Ten Top Things in Taranaki

It’s the bulge on the left of the North Island but while it’s off the beaten track Taranaki has developed a style, culture and life of its own, and is unique within a very unique country.

Taranaki, or the Naki as it’s sometimes called, is an area dominated by a conical shaped volcanic peak, aptly named Mount Taranaki.  Also known as Mount Egmont, it is dressed by snow in winter and often shrouded in cloud.

New Plymouth is the main town, but while remote, it has a cosmopolitan feel after years of being the focal point of New Zealand’s offshore oil and gas industry.

Tourism Taranaki has created what must be one of the most enticing websites of any local tourism office in New Zealand with a grand opening phrase, “Welcome to the region, like no other”, and they have a point.

Just a little bit of surface scratching will reveal a treasure trove of things to keep you busy.

To get you started, here are just ten:

Mount Taranaki – New Zealand’s most perfectly formed volcano

We have to start here as it dominates the region and like so many other places in New Zealand, it has a Maori legend.

Mount Taranaki is said to be heart-broken after a fight with fellow volcano Mount Tongariro in the central North Island, over love for pretty Mount Pihanga.

After losing the struggle Mount Taranaki was banished to the remote west of the North Island – the clouds over its peak hide the tears shed for his lost sweet-heart.

Sad or not, Mount Taranaki is one the best outdoor playgrounds in the country.

There’s 200kms of walking and hiking trails, some up, some around and some through places like the Goblin Forest.

You can traverse the Pouakai Crossing, build a snowman in winter or soak in the naturally scoured Wilkies Pools in summer, and explore the walks around Dawson Falls.

The mountain has to be on your bucket list and if you are feeling up for it, take a guided tour to the top.   

As the only peak for miles around the weather changes quickly, so a guided climb is advisable.  

Safety has to be top of mind when tackling Taranaki.

Arts and culture – a creative destination

For a place three hours from another town of similar size, it may be surprising to hear New Plymouth has New Zealand’s first and only museum of contemporary art, the Govett-Brewster.

A curved, mirrored, stainless steel exterior makes it a work of art in itself, with the appearance of a very large hall of mirrors.  

Its latest addition is the Len Lye Centre, another first as New Zealand’s only institution dedicated to a single artist, the pioneering filmmaker and kinetic sculptor, Len Lye.

Here you can enjoy exhibitions of local and international artists, gaze at kinetic sculptures, enjoy the event and education programmes, and even watch an arthouse film.

Art is everywhere in New Plymouth, inspired by its dramatic location between the pounding surf of the Tasman Sea and awe-inspiring Mount Taranaki.

One of the most dramatic works of art is along the town’s Coastal Walkway, the 45 metre high Wind Wand, also a Len Lye work.  

Constantly swaying, the sculpture reflects coastal life and energy, even at night when its globe-shaped end emits a soft red light.

If history is an interest try visiting the Tawhiti Museum, widely regarded as the best private museum in the country, featuring thousands of life-size models and figures telling Taranaki’s history.

Cycling – it’s not a race, it’s a journey

Back to some adventure and if you are a cyclist Riding the Forgotten World is a journey into another age.

Your first impression may be this is a serious ride – 180 km long, total ascent of 2017 metres, and not much civilisation.  But this is the attraction, and the scenery and opportunity to see the real heartland of New Zealand is second to none.

One highlight on-route is a visit to the settlement of Whangamomona, a self-styled republic that even has its own passport, available from the town’s pub The Whangamomona Hotel, the most remote in the country.  Without a lot else along the way this is a place to rest a while.

Taranaki has many cycle paths and tracks, so to find out more check out New Plymouth Mountain Bikers or go to Where to Bike in Taranaki.

New Plymouth – a garden city

With volcanoes comes great soil, perfect for beautiful gardens and flowers and Taranaki has plenty.  

Whether you are green fingered or just like the beauty of a well-kept garden, you can go on a horticultural tour here and never be bored.

There are private gardens, public parks, reserves, arboretums, heritage homesteads and grounds, you name it.  

The best way to plan a tour is to look at the 100% Pure New Zealand site.

And every late October and early November there is the Taranaki Fringe Garden Festival, said to be New Zealand’s largest garden festival.  This is ten days of around 50 gardens being open and on-show, some being nationally or internationally significant.

Taranaki has six gardens of ‘national significance’, five gardens of ‘significance’, and one garden of ‘international significance’ – Te Kainga Marire garden.

Surf Highway 45 – six foot and glassy

Surrounded by vast oceans there’s surfing in every direction in New Zealand and in Taranaki its part of culture, folklore, history and life itself – even the road around Taranaki’s coast is call Surf Highway 45.

People have come here for generations to surf and because Taranaki protrudes into the Tasman, there are waves whatever the direction of the weather and swell.

There’s legendary surf at Stent Road, the Kumara Patch and Rocky Point as well as Arawhata Road, Mangahume, Back Beach and Fitzroy Beach.

Taranaki is also home to some of the nation’s top board shapers and a network of iconic surf shops where you can pick up local knowledge, enjoy a coffee and see some surfing history and memorabilia.

There are plenty of surf clubs in the area like the New Plymouth Surf Riders, Oakura Board Riders and Opunake Board Riders, as well as lots of events.

So for a place to go on a surfing tour for a few days, Taranaki is about as good as you can get.

Teeing off in Taranaki

Here’s another idea for a tour.  There are around twenty golf clubs in Taranaki, plenty to keep you busy for a few days or a huge choice if you just want a round.

The great thing about golf in this region are the lush courses and good prices.

For a real bargain head to the rural Strathmore Golf Course, with nine holes, 14 tees and a green fee of $2.  

Yes, that’s right, the price of half a cup of coffee!  Playing here will be worth it just so you can tell your golfing mates.

At the other end of the scale the New Plymouth Golf Course is $60 a round.  A four times venue for the New Zealand Open Championships here you will enjoy sea views and four par-3s regarded as some of the best in the country.

Most Taranaki courses are about $20 for 18 holes, an absolute snip.

If you want to find out more click here.

Take a walk on the wild side – Coastal Walkway

Sandwiched between the rugged coastline and the ever-changing sea is the New Plymouth Coastal Walkway, a perfect place to blow out cobwebs and have a walk on the wild side.

At nearly 13 kms it is a multi-award winning promenade stretching almost the entire length of the City of New Plymouth.  And while called a walkway you can also bike, skate, blade or run.  

Along the way there are a variety of impressive objects such as the Te Rewa Rewa Bridge, another local award winner.  

Resembling a breaking wave or whale skeleton, this steel structure crosses the Waiwhakakaiho River and was recognised at the International Bridge Conference Awards 2011, winning the Arthur G. Hayden Medal.

There’s also the Wind Wand and if it’s a hot day try stopping at the Todd Energy Aquatic Centre, complete with hydroslides for some fun.

Petrol head escapades

Excitement, quirkiness and lots of fun are three guarantees at two very unusual events this New Zealand Autumn – the PSP New Zealand Jetsprint Championships and Lepperton Ride-On Lawnmower Racing.

Jetsprint involves jet-boats with a crew of two, racing against the clock through a twisting series of channels in less than a metre of water.  

On Sunday 28th February the national championships comes to the Waitara Raceway, 14 kms east of New Plymouth, along State Highway 3.

This unusual type of speed boat racing started in 1981 and was made possible by the Kiwi inventor Bill Hamilton, who built the first jet boat in 1954.  

The now famous Hamilton Jet engine allows boats to travel at high speed through shallow water and has become the foundation for jetboating tours across New Zealand including those in Queenstown and Rotorua.

Jetsprinting used to take place in natural braided streams but now purpose built tracks designed for spectators are more common.  Racing is fast and loud, with boats usually powered by V8s developing well over 500 hp.

The other quirky event is land-based and even more unusual.

The Lepperton Ride-On Lawnmower Derby takes place at Lepperton Primary School on Saturday 21 March from 10am – 3pm.  

There is even a Ride-On Lawnmower Racing Association in New Zealand, which says this is the cheapest motor sport in New Zealand.  

A great demonstration of Kiwi ingenuity combining with a love of motor racing, this is a family day out with a Drift Go Kart demonstration, Bouncy Castle, Laser Tag and Quad Bike Rides all jam-packed into five hours between 10am and 3pm.

The Sound of Music

Taranaki has grown up in the last few years as a destination for international music principally because of WOMAD (the World of Music and Dance), which has made New Plymouth its home for the last 12 years.

Co-founded by Peter Gabriel in 1980, WOMAD has held over 160 festivals in 27 countries, involving 2,500 artists from over 100 countries.  Its live audience has been over 1 million people.  

WOMAD is a family festival, with lots to do including art, music and dance workshops, and of course live performances by international artists.    

This year it will be held from 18-20 March 2016 at the TSB Bowl of Brooklands, in Pukekura Park, often described as one of the most desirable outdoor music venues in the world.

The long and the short of it

Aside from adventure, water sports, climbing mountains and being energetic, if you just want to enjoy the City of New Plymouth, that’s fine too.

Here in a corner of New Zealand a vibrant café and restaurant culture has grown up, with Taranaki becoming renowned for its local produce, innovative cuisine and international flair.

According to TripAdvisor some of the best restaurants are Kathkali (Indian), The Hour Glass (Tapas style), Pekaren (authentic Italian pizza), Table (international with a Kiwi twist) and Arborio in the Puke Ariki Museum and Library (contemporary cuisine).

The world famous café culture of New Zealand hasn’t left Taranaki untouched boasting some of the best café names for a long black, flat white or piccolo, including: Chaos, Holy Guacamole, Gusto, Ozone Beanstore and Salt.   

New Plymouth is about a five hour trip from Auckland or around 360 kms depending on the number of detours you make along the way!

While you could fly or get a bus, by far the best way to enjoy the journey is to hire a car and we always have some awesome deals at New Zealand Discount Car Rentals.

Enjoy your trip to “the Naki” – remember we drive on the left and please Drivesafe.

Have fun!