Ashhurst is sited 14 kilometres northeast of the Palmerston North city centre.

[4] Ashhurst's importance stems from its location at the western end of the Manawatū Gorge.

As such, it was close to the easiest road and rail link between the east and west coasts of the southern North Island.

There are four buses on weekdays and one on Saturdays linking Palmerston North with Ashhurst.

The Māori name for the area is Raukawa, after the native aromatic plant Pseudopanax edgerleyi, whereas for the town it is Otangaki.