Location: Taranaki Region
Top Things to do in Taranaki Region
8 Things to do Adventurous in Taranaki Region That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in Taranaki Region, New Zealand including Eastern Taranaki Experience, Chaddy's Charters, Pouakai Crossing, Escape Masters New Plymouth, Mount Taranaki, Forgotten World Highway, Sugar Loaf Islands and Paritutu Rock, Three Sisters And The Elephant Rock.
Restaurants in Taranaki Region
1. Eastern Taranaki Experience
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 26 reviews
Join us as we make it possible for you to retrace the steps of pioneer settlers in a land now largely left to return to the bush
2. Chaddy's Charters
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 66 reviews
We are primarily a wildlife boat tour attraction where we head out of the Port of Taranaki towards the Sugar Loaf islands to look at the seal colony. We also provide SUP, Kayak and bike hire and SUP lessons upon booking request. We cater for groups, events, schools, kids, adults, individuals, couples etc. We are run and managed by a former All Black and the fastest woman to solo row the Atlantic and there is also a museum of old nautical memorabilia, live cam of the local little blue penguins and seahorses to look at. Please check times when booking as Mondays are sometimes closed. Hours may vary depending on tides and weather. Sunset cruises are also available. Check website booking system for more details
3. 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.
4. Escape Masters New Plymouth
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 15 reviews
We offer a wide variety of escape rooms, outdoor and VR games at 5 different locations across New Zealand. We also design and run pop-up games at your chosen location.
Reviewed By joysie93 - Palmerston North, New Zealand
Really want to thank Dana and the team. First time to New Plymouth and first escape room. Dana was amazing, not only was she a great host, she was also so kind as to have a chat about our plans and was happy to offer recommendations for other activities and places to eat etc which we took her up on (all her suggestions were great haha). We did the Train room, was great to learn a bit of history prior and the room itself was amazing. Challenging puzzles but super fun and staff were so helpful when needed. This definitely exceeded my expectations and can't wait to come back and do more rooms. Highly recommend.
5. Mount Taranaki
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 567 reviews
Reviewed By hannahz905 - Christchurch, New Zealand
An overnight trip to Pouakai Tarn: We originally planned to stay at Pouakai Hut for two nights, and actually we stayed only one night, as we were lucky to see all the view which we wanted to see. At that time, even the weather forecast was not good on Metservice one day before, but it turned out the weather was good most of time. We forgot it was a full moon period, so we didn’t get a chance to take milkyway which was a pity. Check Metservice – Egmount National Park weather ahead, but it is not 100% reliable. The route we took: Mangorei Road car park --2 to 3 hours--> Pouakai Hut—20 mins --> Pouakai Tarn We took most normal overnight camping gears (except tent), torch, food, filtered bottle, waterproof matches, gas, four seasons wearing staff, camera gears, tripod, hiking poles, wet wipe, tissues. Hut tickets (available in Kathmandu shop) The hut (first in first service, it was full at the end) provided sleeping mattresses, water (drinking water requires boiled), toilet, toilet paper…Our phone could even connect to 4G signal which was brilliant. No electricity available any way. By the way, all the rubbish is recommended to carry out by yourself, so rubbish bags are useful. We found the most useful things during the trip: comfortable/waterproof boots, waterproof/windproof jackets, waterproof pants, gaiters (super muddy on the way), warm hat (windy), gloves, torch, power banks for phones, jandals for walking around the hut, sun cream lotion, quick dry basic layers, socks, rubbish bags. Drive to Mangorei Road car park which is at the end of Mangorei Road. We took about 2 hours to Pouakai Hut. The track indeed has countless steps to the top, where most of time we walked in the beautiful native bush. From Pouakai Hut to Pouakai Tarn, it was about 10-20 minutes walk. Around Pouakai Tarn, there is a new wooden walking track. It did need some patience, but it was worthy. In order to protect the fragile environment, please stay on the track; please not walk/stand on the fragile vegetation; please leave your tripod on the track;
6. Forgotten World Highway
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 426 reviews
Reviewed By Bertavv - Auckland Central, New Zealand
We did the drive from Stratford to Taumarunui in the mother-in-law's 2004 Toyota Corolla and it handled the road perfectly. I-sites at either end have a guide to the Heritage Trail as there is some very interesting history in this area. It takes you through a mixture of NZ backcountry, farmland, native bush, hills, tunnels and over saddles, with just a touch of gravel road and one-way bridges. Take your time and have a look up some of the (rare) side roads, and make sure you stop in the Republic of Whangamomona. There is currently (mid Nov 2019) a detour at the Taumarunui end of the Highway - signposted before Ohura. But when we drove down the Highway from the Taumarunui end the following day the detour was very poorly signposted.
7. Sugar Loaf Islands and Paritutu Rock
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 227 reviews
Reviewed By JamieA579 - Palmerston North, New Zealand
Paritutu Rock wasn't really on our agenda to climb, but you know ! We three aged 71, 62 and 27 decided to climb the wooden steps. Well the looks between us meant lets go ! It was a reasonable challenge, though not at all unsafe. With a few more puffs we were able to get to the top and enjoy the magnificent views.
8. Three Sisters And The Elephant Rock
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 59 reviews
Reviewed By mgreaney2018 - Wellington, New Zealand
An awesome way to spend a few hours. We just happened to be passing and pulled off the road to take a look. Our timing was perfect with the tide fully out enabling an easy walk across the black sand right around the headland and the view just kept getting better. Don't drive past this one!
