Palmerston North, New Zealand

PALMERSTON NORTH is the thriving capital of the province of Manawatu, and with around 75,000 people it's one of New Zealand's largest landlocked cities. After the arrival of the rail line in 1886, Palmerston North flourished, thanks to its pivotal position at the junction of road and rail routes. Today its identity is reflected in some fine civic buildings, notably an excellent museum and gallery and a stunning library, though there's no single must-see attraction. The term-time presence of students from Massey University makes the city a livelier place, with plenty of buzzy restaurants and bars but it's a place now made infamous because of a comment by John Cleese, "If you want to kill yourself but lack the courage, I think a visit to Palmerston North will do the trick." The town's response was to name the local rubbish dump after him.