The Horowhenua District offers a stunning natural environment on the lower west coast of the North Island, where the mountains meet the sea. Kilometres of unspoilt beaches, forest walks and a hinterland that is rich in both Maori and European history. Horowhenua is blessed with superb natural assets, treasured historical heritage and a thriving cultural life, all within easy reach of New Zealand's capital city Wellington, which is just over an hour drive to the south. Bounded by the Tasman Sea to the west and the bush-clad Tararua Ranges to the east, the District concentrates a wide range of visitor attractions and facilities in a compact, highly accessible area.
The mild climate and rich soils of Horowhenua provide ideal conditions for the production of a diverse array of quality food products, which in turn, has seen the development of a lively and imaginative dining out scene. The region is renowned for many specialist foods and beverages, including chocolates, wines, liqueurs, gourmet sausages, confectionary, and of course, some of its most famous exports - cheeses and icecream.
Ideally located so close to a major city operating as a key transport hub, Horowhenua can offer all essential services and sophisticated facilities but at the same time also provides a wealth of quintessential New Zealand experiences from the simple pleasures of a walk along a pristine beach to experiencing life in classic, Kiwi small towns. With about 30,000 residents living between the Tararua Ranges and the Tasman Sea, Horowhenua is the perfect place to live, work and play.