 Horowhenua is a special part of New Zealand. It is just over an hour from Wellington and only 30 minutes from Palmerston North. It has the feel of another world. You'll discover traditional rural landscapes as you drive along the coastal road past cafes, wineries, beaches and museums. Horowhenua stretches north from Otaki, through the towns of Levin, Waitarere Beach, Foxton and Foxton Beach. The Manawatu river runs just north of Shannon and is a great spot for trout fishing, swimming and kayaking.
If you drive to Heights Road, which heads into the Tararua Ranges just south of Shannon, the whole of the Horowhenua is laid out - the rolling country between Shannon and Levin, Levin itself and Lake Horowhenua. Behind are the peaks of the Tararua Range and the curved coast of the Tasman Sea, banked by forest and sand dunes.
Horowhenua remained largely unsettled until the opening of the Wellington-Manawhatu Railway in 1866. Foxton was an important river-mouth port by the 1840's and by the 1850's some of the scrub country of the lower Rangitikei had been occupied by graziers. Most of the land however, was covered with bush or swamp and its settlement was organised either by the govenment, as at Palmerston North, or more commonly, by settlement companies and associations such as the Manawhatu Co. (Feilding, Halcombe, Asshurst), the Douglas Co. (Rongotea) and the Hutt Small Farms Association (Sanson). By 1880 the majority of the new settlements were linked by rail with Foxton and Wanganui and a basis for their prosperity had been laid.
The region has a population of over 30,000, many of whom choose to live here for the lifestyle alternative to urban living. The mainstays of the economy are farming, horticulture and market gardening which is helped by the rich soils and mild temperature. Manufacturing, construction, service industries and food processing are also important contributors. The whole area is currently experiencing steady growth which is expected to continue over the next 10 years.
Levin is the heart of the Horowhenua, a provincial town nestled beneath the Nature Coast's magnificent Tararua Ranges. It is 50km south-west of Palmerston North and 95km north of Welllington. It is an ideal base to explore nearby towns, beaches, the Tararua Mountains, Lake Horowhenua and Lake Papaitonga.
Levin has a number of recreational facilities to keep you busy, including a multiplex cinema, botanic gardens, public domain, aquatic centre, adventure playground and a skateboard park. Nearby is Lake Horowhenua - the place for rowing, yachting and great picnic areas. The town also has a links style golf course and several beautiful beaches are within easy reach.
From the quiet calm of bushwalks and gardens, to the exhilaration of rivers and sea, through to history and culture, the region has something for everyone.
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