Awatapu College is located in West End, a suburb of Palmerston North, at the bend of Botanical Road.

A book about the school's first ten years said: "It was an ancient name which celebrated a forgotten event in the history of the tangata whenua – the Rangitāne people, whose ancestors had for many centuries padded along the bush tracks or splashed up the creek from the river to enjoy the bounty of Awatapu.

[7] The original uniform, selected by founding principal John Wall, was distinguished by its chocolate brown and gold colour scheme.

This choice was partly influenced by the availability of pre-existing school uniform designs and the principal's own preference for those colours at the time.

The uniform included brown sweaters and gold-coloured shirts, creating a distinctive appearance that led to the informal nickname "Pineapple Lumps" or "Bumblebees" among students and the wider Palmerston North community.

The new uniform included black sweaters, white shirts, tartan-patterned skirts, aligning with a more contemporary and neutral aesthetic.

While some alumni viewed the change as a loss of a unique school identity, the updated uniform was generally well-received, with students appreciating its modern and professional appearance.

In 2013, many older magazines were scanned and uploaded to the school's website by former College Archivist Dr Sue Stirling, making them available for anyone to download and view.

Awatapu has an annual sports exchange with Cullinane College, Whanganui for junior students (Years 9, 10 and occasionally, but rarely 11) generally competing in basketball, netball and rugby union.