He Ara Kotahi is a modern walking and cycling bridge over the Manawatū River at 129 Dittmer Drive in West End, Palmerston North, rated 4.8 by 408 reviewers. It's known for its striking design and after-dark illumination, and even keeps an electronic count of the pedestrians and cyclists who cross each day. The best footbridges do more than carry you across a river — they turn a crossing into a destination. Timing matters: a span that looks plain at midday can be transformed at dusk when the lights come on, which is why regulars plan visits around sunset. Expect a shared deck where cyclists and walkers mix, so keep left and let faster traffic through. Pairing a crossing with the riverside paths on either bank makes a satisfying loop. From Dittmer Drive you step straight onto He Ara Kotahi, and the hour before dark is the moment locals would choose.