New
Plymouth is the main center of the Taranaki
region. It is a bustling city with population
around 70,000. The city is renowned for
its beautiful parks and gardens (Pukekura
being one of the main ones), where cultural
events frequently take place. Besides
its famous gardens and parks, Pukekura
also has a popular waterfront area with
a paved multiuse path traversing the coastline. More...
New
Plymouth is the main center of the Taranaki
region. It is a bustling city with population
around 70,000. The city is renowned for
its beautiful parks and gardens (Pukekura
being one of the main ones), where cultural
events frequently take place. Besides
its famous gardens and parks, Pukekura
also has a popular waterfront area with
a paved multiuse path traversing the coastline.
New Plymouth is considered the northern
gateway to the region for those who want
to explore Egmont National Park, the natural
area surrounding Mt Taranaki. New Plymouth
has plenty of accommodations and dining
options, making it the prefect base for
exploring the national park.
Mt Taranaki (formerly known as Mt Egmont)
is the dominating natural feature of the
region. This huge cone-like shaped mountain
rising straight from the sea level to
8,261 ft/2,518m is one of the most symmetrical
volcanic cones in the world. It is rare
to see the snow-covered top of Mt Taranaki,
because most of the year it is shrouded
in clouds; but when the weather allows,
the view is simply magnificent. Less...
The best
time to visit Taranaki region is during
the summer months and early autumn (southern
hemisphere), when the maritime weather
is calmer and at its warmest. The days
are also at their longest, so one can
take advantage of exploring the local
beaches and/or visiting some of the areas
of interest such as Lucy’s Gully
redwoods grove. If you are planning to
visit during December and January, it
is advisable that you make reservations
for lodging ahead of time. Less...
Climate
and Weather
The weather of the Taranaki region is influenced by Mt Taranaki; the summers are generally warm and relatively humid, while winters are mild and wet. The Taranaki region, especially the area surrounding Mt Taranaki, is one of the wettest in New Zealand. The moist winds from the Tasman Sea are trapped by the huge mountain and pushed into freezing heights, where the warm moist air they carry rapidly cools and falls down in form of rain. The average maximum temperature in New Plymouth is 70ºF (20.5ºC) in January and around is 53ºF (11.5ºC) in July. The wind, which can be strong at times, blows predominantly from the west. Less...
How
to Get There
New Plymouth
is well-served by buses. The InnerCity
and White Star both operate services from
Auckland, Hamilton from the north, and
Wanganui, Palmerston North and Wellington
from the south. It is best is to check
their web sites to find out the latest
schedule, prices, and policies for carrying
bicycles.
If you are traveling by car, the primary
highways to New Plymouth are SH1 and SH3
from the south (from Wellington) and SH3
from the north (from Hamilton and Auckland).
New Plymouth is also served by Air New
Zealand Link with direct flights from
Auckland, Hamilton, Nelson, Wanganui,
and Wellington. Less...
Accommodations
There are plenty of accommodations in New Plymouth and in the small towns surrounding Mt Taranaki such as Hawera, Stratford, Eltham, and Inglewood. They range from campsites, youth hostels and simple motels, to hotels and luxury B&Bs and lodges. Although accommodation choices are plentiful, reservations are recommended during the high season from December to the end of January and on holiday weekends such as the Easter Holiday, etc. Less...
The
Roads
The roads around Mt Taranaki are mostly of paved sealed chip surface and can be narrow in places. However, some of the main roads do have a nice shoulder to ride on. Less...
What
You Need To Know
New Plymouth is the host to the annual Taranaki Rhododendron Festival each November.
Because of its resemblance to Mount Fuji, Mt Taranaki provided the backdrop for the movie The Last Samurai.
One of New Zealand's premier cycling events, The Yarrows Taranaki Cycle Challenge (previously called the Dutch Mill Taranaki Challenge) is hosted by New Plymouth each January, with up to 2,500 competitive and recreational cyclists participating in the event. The single-day ride circumnavigates Mt Taranaki and covers over 100 miles/160 km. Less...