Location: Taranaki Region
Top Things to do in Taranaki Region
10 Outdoor Activities in Taranaki Region That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in Taranaki Region, New Zealand including Pukekura Park, Ridge Loop Track, Manaia Road Saddle And Lookout, Te Henui Walkway, Oakura Bay, Ngatoro Loop Track, Pouakai Circuit, Kamahi Loop Track, Pouakai Crossing, Waihi Beach.
Restaurants in Taranaki Region
1. Pukekura Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,777 reviews
Pukekura Park covers 52ha (128 acres) right in the heart of New Plymouth, Taranaki and is one of New Zealand's premier botanical gardens. The park has an international Green Flag award and is a Garden of National Significance. With a diverse range of landscapes, the park features bush walks, formal gardens, lakes, children's play areas, a sports area and a Tea House. The park includes the Fernery and Display Houses as well as the adjacent garden estate area of Brooklands, home to the acclaimed TSB Bowl of Brooklands and Brooklands Zoo. As a popular destination for locals and visitors alike, Pukekura Park lights up over the summer as the backdrop for the annual TSB Bank Festival of Lights. The park is free to enter and can be accessed from various streets including Liardet Street, Brooklands Road, Fillis Street, Rogan Street, Kaimata Street and List Street.
Reviewed By Nutputter
Just a gorgeous valley of native nz bush and flowers and water features.We were taken by surprise ...first that it is free and very large so allow plenty of time ..and there is a lovely old fashioned tea rooms in the middle ...with Pukeiti ,New Plymouth is certainly blessed with lovely gardens and parks .
2. Ridge Loop Track
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
Always check the website for changes that might affect your trip
3. Manaia Road Saddle And Lookout
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
4. Te Henui Walkway
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 96 reviews
Reviewed By picturepaints1000wds
On a hot day, this is a lovely walk around the city - away from the cars and shopping area winding its way along the stream.
5. Oakura Bay
6. Ngatoro Loop Track
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
Always check the website for changes that might affect your trip.
Reviewed By Gemtt - Auckland Central, New Zealand
Bush walk close to the visitors centre. Challenging for this old timer, but rewarding with views of the mountain at times.
7. Pouakai Circuit
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 8 reviews
Always check the website for changes that might affect your trip. See website for the price of accommodation on this track
Reviewed By 2983u366w7w
Amazing circuit, we did it in reverse climbing henry's peak to the pouakai hut and then finishing off by going across to holly hut and back down the kokowai track as the holly hut track is closed. This made for a pretty hard first day and a breezy second day. Unfortunately we parked in the pouakai crossing carpark not far down from the isite due to it cutting off an hour of the new circuit (because of the holly track closure) and our camper got broken into!! I would highly recommend parking up at the isite where there are cameras and battling that extra hour.
8. Kamahi Loop Track
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
Always check the website for changes that might affect your trip.
9. Pouakai Crossing
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 16 reviews
Always check the website for changes that might affect your trip.
Reviewed By Jenny9876543210 - Auckland Central, New Zealand
Loved this walk. Not many people doing it despite the beautiful, sunny day, so it was very peaceful. Good range of tracks through low-lying lush native bush to alpine grasslands to alpine rock vegetation. The tracks are well defined and marked. I heard that some of the tracks are going to be upgraded but we found them in good condition anyway, probably because the weather had been very dry. Having said that, you would want to be wearing decent hiking shoes or sturdy sneakers. Despite the beautiful weather, we definitely needed jackets at times - there are some exposed areas and the wind can pick up very suddenly. The short detour to the tarn was well worth it. Initially it looked very disappointing and then I realised that the reflections changed with every little light shift and it really did make for gorgeous photos. There's very little birdsong as you hike and we learned that predators have eradicated much of the bird life. There are pest traps (particularly for rats) at the sides of the tracks so we hope that this program is working and the mountain will be full of native birds again in years to come.
10. Waihi Beach
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4 reviews
Reviewed By 110gilliana - Hawera, New Zealand
This coast line is truly amazing......the unusual cliff formations were once upon a time sitting on the ocean bed. You can see the fossilized shells within the face of the cliffs and if your lucky - crack open a rock and get it to reveal a piece of fauna or sea life that has been encapsulated for hundreds or thousands of years!! My grandsons, enjoy looking for rocks that may hold fossils and shells and drift wood. The beach is only accessible at low tide and you need to be aware that although the geology is fascinating, it's unsafe to walk below the cliffs, as they can be unstable. Great though if there has been a bit of a slide, then you can access it's fossils!! You can walk along to Ohawe Beach for some more interesting pickings....the pebbles on the beach range in all sorts of colours and drift wood in all shapes and sizes. Take a dip at the river mouth before enjoying a nice picnic. I just love this coast line.....it's so un-commercialized.
