Feilding

Feilding is a town on the Manawatu plain in New Zealand. Feilding is well placed geographically, just two hours drive from most of the southern half of the North Island including Wellington (NZ’s capital) providing a gateway to the South Island. The Manawatu District's location offers easy access to four seaports, seven airports, an airforce base and two large military bases.

Get in

By car

Feilding is just off State Highway 1 about 160 km north of Wellington at a town called Sanson. If you're traveling from Auckland, turn off at Bulls.

By bus

Intercity bus prices start at $35 one way from Wellington and $65 from Auckland. There is also a local bus that runs from Palmerston North to Feilding – cash fare is $5 one way and GoCard fare is $3.50.

By train

The Northern Explorer train will stop here but only for groups of 10 or more. It starts at $49 from Wellington and $69 from Auckland

By plane

Palmerston North airport is 15 min drive away.

Get around

The main ways to get around Feilding is driving, biking and walking. It takes about 45 mins to walk from the outside of town into the center and around 10 mins to bike.

There is also a taxi service (06-323 7117) and a bus before it heads off to Palmerston North. You can find the bus timetable on the Horizon Regional Council website.

Feilding's lay-out was based on Manchester.

See

• 1 Coach House Museum, 121 South Street. daily 10AM - 4PM. Large local museum with an emphasis on agricultural history. $12. (updated Aug 2020)

Do

• Mini golf. (updated Aug 2020)
• 1 Manfeild Park. Motor racing track. (updated Aug 2020)
• 2 Feilding and District Steam Rail Society. Occasional train trips, and maintains a collection of locomotives and wagons. (updated Aug 2020)

Buy

The main central shopping area in Feilding radiates from Manchester Square.

New commercial buildings contrast with carefully preserved heritage styles, and the broad thoroughfare of Kimbolton Road emphases the overall effect of dignified charm of this rural servicing town. With many owner/operator businesses, the shops offer a uniqueness and variety of choice not seen in the city. The friendly customer service complements the ongoing upgrading of the central streets recognising the rural and heritage history of Feilding. With no traffic lights or parking meters, shoppers are encouraged to park as long as they wish while enjoying their relaxed shopping experience.

The rural atmosphere is particularly evident just 100 meters from shopping centre, when the twice weekly sheep and cattle sales are held in the saleyards. The biggest saleyards in the Southern Hemisphere attract farmers and interested parties from all over New Zealand. There is also a local market which is held in the square very Friday where you can buy food and beauty products which have been grown and made in the area.

Eat

Cafe/restaurants

• Essence, 46 Manchester St.

Fast food/chip shops

• 1 Fast Food House, 70-72 Kimbolton Rd. (updated Aug 2020)
• Kens Cook, 108 Fergusson St. (updated Aug 2020)
• McDonalds, Kimbolton Rd. (updated Aug 2020)
• 2 KFC, Kimbolton Rd. (updated Aug 2020)
• Subway. (updated Aug 2020)
• 3 North End Takeaways, 285 Kimbolton Rd. (updated Aug 2020)

Bakeries

• Rosebowl, 56 Kimbolton Rd.

Sleep

As well as quality hotel and motel accommodation, the Manawatu District offers a variety of farmstay/homestay properties. These provide an opportunity to meet the ‘locals’ and experience the real rural New Zealand.

Enjoy sharing warm hospitality, home cooked meals, beautiful gardens, heritage homesteads and joining in with farm activities.

• 1 Manfeild Park motel, 1 Fergusson Street, ☏ +64 6 323 8761. Studios with kitchenettes. from $160. (updated Nov 2024)
• 2 South Street West Motel, 61 South Street. 25 unit motel which opened in 2011. Studios and apartments with kitchenettes from $160. (updated Nov 2024)

Go next

• Whanganui