From its white-snow peak to black-sand beaches, cool city cafes to jungle-green bush on lost highways, Taranaki guarantees to surprise each and every bend within the road.
Go to the seaside city of New Plymouth, for its galleries, festivals, cuisine and history. Get free from town (and that's not so far) for surf breaks, hikes, jaw-dropping gardens – along with a friendly welcome inside the province's many villages and towns.
Towering most importantly this, from every angle, is Taranaki Mounga (formerly Mt Taranaki).
In a rustic where it's pretty difficult to enhance nature, New Plymouth seems to do that. Served up a glorious coastal location, it adds world-class art, cuisine, gardens and walks, and tops them off with a laidback style.
No surprise that Lonely Planet calls the location “New Zealand's secret paradise”.
Things to accomplish in Taranaki
The Govett Brewster is one of our leading contemporary galleries. Nearby, behind its eye-stopping stainless-steel facade, the Len Lye Centre celebrates the locally born, globally renowned kinetic sculptor, film artist, painter and poet; his famous 48m-high Wind Wand is about the waterfront nearby.
In the center from the city, award-winning Pukekura Park is really a 52ha oasis of lush forest walks, lakes, streams, among the country's outstanding botanical gardens, historic Brooklands estate, zoo and colonial hospital.
Over summer time, the park glows with stunning installations for your TSB Festival of Lights; in mid-March, WOMAD – the concept of Music and Dance brings leading international performers to a joyful, funky, family-oriented festival centred round the Bowl of Brooklands stage, beautifully behind a lake inside a natural amphitheatre flanked by trees.
New Plymouth celebrates its reference to the ocean inside the award-winning Coastal Walkway, a 12.7km path that stretches past the city centre and showcases artworks and installations along with the famous black-sand beaches and dramatic west coast vistas.
Walking, running and cycling are encouraged; there are also free electric mobility scooters, available by contacting the brand new Plymouth District Council. Another Instagram spot: 83m-long Te Rewa Rewa bridge, its design recalling a breaking wave or whale skeleton.
The city's favourite beach is Fitzroy, site from the iconic Kiwi holiday park and home to a great surf break; Ngamotu is yet another popular spot.
Eating in Taranaki
For almost 150 years, dairy farming continues to be the backbone of Taranaki's prosperity. Recently, however, the region has been known to have an ever-expanding choice of food and drink.
Little wonder that chefs, brewers and distillers have formulated an energetic café, restaurant and bar scene according to riches found close to home.
Critics give high praise to places like the Hour Glass fine-dining and drinking establishment; Social Kitchen, inside the former Salvation Army Citadel, for sharing plates with big tastes.
There’s also Snug Lounge, a Japanese-inspired cocktail lounge; Fork n Knife for creative Kiwi cuisine; the Asian-inspired aromas of Arborio and the classic dishes of Gusto.
Several recently-opened city-centre hotels have brought high-end dining, too.
Venture around Taranaki
Taranaki's taonga don't visit New Plymouth – you're just starting out to locate the treasures from the unique corner of Aotearoa.
The mountain and it is surrounding Te Papakura o Taranaki (formerly Egmont National Park) are less than an hour’s drive.
The Pouakai Crossing is among New Zealand's best day walks, with mountain and ocean views, towering lava columns, the red-water Kokowai Stream, haunting Ahukawakawa Swamp and also the Pouakai Tarns, a legendary spot where mountain pools create a mirror reflection from the peak, before descending into peaceful forest.
Taranaki has two iconic highways Body famous around the world and also the other less travelled. Surf Highway 45 runs between New Plymouth and Hawera past 105km of black-sand beaches with surf breaks including perfect for beginners to people that's better left to experts, who flock all corners in the globe.
The Forgotten World Highway is a two-hour, 15-minute drive between Stratford and Taumaranui – if you take the “fast” lane.
It follows a horse track utilized by 19th-century pioneers, the road twists, turns, rises and falls past farms, forests and hamlets. Highlights range from the Moki Tunnel, Mt Damper Falls and Whangamomona, a village which declared itself a republic in 1989.
The slow route is one thing else. Forgotten World Adventures, located in Taumaranui, provides self-drive motorised rail carts running across the 142km heritage railway line to Stratford. These can be coupled with bike trails or jetboat tours around the Whanganui River. You can even overnight in the “republic”.
Alongside its buzzing arts and cultural scene, Taranaki is recognized for spectacular parks and gardens. You'll find seven gardens of national significance and one of international significance – Te Kainga Marire, a once-overgrown New Plymouth valley planted to imitate the 'real' Nz.
On the mountain's slopes, Pukeiti features rhododendron and colourful exotic plants in addition to trails via a large rainforest with native birdlife and streams of rare native fish.
The 10-day Taranaki Garden Spectacular in October-November showcases these and 50 mostly private gardens, because the Fringe Garden Festival, simultaneously, allows people to begin to see the region's multitude of plants and learn secrets from local garden gurus.
Taranaki has a history of eccentricity, and you'll find that at Hawera's Tawhiti Museum. Relaxing in a spead boat, glide using the dark to a Māori village, watch flax exchanged for muskets, duck a battle inside a pā where cannons fire over the bow. Morepork and seagulls call, there are glow-worms plus a wild pig.
Wanting to consider home greater than a memory of the stay? Pop into Kina NZ in New Plymouth's historic Exchange Chambers Building, where Nz artists exhibit jewellery, sculpture, ceramics, glass, prints, homewares and original paintings.
Percy Thomson Gallery is Stratford’s public memorial, recognised because of its thriving as well as other exhibition spaces and shop. In Eltham, The financial institution is definitely an eclectic design store featuring one-off pieces, homewares, contemporary and vintage furniture, in a old bank.
Getting around Taranaki
You'll require a vehicle to see the very best of the Taranaki region. Book your vehicle rental before you go with Air New Zealand or choose from the options whenever you land at New Plymouth Airport. For further on Taranaki, visit www.taranaki.info
Air New Zealand offers non-stop flights to New Plymouth from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, with connecting flights using their company regional centres. Pick from seat, seat+bag, flexitime or flexidate fares. Auckland-New Plymouth flight time: 50min; Wellington 60min; Christchurch 90min. Click here to reserve and for more details.
