Palmerston North gets a bad rap from outsiders, but is it all that bad?

Palmerston North, like its fellow inland compatriot Hamilton, has often struggled with the negative perception embedded in the minds of many New Zealanders.

Palmy, P Town or Swamp City, as many know it by, may get a bad rap for having dreary weather and being a bit boring, but it is not without its charms.

Though it doesn't have the big city excitement of Auckland or the style and culture of Wellington, Palmerston North has several attractive attributes that might surprise those who have thrown stones at the city without having visited.

As a trio of young professionals who are relatively new to life in Manawatu, we have decided to seek out and share some of the city's best kept secrets.

1. It has an animal hospital

Where do you find a one-eyed tuatara, a kereru, a little blue penguin and a kiwi all living together? Wildbase Hospital, that's where.

The Massey University facility has an expert team of vets looking after creatures from all over the country that need a little bit of TLC.

A new rehabilitation centre, Wildbase Recovery, is also in the fundraising stages. When it's completed it will offer the public a chance to view the animals as they get back on their feet.

2. There are walks to die for ​

Palmerston North and the surrounding area have some incredible scenic walks, bike trails and hunting spots.

In the warmer months crowds of people walk, run, cycle and push prams along the Manawatu Riverside Walkway, taking in views of the Manawatu River and the Anzac Cliffs as they go.

The Manawatu Gorge track is another popular attraction, catering for people of varied fitness levels and offering views of the turbines, river rapids and the major slip site that closed the gorge for more than a year.

3. This place is diverse

The wider Manawatu region was the first refugee resettlement area for the country, with Pahiatua welcoming Polish refugees in the 1940s.

Since then, the region has welcomed thousands of refugees who have enriched the city with their culture and eager sense of community.

Palmerston North was also the destination for a quarter of the emergency intake of Syrian refugees and several Afghan interpreters.

This cultural melting pot is best viewed during the annual Festival of Cultures, where at least 30 different cultural groups share their way of life.

4. It's a great place for a nosh

Anecdotally we've heard rumours that Palmerston North has the most cafes per capita in the country.

While we can't confirm if that's true, we can confirm that the city is packed with quality coffee joints.

There is also a good mix of fine and casual dining, plus a range of ethnic eateries, including Cambodian, Vietnamese, South Indian, North Indian and Italian restaurants.

And when it comes to cafes, be they the bog-standard panini slingers or the likes of a French bakery serving up buttery-crunchy almond croissants, there are loads of places to eat and get your caffeine fix.

5. The city cares about its community

This community cares about its own. Organisations like the Kind Hearts Movement, Palmy Revolution and Just Zilch do their bit to help the city's most vulnerable people on a daily basis.

Just Zilch serves hundreds of people a week, giving them free and healthy food with no questions asked. Palmy Revolution do just about anything they can to find your kid a school uniform, stationery or a Christmas present if you're struggling.

The Kind Hearts Movement just want you to be kind and pass it forward. Whether that's a coffee or a simple message of kindness, it shows that Palmerston North is full of good sorts.

6. It's a beautiful spot

Though some of our architecture leaves a bit to be desired, from an aerial view you can see a city surrounded by green paddocks, rugged mountains and thick bush.

Many of us are too busy on our phones or in our textbooks to notice the beauty around us. Whether it's the clock tower lit up like a rainbow at night, or the setting sun reflecting in brilliant burnt orange off the surrounding wind turbines, it only takes a moment to realise how lucky we are to call this city home.

7. Manawatu takes to the stage

Manawatu virgins might be surprised to learn that Palmerston North is a hot spot for the arts.

Whether it's solo performances at The Dark Room, crowd-pleasers at Centrepoint, student shows at Black Sheep Theatre or Shakespearean drama at The Globe, the city is swarming with theatre lovers. Plus, there's full-scale musicals at The Abbey and Hokowhitu Auditorium.

Not a thespian or theatregoer? There are plenty of other things around, like art exhibitions at Te Manawa museum and the Palmerston North City Library, as well as the country's National Rugby Museum.

8. We have good vibrations

The city has plenty of good sounds. Two Palmerston North institutions, The Stomach and Great Job, foster the city and surrounding area's musical talent, offering classes and venues for bands to play and record. PNC, Benny Tipene and Billy TK are all proof of the talent coming from Palmy.

Throughout the summer there are also a series of free concerts in the Victoria Esplanade that are perfect for a family picnic.

9. We care about our students

With Massey University, UCOL and IPU based here, Palmerston North is brimming with some of the country's brightest young minds.

Sure, this means we get the odd out-of-control toga party and a burnt couch or two, but it also means the city is lively and fun and packed with creative and innovative people.

10. We love our agriculture

Surrounded by farmland and home to several important research facilities, Palmerston North is a leading light in agriculture research.

Among the institutions that call the city home are Massey University, Agresearch, Food HQ and the country's only vet school.

Whether it's looking into ways to increase farm productivity, attempting to make your steak tastier or growing the sheep milk industry, the hub over the Manawatu River bridge is brimming with expertise and possibilities.

11. It's a stone's throw from a lot of fun places

New Zealand is an easy place to travel around and Palmerston North's central location makes it a perfect staging point for wider explorations.

Just under two hours from Wellington and a six to seven hour drive from Auckland, Palmerston North is also close to the North Island's skifields, several beautiful beaches, Hawkes Bay's wineries and Mount Taranaki.

12. It's windy, but that's a good thing

Wind farms filled with turbines line the ranges so it should be no surprise to anyone that this place is windy.

Palmy is flat and is cut off from the east side of the North Island by a long line of mountains, so with that geographic situation comes a whole lot of wind.

This wind helps power the city, but can prove rather annoying on those sideways-rain kind of days. Be sure to stock an umbrella, or two, for the winter months.

13. It has unique rugby supporters

Regardless of the Manawatu Turbos' standing on the scoreboard, their diehard supporters, the Bucketheads, are always staunchly behind them.

Head to any Turbos game, both at home and away, and you're likely to see them in the stands. If you're seated nearby, get ready for plenty of banter and laughs, as well as the odd cringe-worthy moment.

14. There is plenty of pedal power

It might be windy but there are few hills to battle in the city, which means the cycling scene in Palmerston North is massive.

Mini-pelotons of lycra-clad enthusiasts can often be seen enjoying the region's roads, and cafes, at weekends.

15. It's a centre for big business

Take a seat Auckland and cool your jets Wellington, Palmerston North is also a force when it comes to innovation and business.

Ever heard of a little company called Toyota? Well their national customer centre is based here. Fashionista? EziBuy's international distribution centre is here. Hungry? Palmerston North has two Foodstuffs distribution centres, which take care of all of the company's dry goods chilled and frozen food distribution requirements.

Food innovators Food HQ and major insurance company FMG also call Palmy home.