Lisa B.'s
Iconic Landmarks
- 11Wind WandNew Plymouth CentralThis is probably the most iconic thing about Taranaki, it’s the most well known with it attracting many visitors every single day! It was designed by the famous artist Len Lye, and is a whopping 48 metres high with a ‘wand’ that sways in whatever direction the wind is blowing, hence the name. It’s made out of fiberglass and the best part is that it’s on the coastal walkway for everyone to see!
- 24Cape Egmont LighthousePungarehuNot many people know that this lighthouse was actually made in England in 1865 and assembled in Wellington to be kept there! But after too many boat accidents it was disassembled and came to live in Taranaki where it has remained ever since! There’s always a heap of visitors on a good day, with plaques every now and then up the staircase about the lighthouse’s history. And when you get to the top, it’s so beautiful it’s well worth the trip out!
- 34Govett-Brewster Art GalleryNew Plymouth CentralIf you couldn’t guess by now, Taranaki really loves the work and design of Len Lye, there’s now a whole new section in the art gallery that has been created just for him called the ‘Len Lye Centre! The exterior design of the building is beautiful, with wave like curves that are mirrored and distort you if you stand in front of them! At sunset it reflects the light and looks absolutely stunning!
- 41Te Rewa Rewa BridgeFitzroyWith huge white bone like structures that curve beautifully around the mountain in the distance, this is seriously a landmark to visit in Taranaki! Whether you start here and walk towards town, or start at the port and do a massive walk to the bridge, either way this part of the coastal walkway has to be a stop with photo opportunities! It’s right next to Lake Rotomanu too, another bonus view you can get by visiting here!
- 51Sugar Loaf IslandsNew Plymouth CentralThese islands are something I grew up learning about at school, it has a lot of our history and they’re just really cool! To get to see these beauties, you’ll have to take a little trip on the Chaddy’s Charters boat, or if you know someone with a boat, you could always bribe them! I love seeing the seals and penguins sunbathe on the rocks on sunny days and some even swim alongside the boat!
Lisa B.'s
Tops Spots To Explore Nature In
- 14Dawson Falls RoadendEgmont VillageThis is our little natural wonder, although it’s not that small, we like to thing it’s a special addition to our region! Going in the early hours when daylight is only just breaking makes it such a beautiful sight, it’s still a bit misty from the cold night but the light just shines through. The trail leading to the waterfall is nice too, it’s not too strenuous so most people can do it without any problems.
- 21ParatutuMoturoaParatutu is Taranaki’s natural climbing wall in a way, it’s a giant rock that can be seen from almost everywhere, I’ve been up at least 50 times! It starts off with simple steps, but don’t underestimate these as they’re probably the hardest part! Then half way up all you get is a chain, if you haven’t done it before it may be a little difficult, but just take your time and watch your footing and you’ll be a local in no time!
- 31Whitecliffs WalkwayNew Plymouth CentralThis walk is not for the faint hearted, it’s a 5 hour long ‘there and back’ walk taking in some of the most beautiful coastal views Taranaki has to offer. I don’t even know if I could do it as it takes some fitness and motivation to finish it! It’s the equivalent to walking from New Plymouth to Mount Messenger! But the rewards once you finish are so worth it, you’ll have a day of exercise as well as bragging rights that you walked all the way to Mount Messanger!
- 41Stony River WalkwayOkatoStarting in Okato and finishing along the Stony River (hence the name), this track is 4 km long and is a great way to throw yourself into nature and stay off the smartphone for a few hours! Just as a warning, a lot of the track goes through private land with electric fencing, so just be careful not to touch them and respect the land! It’s home to the memorial to the Okato pioneer and his family and heaps of native trees!
- 53Pukeiti RainforestNew Plymouth CentralI feel like Pukeiti is one of the best places in Taranaki to immerse yourself in nature and be one with the trees! It feels like there’s hundreds of different paths you can take, with each showing off a different set of flowers or plants. Pukeiti is famous for their collection of rhododendrons, with many different varieties that they can even call themselves a rainforest! I love the treehouses they have scattered around to give you a higher view of the flora and fauna.
Lisa B.'s
New Openings
- 11PolpettaNew Plymouth CentralMeatballs are an underrated food, but at Polpetta they get the respect they deserve! You choose what you eat too. With seven different balls, including a vegetarian and vegan option, you choose your sauce and also what everything sits on such as mashed potato, risotto, or spaghetti! They have really thought abut their customer base and what the people in New Plymouth like to eat, and I would happily eat anything on their menu! Their pesto sauce is to die for, and their ever changing risotto is an experience in itself!
- 21Public CateringNew Plymouth CentralPublic Catering is a café fit for a big city, but is situated in little ol’ New Plymouth! Not only do they cater events and functions, but they have their own little eatery and a lush courtyard filled with greenery! Their food is top notch, and everything they sell is cage free, free range, and from sustainable sources, as well as sourcing locally and throughout the country! I can’t rave about them enough and have brought three family members in to try their food!
- 31The Cheese PlatterBlagdonWho doesn’t love cheese, it goes with literally almost anything! Even deserts have cheese in them, so why not have a local cheese shop to satisfy your cheesy cravings! The team at the Cheese Platter import from around the globe, including Italy, France, and Spain, to really bring you that authentic flavour! I’ve heard what people have been loving the most is that they can bring their own containers and choose the amount of cheese to buy, saving on money and wastage!
- 41Black PepperNew Plymouth CentralIf you’re an older gal and have a bit of trouble finding good quality yet trendy clothing stores, the recently opened Black Pepper may just be the right place for you! Although I wouldn’t exclude others from this shop, heck I would even wear some shirts from here! Everything is free flowing and looks so nice and comfortable to wear!
Lisa B.'s
Things To Do When You're A Tourist
- 13Chaddy's ChartersMoturoaChaddy’s Charters is a bit of a special spot for Taranaki, for it holds information about our coast, and the Sugar Loaf Islands that can’t be found anywhere else! The boat ride out to the Sugar Loaf Island can be a bit choppy, but once you get there you'll get to see the islands with the penguins and seals! Back on shore, there’s a little sheltered building separate from the shop which tells you all about our marine life and their habitats, it’s really awesome and informative!
- 21Rewi Alley CottageWaverleyLocated inland from Waverley, about an hour and and twenty minutes inland actually, lies the restored Cottage of Rewi Alley, a farmer who later did well known work in China. It’s not recommended to take an average car to get here, because of the road being almost non existent for most of the way there, a 4WD or a mountain bike is the best way to go. Once you get there it will be well worth the extra effort. This cottage is almost 100 years old and the views are awesome!
- 31Aotea Memorial WakaPateaThis is the very pinnacle of heritage and culture for Taranaki, Patea is one of the few places now that still have awesome traditional structures like this! The waka was constructed in 1933 so it’s over 80 years old and commemorates when Patea was first settled in by Turi and his hapu. On one side it has a paragraph explaining in Maori, the right side has the same paragraph but translated into English so many can learn this story!
- 43Tawhiti MuseumHaweraIf you’re someone who who loves to dig deep and enrich themselves with culture and history, Tawhiti is somewhere you need to definitely visit! Although it’s labeled as a museum, it’s more of a showcase of what Taranaki was, and still is to this day. They even have an actual boat ride that takes you through historical dates and events throughout Taranakis’ history called ‘Traders and Whalers’. Everything is made on site in their body shop which you can also view.
- 51St Mary's CathedralNew Plymouth CentralThis is one of the oldest standing stone churches in New Zealand, at 170 years old and first opening in 1846. Unfortunately, it has just recently become closed to the public for earthquake strengthening, which has saddened many who come here every week, but the building can definitely still be appreciated from the exterior and surrounding landscapes! The photo opportunities here are spectacular, especially towards dusk when the lighting is perfect!
Lisa B.'s
Best Regional Parks
- 11Egmont National ParkStratfordHome to our stunning mountain, this national park holds some of our most treasured gems, such as Dawson Falls, the Pouakai and Kaitake Ranges, and the Kamahi Loop Track which is home to Goblins Forest! Not to mention that you can freely climb Mount Taranaki right to the summit, although it is highly recommended to have a guide or someone who is confident in the climb to go with you; it tests even the fittest of people, taking around six hours to make it to the top!
- 27Pukekura ParkNew Plymouth CentralPukekura Park is by far the most popular, well known, and most beautiful park in Taranaki, many people out of town always have it on their to-do lists when visiting! It’s especially popular during early December and late February when the TSB Festival of Lights are on. It has a lovely little Tea House by the main lake where you can sample their famous creamy homemade fudge, and even buy a pack to take home to your locals! This is also a great place for a morning run if you can’t miss an exercise day!
- 31Everett ParkInglewoodIf you’re a traveler who loves to pack homemade picnics, and spend the day relaxing in a cool river, make sure you spend a good few hours at Everett Park, just East of Inglewood. They have fully functioning toilets on site and a huge grass area where you can bathe in the Taranaki sun after you’ve had your swim or your food! If you’ve got a pooch, awesome, bring them along too!
- 43Technically this is classified as a park, even though it’s a beach, but it still counts! This has got to be one of, if not the best spot on the warmer days, especially when you’ve got kids visiting with you. Oakura is only a fifteen minute drive out of the West of New Plymouth from the CBD, so it’s very easy and convenient to get to. If your lucky you might catch the Movenpick ice cream cart around the beach, you won’t regret spend the extra money on a delicious ice cream!
- 53Hollard GardensKapongaThis one is for the green thumbs, hobby horticulturists, and nature lovers out there, Hollard Gardens will not disappoint! With rich biodiversity, a natural wood playground for the kids, and a barbeque area, it seriously can’t be missed! There’s two trails to explore, Bernie’s track and Rose’s track, each with their own hidden paths and structure to find! It was actually Bernie and Rose Hollard who founded Hollard Gardens, so come and check out their life’s work!
Lisa B.'s
Mountain Biking Trails
- 11Forgotten World Highway Regional RideWhangamomonaThis bike trail isn’t for the faint hearted, it’s over 2 or 3 days depending on which route you take and what your pace is. That being said, this is definitely something not many people know about that needs to be put on your bucket list! The thrill of just travelling to a different area of the country just on your bike is amazing, and needs to be experienced at least once. It goes from Taumarunui to New Plymouth, and don’t worry too much about the traffic, theres only 200 cars a day on the main road!
- 23Lake MangamahoeNew Plymouth CentralOne of my favourite places to visit, now I’ve found out there’s a million tracks to ride your bike on here too! This lake is like an endless supply of bike trails, with dozens of different directions or paths to follow, you could almost customise your own track! There a bit of an easy track in the forested area to the right of the lake, but the rest is more for experienced or at least intermediate bikers as it can be a bumpy ride!
- 31Busing ForestInglewoodThere are five trails within Busing Forest, many of which are short, but totally awesome once you get on them! There are several that actually start from Scout Road and they are the longer ones; watch out for the ‘Hill Top & River Run’ and the ‘Gravel Road Return to the Top’! The total time may take around an hour to complete, but it really is an enjoyable ride, especially the 600 metre hill top trail!
- 41Lake Rotomanu Dirt Jump ParkFitzroyThis bike track is entirely man made, and is kept up to scratch just with volunteers! If you didn’t pay attention you’d probably never know it’s there but once you get inside you’ll be amazed at what the people have done! In a way, if a motocross track and an intensely hilly mountain track had a baby, this would be the child; a great new edition to the biking family! You will definitely need some experience before taking this one on!
- 53Huatoki WalkwayNew Plymouth CentralIt’s not exactly mountain biking but 90% of the trail is in the bush with the ease of a pathway rather than dirt to make it easier for children and elderly riders. This is one of the most enjoyable rides in the city, as you could go as slow and almost as fast as you want! I love that it starts more inland where it is bushier, and slowly the environment gets more urban depending how far you go!