Hunterville: Festival, History and Nature

Those choosing Hunterville as a destination for a stay will find several distinct points of interest: a recurring festival, local history and walking tracks in the surrounding area. The Huntaway Festival provides a seasonal highlight, while a former public building and a small museum collection offer a glimpse into the area’s history. When choosing a hotel, it helps to consider your preferred travel dates alongside the themes of your visit. The places and walking times below provide practical guidance.

Huntaway Festival and planning your visit

The Hunterville Huntaway Festival takes place annually towards the end of October and has been held in Hunterville since 1998. It is led by the Shepherds’ Shemozzle and also includes other races and competitions. If the festival is the reason for your trip, the timing is an important planning consideration. Check the specific event dates before travelling so you can plan your stay accordingly.

Architecture, museum and townscape

The former Hunterville Post Office was completed in 1903. It is considered an outstanding example of public architecture in the Edwardian Baroque style, a design rarely found in Hunterville’s public buildings. As a dominant building, it shapes the townscape. Its construction date, architecture and role in the townscape make the Post Office a prominent historical landmark.

The Hunterville Settlers Museum is housed in the former courthouse on State Highway 1 in Hunterville. Its small collection of local buildings includes a barn, a blacksmith’s workshop and Roper Cottage. While the Post Office is a single example of public architecture, the museum brings together several buildings with local connections. In Queens Park, the Huntaway statue honours the dog breed and Hunterville’s agricultural heritage. The town also celebrates the Huntaway working dog for its role in sheep farming in the hill country of the Rangitīkei region. The sheep sculptures on Bruce Street make a good photo stop.

Choose walking tracks by duration

McPhersons’s Bush has three walking tracks, with walking times of 10 minutes, 30 minutes and one hour. Pryce’s Rahui Reserve also has three tracks, with walking times ranging from 20 minutes to one hour. The information is presented differently: McPhersons’s Bush lists three individual times, while Pryce’s Rahui Reserve gives a time range. This makes it easier to compare the options if walking time is your main selection criterion.

Laird’s Reserve also has a clearly stated walking time: this reserve in the Turakina Valley is on Mangahoe Road, 10 km west of Hunterville, and has a circular track with a walking time of one hour. This lets you include several options with similar time estimates but different locations in your plans.

Bruce Park and practical amenities

Bruce Park, just south of Hunterville, has an easy figure-eight loop track suitable for small children. The park also offers free, family-friendly Kiwi Guardians treasure-hunt activities. The Bruce Park Loop Track is about 5 km south of Hunterville. Along the track, you may spot kererū, tūī, bellbirds and fantails; with a bit of luck, you may also see long-tailed bats.

Hunterville Domain is on Paraekaretu Street and has a swimming pool. Check the current facility information before using it.

Information in the Rangitikei District

In the wider Rangitikei District destination, the Rangitīkei Information Centres in Bulls, Marton and Taihape provide visitors and locals with local and regional information. These centres also offer souvenirs, maps and public toilets.

Explore more destinations: Taihape

Back to the main travel overview: Rangitikei District.