Another new business is about to join the 14 that have opened in Palmerston in the past two and a-half years.
The Seasider train, which runs twice a week between Dunedin and Palmerston, has inspired two Palmerston businesswomen to set up a tour business.
Palmerston Breakaway Tours has been developed by Sharon Linklater, of Linklaters Garden, near Palmerston, and Annette Rosanowski, of the Pioneer Motels, in Palmerston.
Acting on concerns from some business owners that Seasider passengers were in Palmerston for only 45 minutes, Mrs Linklater and Mrs Rosanowski took the opportunity offered by the trains being run on successive days on three occasions in late December and January, to set up Palmerston Breakaway tours.
Passengers from Dunedin who arrived in Palmerston could stay until the train left the following day, Mrs Rosanowski said.
Tour bookings could be made at the Taieri Gorge Railway office at the Dunedin Railway Station up to two working days before each trip, she said.
Tours could be booked in conjunction with a Seasider train ticket on December 28, January 16 and January 19.
Passengers would return on the following day's train, leaving Palmerston at 11.50am Passengers would be met at Palmerston railway station and have an opportunity to shop before visiting the Linklater garden.
This would be followed by a bus tour around the Goodwood farming district, guided by Chris Cox, president of the Palmerston Museum Society.
Some Palmerston shops would be open in the evening and the Palmerston museum could be opened on request.
Walking tours could also be arranged. A guided bus tour of the Macraes area would leave at 8am the following day and after morning tea at Stanleys hotel, the tour would return to Palmerston to connect with the train to Dunedin, Mrs Rosanowski said.
