A Traveller's Guide to Taranaki, New Zealand

The main, and obvious, thing about travelling to new and exciting places is that you get to see how other people and other cultures live. This is at the very heart of why we travel.

We want to see how people spend their day to day, what they get up to and entertain themselves with in this place they’ve decided to call home. It’s always fascinating seeing something extraordinary for the first time, when it is all so humdrum to the people who see it every day.

In many aspects, the best way to get the most out of a trip is through the eyes of a local. So, with that in mind, here are the top things you should do, see and experience when you find yourself fortunate enough to spend a while in Taranaki.

Obviously, this is the reason many people to flock to Taranaki. Whether you just want to soak in the sensational mountain views from almost anywhere in the region, or take a crack at hiking it, the mountain will provide the backdrop to practically everything you do. Summer is the time to tackle the mountain if you want to get to the peak. If you set off at about 2am you’ll be able to watch the sunrise from the crater and see the shadow of the mountain stretch over the ring-plain. That’s pure magic.

You’re going to be very busy travelling around this region. There is a lot to see and much to do, so you’ll need to fuel up a lot to keep yourself going. With that in mind, here are a few of our favourite spots around the region in which to, as New Zealanders are fond of saying, get a good feed. We’ve only been able to list a few of the many excellent options here, but if you want some good general advice, when it comes to lunch or dinner, focus on the seafood.

Although it might be a bit chilly at the time of year when this can be done, it’s possible to ride a snowboard in the morning and surf in the evening in Taranaki. Talk about one way to earn your evening beer! Head up to Manganui ski field in the morning and tear it up, then drive the 50 minutes to Back Beach in New Plymouth and enjoy some afternoon waves. On a fine day, and with the correct gear this is one of those things you’ll remember forever.

You’ll be spending a lot of time on your feet while exploring Taranaki. This is due to the kilometres of beautiful walks there are to enjoy, plus the things that it’s best to see by strolling about the numerous towns. Some of our favourite ways to spend a day on foot are at Pukekura Park – the beautiful and extensive botanical gardens that are located right in the middle of New Plymouth – and Brooklands Zoo, climbing through the rainforest tracks of the Kaitakes and walking (or preferably cycling) the very pretty coastal walkway. For this, start off in New Plymouth and rent a bike from Chaddy’s Charters, then cycle along to Rewa Rewa Bridge – an iconic structure modeled on the rib-cage of a whale.

When you need a little bit of downtime there is no better way to spend it than on one of Taranaki’s beautiful, black volcanic beaches. In the fierce summer sun, the black sand quickly reaches foot-roasting temperatures though, so the best way to avoid blistered soles is to run, stop and dig a hole with your feet to expose the cooler sand below. Repeat this process every 100 yards or so until you’ve found your perfect spot to set up base.