Taranaki New Zealand

Waitara is the largest town in North Taranaki. It was one of the first areas in the region to be settled by Maori; consequently it has some important heritage sites. Manukorihi Pa is set above the town and features a magnificent carved meeting house, Te Ikaroa-a-Maui. Tours can be arranged.

On the first and third Sunday of each month, the Waitara Railway Preservation Society operates a return train ride to Lepperton. At one point the track has a 1 in 40 gradient - the steepest in New Zealand. The Waitara River, which flows through the town, is popular for fishing, boating and white water rafting. Bridge swinging is another fun river activity. 

The city of New Plymouth is known for its sunny climate, art galleries and beautiful parks. It is also New Zealand’s ‘oil town’, with offshore rigs extracting natural gas and oil.

Mount Taranaki provides a dramatic backdrop to the city, while reminding you that the hiking trails of the Egmont National Park are just a short drive away.

Down at the New Plymouth waterfront you’ll find Puke Ariki, a wonderful museum and heritage centre that overlooks a six kilometre coastal walkway. At any time of the year, Pukekura Park is a place to relax and enjoy nature. It has a children’s zoo and bush walks. Expect good shopping and an appetising selection of restaurants.

The country town of Inglewood is well positioned as a provisioning base for expeditions into the Egmont National Park. As well as a range of essential shops, the town has some unique places of interest – a toy museum and a hands-on wildlife park where you can pat possums, llama, rabbits, pigs and other furry and hairy beasts.

For a pleasant picnic, find Everett Park Scenic Reserve just northeast of Inglewood – it has swimming holes and a glow worm cave in a native forest setting.

The dramatic, snow-topped volcanic cone of Mount Taranaki is a spiritual and physical force in this region. The mountain is the source of over 50 rivers and streams, the home of many botanically unique plants, and the subject of many stories and legends. On sighting the mountain in 1642, explorer Abel Tasman said it was “the noblest hill I’ve ever seen”.

Now officially known as Mount Taranaki or Mount Egmont, the mountain was first called Taranaki by Maori.  Captain Cook then went on to name it Mount Egmont after John Perceval, 2nd Earl of Egmont, and the First Lord of the Admiralty, who promoted Cook’s first voyage.

In the Maori language, Taranaki means 'Gliding Peak', a name that ties to the legend of how the mountain came to its location. As the story goes, Taranaki once lived with the North Island’s other great volcanoes (Tongariro, Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe) but was banished for falling in love with Tongariro’s wife, a smaller volcano called Pihanga.

Considered New Zealand’s prettiest and most accessible mountain, 2518 metre Mount Taranaki boasts its own skifield (Manganui) and Egmont National Park.  It offers a wide variety of activities on rock, snow and ice from the summit to the sea.

Mount Taranaki has more than 300 kilometres of walking tracks, ranging from 10 minute nature walks to a three-day trek around the mountain.  You can hike to the top of Mount Taranaki with a professional guide and organised summit climbs run throughout February.  A drive along the heritage trail around Mount Taranaki can be driven in two hours or spread out over a day. 

Visitors enjoy the mountains assets, witnessing clear mountain streams and pools, mystical forests and alpine flora, unobstructed views overlooking the entire Taranaki region and much more.

Mount Taranaki was used as a backdrop for 2003’s epic movie “The Last Samurai” – starring Tom Cruise, who lived in the region for six months. Mount Taranaki was used because of its resemblance to Mount Fuji in Japan.

The mountain is susceptible to extreme weather conditions, and weather can change quickly without warning. Be prepared and tell somebody of your plans whilst in the National Park!

Established in 1900, the Egmont National Park is New Zealand’s second oldest National Park.  The area has a high annual rainfall and a mild coastal climate which gives it a lush rainforest covering the foothills.

Located within Egmont National Park and dominating the regions landscape from every conceivable angle, the picturesque Mount Taranaki is the North Island’s second highest mountain.  It is a dormant stratovolcano and at 2518 metres high is one of the most symmetrical volcanic cones in the world.

For those interested in botany, Egmont National Park makes it possible to observe the progression of plant species from surf to summit. The lowland forest is scattered with rimu and rata trees, which gradually make way for kamahi, totara and kaikawaka. The 'Goblin Forest', on the mountain's middle slopes, takes its name from the gnarled shape of the trees and the thick swathes of trailing moss. Above the forest you'll find sub-alpine scrub and alpine herbs. A comprehensive network of walking tracks provides access to the unique beauty of the park.

Nearly all the streets in the settlement of Stratford are named after Shakespearean characters. It’s pretty easy to guess why -Stratford-in-Taranaki was named to honour Shakespeare’s birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon.

If you’re planning to venture into the Egmont National Park, this town is a handy accommodation base or supply stop. It’s also the last fuelling point before the Forgotten World Highway – a wild 150 kilometre journey (with no service stations) that ends at Taumarunui.

Admire the glockenspiel in the town centre - it’s one of a kind in New Zealand. The figures in the glockenspiel are made by the well known curator of the Tawhiti Museum, Nigel Ogle of Hawera. He was commissioned to design and manufacture the figures. There are six in total, three of Romeo and three of Juliet. Nigel's ability to make the lifelike figures has gained an international reputation. The Glockenspiel 'plays' daily at 10am, 1pm, 3pm and 7pm. The glockenspiel performs for approximately 5 minutes, after the hour chimes are finished.The local pioneer village also delivers an interesting history lesson.

New Zealand's success as a dairying nation has many links to this rural town. Chinese businessman Chew Chong exported the country's first butter from Eltham to England in 1884. He also built the first dairy factory in 1887.

Historically, Eltham has been the most highly industrialised town (per capita) in New Zealand. Today, cheese is the town’s main claim to fame. Visitors to Eltham can enjoy the charming Victorian and Edwardian buildings; the walk around beautiful Lake Rotokare, which is fed by natural springs; and the chance to buy locally made gourmet cheeses.

A significant town on ‘Surf Highway 45’, Opunake has a magnificent crescent-shaped beach and a friendly community. Overnight options include motel and backpacker accommodation. There’s also a beach-front camping ground, although it’s usually filled to capacity over summer.

The Opunake Walkway is a great way to stretch your legs. Over 7 kilometres you’ll see Lake Opunake, the historic Armed Constabulary Cemetery, Waiaua River Mouth and historic Te Namu Pa. Opunake has a shopping centre and a choice of cafés. It’s regarded as a good place to eat fish and chips.

Hawera’s heart is in dairying, a fact reinforced by the giant cow icon that welcomes visitors arriving from the south. Around 13 million litres of milk are processed here every day, at the southern hemisphere’s largest dairy processing unit (a co-operative owned by the farmers). The dairy factory experience is Hawera’s leading attraction, but many visitors also come to see the town’s acclaimed museum. It features life size figures created from moulds cast from real people, to capture the past in an engaging way. The Hawera water tower is one of Taranaki’s best-known heritage landmarks – climb up for huge views of the green countryside. 

The South Taranaki town of Patea is the home of the outstanding Patea Maori Club, whose 80s hit Poi-E is still one of the country’s favourite songs.

Patea has a rich Maori and European history. A walk though the town will take you past many historic buildings and features, including the Aotea Memorial Waka, St George's Anglican Church and the building that houses the South Taranaki District Museum. The museum is an important archive for the South Taranaki district. Nearby Carlyle Beach and Mana Bay are popular venues for fishing, surfing and swimming.