Levin is a town of 19,000 people (2022) in the Manawatu region of New Zealand's North Island. Levin is the largest town in the Horowhenua District. Nestled beneath the magnificent Tararua Ranges, it is near Lake Horowhenua.

Get in

By road

Coming from Wellington, travel for 92 km on State Highway 1, which runs through the centre of town.

Intercity operates a number of buses on a regular basis between Wellington and Levin, whilst you can also hire a rental car at Wellington Airport.

By rail

The North Island Main Trunk Line runs through the middle of town with the railway station being located south of the CBD. The Capital Connection commuter train stops once in the morning (heading to Wellington) and once in the evening (from Wellington).

See

Levin Public Library is known worldwide for its innovative library software, Koha. In 2012 the library was rebuilt and extended across the site of a former supermarket and renamed Te Takere. It now contains, in addition to books, a cafe, extensive computer facilities and many local treasures on display.

Do

One of the main attractions is a large adventure playground on the main street next to the information centre. There are also public swimming baths with a water slide which are fairly modern and reasonably priced. There is a movie theatre which has a reasonable line up of films. Levin has two theatres for amateur dramatic presentations, the Levin Little Theatre on Weraroa Road, next to Horowhenua College, which produces comedies, Christmas pantomimes, etc., and the Levin Performing Arts Society on Queen Street which is more oriented towards musicals.

Eat

• Star of India Takeaway, 225 Oxford St, ☏ +64 6 3676260, fax: +64 6 367 6261. M-Sa 11AM–2:30PM, daily 4–10PM. An Indian food takeaway shop. Excellent butter chicken. Lunch combo includes rice, naan, Coke and any curry for $11. 

Sleep

Waitarere Beach

• Waitarere camp grounds
• Bach accommodation
  • Dunes Homestay. 

Go next

• Otaki
• Shannon