Things to do in Taranaki
30 places worth stopping for and 20 places to stay on a road trip through Taranaki.
See and do
Walk · Dawson FallsHidden gem
Wilkies Pools
Lava-formed pools in the Kapuni Stream, a 20-minute walk from Dawson Falls Visitor Centre.
Garden · New Plymouth
Pukekura Park
Free lakeside park with a fernery, tea house and walking loops, a few minutes from the CBD.
- Walk
Walk · New Plymouth
Te Rewa Rewa Bridge and Coastal Walkway
Flat sealed coastal path past a curved arch bridge that frames Taranaki on a clear day.
- Museum
Museum · HāweraHidden gem
Tawhiti Museum
Quirky museum of life-sized scenes and scale models that bring South Taranaki's history to life.
- Waterfall
Waterfall · WhangamōmonaHidden gem
Mount Damper Falls
74 m waterfall on farmland off the Forgotten World Highway, reached by an easy farm track.
- Activity
Activity · Egmont National Park
Mount Taranaki summit climb
Challenging all-day climb of the 2,518 m volcano, for experienced and well-equipped walkers only.
Beach · Tongāporutu
Three Sisters and Elephant Rock
Sea stacks on a beach at the mouth of the Tongāporutu River, walkable at low tide.
- Scenic drive
Scenic drive · Taranaki
Surf Highway 45
Coastal road round the base of Taranaki from Ōakura to Hāwera, with surf breaks, black-sand beaches and the mountain in the mirror.
- History
History · PungarehuHidden gem
Cape Egmont Lighthouse
Squat cast-iron lighthouse on a windswept black-sand coast with Taranaki rising behind.
- Museum
Museum · New Plymouth
Puke Ariki
Museum, library and visitor centre on the waterfront, with Taranaki stories and a good rainy-day stop.
- Walk
Walk · New PlymouthHidden gem
Paritutu Rock
Short, steep scramble up a sea stack for views over the port, the Sugar Loaf Islands and the mountain.
- Garden
Garden · Taranaki
Pukeiti
Large rainforest garden in the Kaitake foothills, best known for rhododendrons in spring.
- Beach
Beach · Ōakura
Ōakura Beach
Black-sand surf beach west of New Plymouth with a lifeguard season and cafes in the village.
Waterfall · Dawson Falls
Te Rere o Kapuni (Dawson Falls)
Waterfall on the southern side of Taranaki, a short walk through mossy forest from the road end.
- Walk
Walk · Egmont National ParkHidden gem
Ahukawakawa Swamp
Alpine wetland on Taranaki's flanks, reached by a boardwalk walk from North Egmont.
- Wildlife
Wildlife · ElthamHidden gem
Lake Rotokare Scenic Reserve
Fenced predator-free reserve around a lake, with tracks and rare birds including kiwi and hihi.
- Walk
Walk · PukearuheHidden gem
White Cliffs walkway
Walk along the white cliffs of north Taranaki between Pukearuhe and the coast, with big sea views.
Gallery · New Plymouth
Govett-Brewster Art Gallery and Len Lye Centre
Contemporary art gallery with New Zealand's only gallery dedicated to a single artist, Len Lye.
- Walk
Walk · ŌkatoHidden gem
Ratapihipihi Scenic Reserve
A 45 minute loop in subtropical rainforest past a scenic waterfall.
- Viewpoint
Viewpoint · Stratford Plateau
Stratford Plateau lookout
A 30 minute walk to a lookout with views of Taranaki Maunga.
- Beach
Beach · ŌpunakeHidden gem
Ōpunake Beach and lake
Sheltered west-coast beach beside a small lake, with a patrolled summer swim and easy parking.
- Roadside oddity
Roadside oddity · New Plymouth
Wind Wand
Len Lye's 45 m red kinetic sculpture that bends in the wind, glowing at night.
- Walk
Walk · ŌakuraHidden gem
Lucy's Gully
Short bush walk in the Kaitake foothills just inland from Ōakura, with a stream and a cool swim in summer.
Museum · PāteaHidden gem
Aotea Utanganui – Museum of South Taranaki
Small regional museum in Pātea telling the story of the south Taranaki coast, including the Pātea Māori Club.
- Wildlife
Wildlife · New Plymouth
Sugar Loaf Islands Marine Park
Rocky islets off the port where you can see seals, and where kayak and boat trips run.
- Wildlife
Wildlife · Bell BlockHidden gem
Waipu Lagoons
Small coastal wetland on the edge of New Plymouth for birdwatching and an easy short walk.
Activity · Egmont National ParkHidden gem
Manganui Ski Area
Small volunteer-run club ski field on Taranaki, open when the snow lets it.
Roadside oddity · Stratford
Stratford glockenspiel clock tower
Clock tower that plays Romeo and Juliet through a glockenspiel three times a day.
- Beach
Beach · ŪrenuiHidden gem
Ūrenui Beach
Relaxed river-and-beach holiday village on SH3 with a safe estuary swim.
Viewpoint · Hāwera
Hāwera Water Tower
Art deco water tower you can climb for views over South Taranaki and the mountain.
Food stops
Places to stay
- Campground
Campground · KaimiroHidden gem
Volcanoview campsite
Farm campsite five minutes from North Egmont, with a cafe, hot showers and a view of the mountain.
- Campground
Campground · WaverleyHidden gem
Waverley Beach campground
Low-key beach campground near Waverley on the South Taranaki coast, check the council for current fees and rules.
Freedom camping · Opunake
Opunake Lakeside freedom camping
Free camping area beside a small lake in Opunake, a short walk from the beach and town.
- Holiday park
Holiday park · ŪrenuiHidden gem
Ūrenui Beach Camp
Family motor camp on a tidal river and beach, with a nine-hole golf course next door.
- Holiday park
Holiday park · New Plymouth
Fitzroy Beach Holiday Park
The only New Plymouth park on the beach, right on the Coastal Walkway.
- Holiday park
Holiday park · Ōpunake
Ōpunake Beach Holiday Park
Beachfront holiday park on Taranaki's west coast with powered sites, check current availability.
- Freedom camping
Freedom camping · KapongaHidden gem
Hollard Gardens freedom camping
Basic free car-park camping beside Hollard Gardens, no facilities.
- Holiday park
Holiday park · Stratford
Stratford Holiday Park
Pet-friendly park with hedged powered sites, an indoor heated pool and a 20-bed backpackers.
- Campground
Campground · ŌkaiawaHidden gem
Te Ngutu o te Manu Historic Reserve campground
Council-run camp at a Taranaki wars battlesite, on the southern ring plain.
- Holiday park
Holiday park · New Plymouth
New Plymouth Top 10 Holiday Park
Sheltered Fitzroy park with a heated pool, spa and sauna, a few minutes from the city.
- Holiday park
Holiday park · New Plymouth
Belt Road Seaside Holiday Park
Elevated sea-view park at the start of the Coastal Walkway, with EV fast charging.
- Freedom camping
Freedom camping · PukeitiHidden gem
Pukeiti Domain freedom campground
Free-camp domain on Carrington Road's western side with toilets, showers and water.
- Holiday park
Holiday park · ManaiaHidden gem
Kaupokonui Beach Camp
Beach camp at the Kaupokonui river mouth with power sites, showers and a dump station.
- Holiday park
Holiday park · ŌhaweHidden gem
Ōhawe Beach Camp
Small council beach camp near Hāwera with ten powered sites.
- Freedom camping
Freedom camping · New Plymouth
Lake Rotomanu freedom camping
Free lakeside camping spot minutes from New Plymouth city, with toilets.
- Freedom camping
Freedom camping · Pātea
Mana Bay freedom camping
Free beachfront camping at Pātea's Mana Bay with toilets and water.
- Holiday park
Holiday park · WaitaraHidden gem
Waitara Marine Park Motor Camp
Large riverside motor camp at Waitara with around 50 powered sites.
- Holiday park
Holiday park · Hāwera
Hāwera Holiday Park
Small town park a minute from the heated Powerco Pool Complex and the shops.
- Holiday park
Holiday park · PāteaHidden gem
Pātea Beach Motor Camp
Council-run beach motor camp at Pātea next to the Mana Bay surf beach.
- Holiday park
Holiday park · ŌnaeroHidden gem
Onaero Bay Holiday Park
Small bay-side holiday park at Ōnaero on the north Taranaki coast.
Plan the drive, not just the stops
Roadtrip works out what the drive costs in fuel for your car, splits it into days with the best stops and places to sleep, and finds the cheapest fuel on the way.
Rated 4.7 by drivers · 700,000 downloads
