DANNEVIRKE Dannevirke is reasonably sized town that is proud of its Scandinavian history and background. The fact that the name Dannevirke has survived bears testimony to the loyalty the early settlers and their descendants have protected. Dannevirke in on State Highway 2 and is a part of the Manawatu region. Dannevirke is in a different weather system to Waipukurau and is to 10 degrees cooler than Waipuk on a warm day. The Manawatu is a wet and cool climate, the Hawkes Bay warm and dry. The Dannevirke for which the town was named is an extensive Viking-age fortification line which had a strong emotive symbolic role for 19th Century Danes, especially after the site had fallen into German hands in the German-Danish War of 1864 - a recent and very painful event for these settlers. It is the major town of the administrative district of Tararua, the easternmost of the districts in which the Manawatu. The surrounding area has developed into dairy and sheep farming, which now provides the major income for the town's population of 6,000. Dannevirke has a full complement of shops in along Main Street. Dannevirke has a magnificent war memorial located near the town proper in a memorial park. There are a number of churches. The Dannevirke Museum is open most days and gives a good insight to the Viking heritage of the town. The town boasts a number of Hotels. When visiting Dannevirke allow half a day if not staying over.