Taranaki Must Do's

Most visitors venture to Taranaki to climb the enormous cone-shaped mountain. But there's a lot more to Taranaki than first meets the eye.

There are plenty of other exciting things to keep you in Taranaki longer than you planned. 

Egmont National Park

Egmont National Park, which includes Mount Taranaki, offers fascinating outdoor adventures.

• Hike to the top with a professional guide. Previous snow and ice climbing experience is required in winter.
• There are more than 300 kilometres of walking tracks, ranging from ten-minute nature walks to a three-day trek around the mountain.
• Join a local Maori guide, and explore the ancient tracks and secret tribal places. Finish with a fun-filled 14-kilometre downhill cycle ride.
• Between June and October, the Stratford Mountain Club operates the mountain's only ski field, visitors are always welcome.
• Fly over Mt Taranaki in a helicopter - voted by locals as the region's no 1 must-do activity.

Captivating coast with deluxe surf breaks

With a coastline that curves from north-facing to west-facing and around to the south, the waves in Taranaki just keep on rolling. Explore one of New Zealand's best surf regions.

• Cruise Surf Highway 45 to all the top surfing spots.
• Take surfing and windsurfing lessons, or try tandem-surfing with an expert.
• Cruise to the Sugarloaf marine park to encounter seals and other marine life.
• Climb volcanic Paritutu Rock for spectacular coastal views.
• Visit the Cape Egmont lighthouse. It's a wonderful spot for photography with distant Mount Taranaki as a backdrop.
• Step out along the five-hour Whitecliffs Walkway. Discover the famous white cliffs and Three Sisters rock formations then walk the hand-hewn Te Horo tunnel.

Art, history and culture

Taranaki offers endless opportunities to discover new perspectives that refresh and rejuvenate your soul. Enjoy Taranaki's art, history, and culture by visiting some of these attractions.

• Visit Puke Ariki, a world-class museum and heritage centre on New Plymouth's waterfront.
• Walk New Plymouth's seven-kilometre coastal walkway, past sculptures, beaches, rock pools and rivers.
• Take a guided historical tour. Learn about the Taranaki Land Wars of the 1800s and the remarkable passive resistance movement.
• Visit the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, a contemporary art museum.
• Explore the social and technological heritage of early Maori and European settlers at Tawhiti Museum.
• Shop for contemporary Maori and European arts and crafts.
• Have fun at Fun Ho! National Toy Museum. See 3000 locally made toys dating from 1936.
• Tour some of the region's boutique wineries and breweries.
• Visit the film locations of The Last Samurai, starring Tom Cruise.

Blooming marvelous gardens

Taranaki is home to 17 gardens of national or regional significance; that's about a quarter of New Zealand's total.

• Visit Pukekura Park and Brooklands to enjoy the fernery and display houses, as well as a children's zoo, forest walks and peaceful lakes.
• Pukeiti is internationally recognised for its rhododendron collection set in 360 hectares of native forest.
• Tupare in New Plymouth and Hollands in Kaponga are two of New Zealand's finest heritage gardens.
• King Edward Park in Hawera features the world's only 'Wendy' statue - the partner to Kensington Garden's 'Peter Pan'.
• At all times of the year, dozens of private gardens can be viewed by appointment.
• In late October and early November, Taranaki celebrates its wonderful gardens with The Taranaki Rhododendron and Garden Festival and the Taranaki Fringe Garden Festival.