Hunterville combines a strong Huntaway tradition with architectural history and nature trails in the surrounding area. There are different ways to plan your visit: attend the annual festival, explore the town’s architectural heritage or set aside time for walks ranging from a few minutes to an hour.
Huntaway Tradition and Festival
The Hunterville Huntaway Festival is held annually towards the end of October. It is led by the Shepherds’ Shemozzle and also includes other races and competitions. The festival has been held in Hunterville since 1998. If you are travelling specifically for the event, check the dates in advance.
Hunterville celebrates the Huntaway working dog and its role in sheep farming in the hill country of the Rangitīkei region. This connection is also evident around town: the Huntaway statue in Queens Park honours the breed and Hunterville’s agricultural heritage. The sheep sculptures on Bruce Street make a good photo stop.
Architecture and Local History
The former Hunterville Post Office was completed in 1903 and is considered an outstanding example of Edwardian Baroque public architecture. This style is rare among Hunterville’s public buildings, and the building also dominates the townscape. Its architecture makes it a distinctive landmark for anyone interested in the town’s architectural heritage.
The Hunterville Settlers Museum is housed in the former courthouse on State Highway 1. Its small collection of local buildings includes a barn, a blacksmith’s workshop and Roper Cottage. If you plan to visit the museum, check the visiting arrangements in advance.
Trails and Nature Around Hunterville
Nearby Bruce Park, just south of Hunterville, has an easy figure-eight loop suitable for young children. There are also free, family-friendly Kiwi Guardians treasure-hunt activities. Visitors on the Bruce Park Loop Track, about five kilometres south of Hunterville, can spot kererū, tūī, bellbirds and fantails; with a little luck, they may also see long-tailed bats.
McPhersons’s Bush has three trails with walking times of 10 minutes, 30 minutes and one hour. This makes it easy to choose a walk to fit the time available. Pryce’s Rahui Reserve is also near Hunterville in the Rangitikei District: its three walking trails each take between 20 minutes and an hour, and 1.5 to 2 hours are suggested to do them all. Together, the two reserves offer different options for choosing how long to walk.
Another option is Laird’s Reserve in the Turakina Valley, on Mangahoe Road, 10 kilometres west of Hunterville. It has a loop trail that takes an hour to walk. Information about McPhersons’s Bush and the two reserves can help you distinguish shorter walks from longer outings when choosing your excursions.
A Place for Another Break
Hunterville Domain is on Paraekaretu Street and has a swimming pool. Check the facility details before using it. This makes it easy to include this stop as a separate activity alongside the festival, museum and walks.
Discover more destinations: Taihape.
View the broader travel guide: Rangitikei District.
