A REGION LIKE NO OTHER
With just a direct 90-minute flight away, Taranaki is your new North Island getaway. Taranaki is known for its majestic Taranaki Maunga and enviable mountain to moana lifestyle. Delight in unrivalled outdoor adventures, unforgettable scenery, and experience one-of-a-kind festivals and events. Dine on delectable local cuisine, unearth the fascinating local history, and get energised by exciting and creative arts and culture. It doesn’t matter how you like to fill your cup because you’re bound to find what you’ve been looking for in Taranaki.
ARTS AND CULTURE
Taranaki is swathed in history, culture, and exceptional art. You are sure to be captivated by tales and artefacts from the region’s past at New Plymouth’s Puke Ariki Museum and Aotea Utanganui Museum in Pātea, a quick trip south. Pause and reflect in the internationally acclaimed Govett Brewster Art Gallery/Len Lye Centre before heading inside to experience the life works of the famed kinetic sculptor and film pioneer Len Lye. Discover the region’s vibrant creativity on a road trip around the Maunga with the Taranaki Arts Trail and the Ōakura Arts Trail (29 October–7 November).
TASTE TARANAKI
The local dining scene is on fire (in a good way), and food fanatics are spoilt for choice when it comes to places to eat, drink, and be merry. Famously hospitable restaurants that transform local produce into tantalising dishes are plotted right around the mountain – the region is a food-producing hub. Spring calls for treats, and enjoy a plant-based ice cream from award-winning Little Liberty Ice Creamery and a tipple from LFW Rum. Why not pick up the perfect ‘staying at home’ gift from locals Krakin Chillies, Giles Chocolatier, or Proof & Stock Coffee?
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Taranaki is bursting with remarkable and Instagramable landscapes, and they provide the perfect outdoor playground for young and old, with accessible options. Explore the endless winding trails on Taranaki Maunga, wake up to a sunrise on the summit, or stay overnight at one of the DOC huts available. Discover Rotokare Scenic Reserve near Stratford, recently transformed into a sanctuary for threatened wildlife and a predator-free breeding site for kiwi. Head out on the ocean with Chaddy’s Charters and learn about the region’s intrepid settlers, whalers, and tangata whenua. Cruise New Plymouth’s Coastal Walkway, venturing past popular surf beaches to Te Rewa Rewa Bridge.
FUN FOR THE WHĀNAU
The region is a haven for families. Tawhiti Museum in Hāwera, South Taranaki and its immersive boat ride experience Traders and Whalers is a must-do – step back in time and experience a fascinating journey into local history. Kids and adults alike will be captivated by Pukekura Park, ‘the jewel in the crown of New Plymouth’, where you can take a rowboat out on the top lake before heading to Brooklands Zoo. Time your visit right and catch the TSB Festival of Lights and experience the park lit up with thousands of lights and national and international lighting installations, plus free summer entertainment.
EVENTS TO REMEMBER
Taranaki events are second to none. Get your musical and cultural fix one weekend and compete in an endurance race the next. Marvel at the region’s glorious gardens and be inspired by sustainable gardening trailblazers at the Taranaki Garden Festival and the Taranaki Fringe Garden Festival this spring. Spend a night under the stars at a natural amphitheatre, the Bowl of Brooklands. Pick from a stellar summer line-up that includes performances from LAB, Lorde, and WOMAD and experience the Bowl at its best.
Due to the developing situation regarding COVID, some event details have changed. The below events may differ from those in print.
WHAT’S ON
• Taranaki Garden Festival – 29 October – 7 November
• Taranaki Arts Trail 29 October–7 November
• Taranaki Fringe Garden Festival 29 October–7 November
• Ōakura Arts Trail 29 October–7 November
• Coastal Five 20–21 November
• TSB Festival of Lights 18 December 2021 – 30 January 2022
• LAB 8 January
• The Good Home Taranaki Off-Road Half-Marathon – 15 January
• Synthony – 5 February
• AmeriCARna – 23 – 26 February
• Lorde 4 March
• WOMAD 18–20 March
• Oxfam Trail Walker 26–27 March