Taranaki Attractions

Stratford - Stratford has New Zealand's only clock tower with a glockenspiel. Look out for the Taranaki Pioneer Village, which recreates the pioneering days of the early 20th century.

Waitara - A methanol plant, orchards and dairy farms are what make Waitara tick. Like many places in Taranaki there is a strong Maori contemporary and historical influence, such as the Manukorihi Pa at Owae Marae.

Patea - Set between Wanganui and New Plymouth, Patea has a very strong Maori heritage, which can be seen at the South Taranaki Museum.

Jerusalem - Once home to the Sisters of Compassion order of nuns and poet James K Baxter, Jerusalem is now known for its laidback environment and its native bush surrounds.

Pipiriki - Part of the Whanganui River experience, Pipiriki has an information centre located at Colonial House and is the starting point for a visit to the Bridge to Nowhere.

Opunake - Surfers and anglers gravitate to this, sometimes wild, beach. Also the birthplace of one of New Zealand's greatest athletes, Peter Snell. Check out the town's murals.

Inglewood - Nestled at the north eastern base of Mt Taranaki, this farming community has a toy museum and private wildlife park.

Eltham - Egmont National Park, the Lake Rotokare Walkway and the Te Ngutu-O-Te-Manu battlesite can all be accessed via Eltham. Also check out its wonderful selection of locally produced cheeses.

Marybank - Marybank is a settlement on the east bank of the beautiful Whanganui River, near the Wanganui airport.

Mount Taranaki - find a local guide to lead you to the summit.
Mount Taranaki’s well-developed network of tracks.

Egmont National Park’s Goblin Forest (named for its hanging mosses) to Wilkies Pools, a series of plunge pools formed by the scouring action of water-borne sand and gravel.

New Plymouth is known for its great parks, including the magnificent Pukekura Park (which hosts the annual Festival of Lights from mid-December to early Febuary), Nga Motu/Sugar Loaf Island Marine Park and Tupare Gardens.

Pukeiti, 25 minutes south of New Plymouth, a 320ha rainforest garden along grassed walking tracks. The garden has a magnificent rhododendron collection which flowers from September until November, but the garden is beautiful at any time of the year.

Paritutu Rock on the New Plymouth coast.

Whitecliffs Walkway – you can see Taranaki’s white cliffs and the ‘Three Sisters’ rock formations, then walk through the hand-carved Te Horo tunnel.

Mount Damper Falls. At 78 metres they are the second highest in New Zealand.

Tangarakau Gorge.

Moki Tunnel (built in the 1930s) takes you through the heart of a hill.