival is a range of experts from experienced tramping guides, historians, conservationists, story-tellers and photographers. There are walks for all ages and fitness levels, with plenty of options to choose from including the iconic Te Apiti – Manawatu Gorge Track through native bush, a twilight beach walk that ends with a feast of fish n’ chips and an urban art and sculpture walk, if you’re after a dose of city culture.

Bookings are essential.

For tickets and information on walk durations, start times, transport and space available, please visit each walk’s page that will be available around early November 2020.

Book your ticket online from around 9 November 2020

The weather

This festival is centered around the outdoors, but unfortunately, the weather isn’t always on our side. If any event is cancelled due to weather, the information will appear on this page.