Arena Manawatu, Rugby union venue in Palmerston North, New Zealand
Arena Manawatu is a rugby union stadium in Palmerston North, on New Zealand's North Island, with a main arena featuring tiered seating and several additional playing surfaces across the grounds. The site is set in an open, exposed location and the main field is used for provincial and national-level matches.
The site was established in 1886 as the Palmerston North Showgrounds and originally hosted regional fairs and exhibitions. Over the following decades it gradually shifted toward sports use and received a series of upgrades to meet the needs of competitive rugby.
The stadium is home to the Manawatu Rugby Union team, and on match days local fans fill the stands to support their provincial side. Rugby runs deep in this part of New Zealand, and the ground acts as a gathering point for supporters of all ages.
The stadium is easy to reach by car and has ample parking on site. Match days can be windy and wet, so bringing a warm, waterproof layer is a good idea given the open location.
Within the grounds there is a 434-meter speedway track that regularly hosts national racing championships. Having both a rugby stadium and a speedway circuit on the same site is very rare in the region.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
