New Plymouth Activity Highlights

New Plymouth | Regional Information | Activity Highlights | Scenic Highlights | History

New Plymouth is a city in the Taranaki region, offering a range of activities with something for everyone.

New Plymouth Activity Highlights Overview

New Plymouth has many activities on offer, including many famous festivals, surfing, the coastal walkway, scenic flights, hiking, skiing and much more.

New Plymouth Festivals

The New Plymouth District has a reputation as an events centre, with several major festivals particularly the annual WOMAD (world of music and dance) festival. Other major festivals include the annual TSB Bank Festival of Lights, Taranaki Rhododendron and Garden Festival, the G-TARanaki Guitar Festival, and the biennial Taranaki Arts Festival.

Other activities include sports fixtures which include international rugby, cricket and tennis matches, and the annual ITU World Cup Triathlon.

The Coastal Walkway

Image Source: Tourism New Zealand. New Plymouth Coastal Walkway, Taranaki, New Zealand

New Plymouth Coastal Walkway
Taranaki
Photographer: Josh Woskett
(jwoskett@lycos.com)

The Coastal Walkway is a seven-kilometre path that forms an expansive sea-edge promenade stretching almost the entire length of the city, from the Bell Block mouth in the east to Port Taranaki in the west.

The pathway includes the iconic Te Rewa Rewa Bridge and is ideal for walking, running, cycling or skating, or simply enjoying the view of the dramatic west coast.

The Coastal Walkway has won numerous awards, including the Cycle Friendly Award in 2008 for the best New Zealand cycle facility.

Mount Egmont/Taranaki

Not far to the south, arising out of the lush green plains is Mount Egmont/Taranaki. This near symmetrical volcano provides thrilling recreation opportunities. These activities include skiing, snowboarding, rock climbing and alpine walks.

The volcano is surrounded by indigenous forest and is an old national park offering some fantastic walks through the native flora and fauna of New Zealand. The North Egmont Visitors Centre lies a mere 20 minutes' drive from central New Plymouth.

Scenic Flights

Helicopter scenic flights are also available in New Plymouth offering an exciting variety of fun rides, scenic flights and packages, that utilize modern helicopters with great visibility and forward facing seating.

Other Activities

Lying next to the foreshore in the centre of the city is the Puke Ariki, which is the world's first purpose-built and fully integrated museum, library and information centre. It tells exciting stories of Taranaki with a variety of interactive media.

Nearby is the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, a leading contemporary art gallery which is home to collection of artist Len Lye.

New Plymouth comes complete with its own aquatic centre. Don't miss the Todd Energy Aquatic Centre which has both indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a diving pool, a wave machine, hydroslides, a spa, a sauna and a gym.

The region has a whopping total of 20 golf courses, ranging from nine-hole country courses where you have to move the sheep, through to Ngamotu Links - consistently rated one of the best golf courses in New Zealand. All 20 golf courses are within an hour's drive of each other.

Taranaki Region is known as big wave territory with some of the country's best surfing spots found off this coastline.