Taranaki

Taranaki is a region in the west of the North Island and is the 10th largest region of New Zealand by population. It is named for the region’s main geographical feature, Mount Taranaki or Mount Egmont, Te Maunga O Taranaki in Maori and is the second-tallest mountain in the North Island.

The main center of the Taranaki region is the city of New Plymouth which has been voted the “Top City” in New Zealand.

With Taranaki’s epic surf, spectacular gardens, multitude of events, legendary mountain and countless outdoor and cultural adventures, it’s easy to see why the region prides itself on being a destination ‘like no other’.

The direct 45-50-minute flight from Auckland or Wellington will reaffirm your decision to visit Taranaki. Centred around a picture-perfect mountain, the lush regional countryside fertilised by countless eruptions over the centuries is simply stunning on a perfect day, framed on three sides by the endless Tasman Sea fingering the coastline with world-renowned surf swells. A scenic drive from major tourism centres such as Rotorua and Taupo, Taranaki enjoys full transport services by Air New Zealand Link and bus services.

Some of the top Taranaki attractions are:

Puke Ariki

A treasure trove of Taranaki’s history and culture, Puke Ariki is a world-class knowledge center where library, museum and visitor information are combined to tell the stories of Taranaki – past, present and future.

Taranaki Garden Festivals

Experience the most stunning range of gardens and events in New Zealand at the Taranaki Rhododendron and Garden Festival. The hospitality of Taranaki’s garden owners is what makes this event so unique. Every year visitors flock from all over New Zealand and overseas to the festival where they are encouraged to take the time to wander through the beautiful gardens and take part in many of the festival’s events.

Pukekura Park

Stretching along a river valley from the center of New Plymouth to near the city’s southern boundary, Pukekura Park is a Garden of National Significance that combines formal gardens with walks through native bush. Visitors to the park can enjoy the internationally regarded Fernery and Display Houses, visit Brooklands Zoo, the Japanese Hillside and Kunming Garden, and take a row boat onto the main lake.

Pukeiti

Pukeiti is New Zealand’s internationally recognised premier rhododendron garden and is one of Taranaki’s most visited attractions.

New Plymouth Coastal Walkway

This award-winning walkway stretches almost the entire length of New Plymouth, and gives visitors a close-up experience of the Tasman Sea. Walkers, runners, cyclists and skaters can travel its 7km (4.2 mile) length from the mouth of the Waiwhakaiho River in the east to Ngamotu Beach in the west, passing in front of the city’s CBD along the way.

In the depths of winter, the bi-annual Taranaki International Festival of the Arts heats up the region, literally and figuratively, with a program of wonderfully inspiring shows and activities.

Govett-Brewster Art Gallery

No trip to New Plymouth is complete without a visit to the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery. Regarded as New Zealand’s leading contemporary art museum, it’s home to the collection of celebrated modern artist Len Lye, who considered the Govett-Brewster to be the ‘swingiest art Gallery in the Antipodes. With over a dozen exhibitions each year and a special focus on art from Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific Rim, visitors can always expect an engaging and stimulating experience.

Helicopter flight over Mt Taranaki

A trip to Taranaki is not complete without seeing this beautiful region from the air in a helicopter. Take the trip of a lifetime and hover above Mt Taranaki and surrounding ranges of Pouakai and Kaitake that dominate Taranaki’s skyline in the Egmont National Park.

Forgotten World Highway 43

Forgotten is its name, but this route is really a journey of remembrance. A constant reminder of the determined settlers who tried, and most times failed, to scratch a living from its wild and isolated hill country. It’s no wonder this was New Zealand’s first Heritage Trail, with each of its special historic highlights signposted and explained along the way. If history is your passion, this highway is ideal.

WOMAD

WOMAD brings together people from all over New Zealand to enjoy the rhythms, sites and sounds. And it’s not just the music that entices the WOMAD audience. Captivating workshops for adults and children allow people to explore the diverse mix of artist performances, and a stroll through the Global Village offers good food and shopping.

Row Boats at Pukekura Park

A very popular way to relax in New Plymouth’s Pukekura Park is by hiring a rowboat on the main lake. The boats hark back to a bygone era, and are a charming way to explore the lake’s environs and get close to the ducks, and the occasional cormorant, that call the lake home. Rowers can glide beneath the iconic Poet’s Bridge, a wooden red span, that is almost as famous for its origins as it is for its much-photographed design.

Wakeboarding at Lake Rotorangi

Lake Rotorangi, the longest man-made lake in New Zealand at 46kms (27 miles), is a serenely beautiful location in a forgotten world that’s perfect for water sports. The lake is noted as NZ’s greatest wake boarding location.

Todd Energy New Plymouth Aquatic Centre

The whole family can take the thrilling, adrenalin-fuelled ride down the kamikaze or the two, twisty hydro slides. Flip yourself off the diving board; take a swim in the indoor wave pool or swing off the Tarzan rope. Fun for all ages, and you can enjoy this fantastic swimming center all year round.

Wind Wanderer Bikes

Wind Wanderers is a fun way to enjoy the coastal Walkway. Wind Wanderers are four-seater, pedal-powered bikes (or buggies). Great for families to enjoy the breathtaking ocean views of New Plymouth’s coastal walkway in a relaxed, fun and safe manner.

Surfing a Taranaki Wave

Ask any keen surfer what Taranaki offers them, and most will say the region’s 105km (63 mile) surf coastline that produces some of this country’s most legendary surf breaks. Surf Highway 45 is synonymous with the Tasman Sea swells that roll into sweeping deserted beaches, clipping reefs and sandbars along the way at perfect angles to ensure pumping waves and impressive barrels which thrill amateur and experienced surfers alike.

North Taranaki

With its intense Maori and colonial history, North Taranaki is an intriguing mix of beaches, golf courses, arts and crafts, gardens, walkways and sites of historic significance to all of New Zealand.

One of the first areas in New Zealand to be inhabited pre-dating the arrival of the great Maori fleets of the 14th century, the area was settled by four tribes tracing their ancestry to the great Tokomaru Canoe…Ngati Tama, Ngati Mutunga, Ngati Maru and Te Atiawa.

Shellfish beds, fishing grounds, forests and rich soil supported a large population, and swamps in the area have yielded treasured carvings placed in safekeeping during times of danger.

New Plymouth

This district is an eclectic mix of diverse cultures, contemporary style and a traditional friendliness that has fashioned New Zealand since colonial times. Boasting superb old architecture melded with contemporary design and art, the district is home to more than 70,000 people. Just 14kms (8.4 miles) from the Egmont National Park, the Stratford township is home to around 5500 people who are entertained daily by New Zealand’s largest Glockenspiel clock, which sees Romeo and Juliet emerge at 10am, 1pm, 3pm and 7pm daily.

Stratford

One of the region’s most historic areas, Stratford District is not only the gateway to Mt Taranaki, but its largest town. The town is also a living shrine to one of literature’s finest – William Shakespeare.

Originally named Stratford-upon-Patea by early settlers, the bustling center boasts street names taken from 27 of The Bard’s plays and enjoys a close relationship with other Stratfords around the world.

With dairying the area’s main industry, Stratford offers a huge range of rural activities, lush gardens, farmstays and sporting facilities, along with a nationally-reknowned speedway, racecourse and golf course.

South Taranaki

This district’s catchphrase is ‘Real Energy’ and that doesn’t just apply to the region’s major gas and oil resources. Wedged between Mt Taranaki’s majestic cone and the Tasman Sea, South Taranaki boasts sufficient outdoor pursuits to satisfy even the most thrill-seeking visitor. Don’t miss dropping down the Waingongoro River, climbing up Hawera’s historic water tower, ascending Mt Taranaki’s famous peak or downhill mountain biking for pure hedonistic pleasure.

South Taranaki is also a district steeped in history. From Parihaka Pa, the home of 19th century prophet Te Whiti and symbol of peace and passive resistance across the world, to Turuturu Mokai, the scene of bloody battles and beheadings, South Taranaki is a history-lover’s heaven. Much of this rich past is brought to life at Tawhiti Museum, where you can see realistic, life-sized mannequins within historic settings for a dramatic effect.