New Plymouth District: Coast, Culture and Trails
Accommodation in New Plymouth District
New Plymouth District combines experiences along the coast with town history, wildlife and trails through bushland. The Coastal Walkway, the galleries at Puke Ariki and the loop track at Pukerangiora Pā each represent a different side of the area. When planning your holiday, you can consider whether you would like to focus more on coastal walks, culture, wildlife or nature.
Coastal Walk and History in New Plymouth
The Coastal Walkway is 13.2 km long and runs along the coast, from Pioneer Park at Port Taranaki to the eastern side of Bell Block Beach. Its length and the two endpoints provide a clear point of reference if you would like to include a longer coastal walk in your trip. One section also provides access to Te Rewa Rewa Bridge: it runs from Waiwhakaiho River to the car park on Smeaton Road. This means you can also explore the walkway via a named section rather than focusing exclusively on the full route.
If you are interested in the history of central New Plymouth, you could consider the Puke Ariki Historic Walk. The guided tour is about 3 km long and takes two hours. At Puke Ariki, three permanent exhibition galleries focus on the region’s history, taonga and natural world. Admission to all areas of the Puke Ariki Museum is free. This gives visitors interested in culture a choice of both a guided walk and exhibitions covering a range of regional themes.
Wildlife and Shared Discoveries
Brooklands Zoo is home to capuchin monkeys, meerkats, parrots and tortoises, among other animals. These different species provide plenty to talk about for anyone wanting to make wildlife a topic of conversation on a family trip. On weekends and during school holidays, zookeepers give talks twice a day, at 12 pm and 2 pm. You can take these times into account when planning your day.
The zoo’s access points can also help with orientation: from central New Plymouth, you can reach it on foot through Pukekura Park; alternatively, access is via Brooklands Park Drive.
Bush Trails, Views and Archaeological Features
The Stony River (Hangatahua) Walkway passes through lowland bush and offers views of Taranaki Maunga. You can walk it as an out-and-back route or as a loop. The choice between these two options makes the trail especially appealing to travellers who like to vary their walks: you can either retrace your steps or make a circuit.
At Pukerangiora Pā, an easy interpretive trail loops around the pā. Features include archaeological remains and expansive views from the clifftop lookout. Here, the trail combines a loop with insights into the site and its lookout, setting it apart from the coastal and bush trails.
Waitara Marine Park is located where the Waitara River meets the sea. If you are interested in river mouths and the meeting of river and sea, this is another specific natural feature to explore in the district.
Explore More Places in the District
If you would like to include different place names in the area in your trip planning, the destination pages take you to New Plymouth, Oakura, Egmont Village and Hillsborough. The different coastal, cultural and nature experiences in New Plymouth District can help you decide what you want to focus on during your holiday and guide your search for a suitable holiday rental.
For the broader travel overview: Taranaki.
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