Bridle Track beside the Manawatu River, Palmerston North

Bridle Track beside the Manawatu River
Palmerston North

The recent major floods (February 2004) have damaged this track, though it is again able to be used, with care needed in places.

One of the "best kept secrets" about Palmerston North where I live, is the Bridle Track that runs beside the Manawatu River.
It is one of my Sunday morning treats to go for a bicycle ride along this track!

If I wake up on Sunday morning to find the sunshine pouring in my window, my thoughts then often turn to the Bridle Track. I usually head out of town a little until I reach
Te Matai Rd, then follow it down towards the river, heading towards a view of the ranges.
As soon as I reach the track, the sounds of water and birds greet me and surround me.

People use the track for varied reasons. Some people jog along the track, others walk their dogs. Some take their children out exploring.
The track has many entry points and you can join it for a short while or take some strenuous exercise, whatever takes your fancy!

Cyclist enjoying the Bridle Track

The view is always changing along the track as the river wanders its curving journey through the city.
There are places where flood protection works, such as groynes and stopbanks, are reminders of the power of the river in flood.
Sometimes the banks hem the river in closely, and in other places there are wide shingle banks (some of them man-made, as part of the river channel was moved to protect the city.)

The City Council has done a variety of things to help people use this track. There are picnic tables and seats at intervals.
This bridge crossing the Napier Rd Drain is a favourite of mine.

I usually keep going along the track until I emerge at the Esplanade. The last section of track is a "shared path" like one I cycled on once in the south of the Netherlands: it is totally separated from the road, and pedestrians and cyclists both use it. You reach a point along it where you can opt to use the river track some more, or go into the Esplanade, which is my usual choice. Sundays usually bring many families here, for picnics, feeding the ducks, looking at the birds, or playing on the playgrounds. As I write this, it is winter, and a beautiful magnolia has already emerged into bloom. Viewing some of the magnificent Esplanade trees in bloom on a sunny Sunday does much for the good cheer of the heart.

Thanks to all those at the City Council, and others,
who have maintained this track for the good of us all.