Location: New Plymouth
Top Things to do in New Plymouth
The 10 Best Things to Do in New Plymouth, New Zealand
Botanical gardens, coastal walkways, golf courses peppered with sheep—what’s not to love about New Plymouth? The New Zealand city is an ideal spot for laid-back leisure. Explore the postcard perfect landscape of the beaches, parks and stone cottages. For more of a challenge, a climb up Paritutu Rock will leave you breathless but humbled by the surrounding beauty.
Restaurants in New Plymouth
1. Pukekura Park
Overall Ratings
5 based on 1 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 venetianintown - Warwickshire, United Kingdom
A well maintained park with good walks around the lake. There is a great deal to discover here so do visit and allow time to savour the atmosphere. You will need to activate the waterfall by depressing a switch nearby. Same with the Fountain. There is a comprehensive playground for all children. Themed areas and a wooden waterwheel can be found as you wander through. The cricket ground is interesting, circular with natural tiered Seating. The tea house enables you to linger longer. The icecream outlet sells Kapiti icecream. A grand Fernery will keep you absorbed with it’s tunnels and abundance of foliage.
2. New Plymouth Coastal Walkway
Overall Ratings
5 based on 1 reviews
Utterly spectacular 11km long walkway along the seafront in New Plymouth, New Zealand. Walk, ride skate or scoot from Bell Block in the north to Port Taranaki to the south taking in the stunning Te Rewa Rewa Bridge, three swimming Beaches, a golf club, rolling farm land, rivers and various accessways to residential and shopping areas.
Reviewed By Khalaf K - Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
The Copthorne hotel is good hotel. Rooms are good and clean with nice location. The staff are very helpful and check in procedures was very fast. The hotel is very humble in the buffet and not much of choices or selection are available.
All in all, it’s an average hotel.
3. Tupare
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 113 reviews
Experience the beautifully restored garden and Chapman-Taylor home. Sculpted from a hillside overlooking the Waiwhakaiho River, this is a premier landscaped garden. Sense the prestige, lifestyle and stories of the property's original developer, the prominent businessman Sir Russell Matthews, and his family. Enjoy a game of tennis, make use of the free barbeque on the River Flat, find a quite spot to read a book or just appreciate the beauty of Tupare. Owned and managed by the Taranaki Regional Council on behalf of the people of the region. Enjoy it - it's yours.
Reviewed By Matzakiwi - Upper Hutt, New Zealand
Amazing terraced Gardens with paths to explore. Some bit steep so need mobility to access some if these. Sitting down by the river listening to it and the birds was music to the soul. Amazing Rhododendron flowers and ponds everywhere. Nissed the cottage tour so definitely will be back for that as well as taking a picnic lunch to have by the river. There are BBQs to use there as well. Could spend all day here.
4. Pukeiti Rhododendron Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 212 reviews
Explore a wonderland of rhododendrons planted within 360 hectares of rainforest, located between Mount Taranaki and the coast, just south of New Plymouth. Established in 1951, Pukeiti is an internationally recognised garden with one of the most diverse collections of rhododendrons on display anywhere in the world. Take a short garden walk or a more challenging adventure and with either, sense another world and time. Feel the spiritual significance of Pukeiti to local tangata whenua and learn some of the language, knowledge and stories which are part of the land. Find out about pioneering Europeans, passionate plant-collectors and garden-makers. Discover the property whilst doing a fun activity or make use of the facilities for a private or community event. Pukeiti is owned and managed by the Taranaki Regional Council on behalf of the people of the region. Share Pukeiti – a truly unique part of Taranaki’s heritage.
Reviewed By 23tiffanyk - New Plymouth, New Zealand
Great place for a peaceful walk in the Bush. We took the stroller so did the 1 hour walk and it took around 20 mins (quick with no tree looking). Looks awesome after modernized walkways near the cafe etc
5. Brooklands Zoo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 330 reviews
Brooklands Zoo is a FREE, family focused zoo which is home to a variety of farmyard animals, amphibians, reptiles, oriental small-clawed otters, meerkats, a brolga, Bolivian squirrel monkeys and both capuchin and cotton-top Tamarin monkeys, as well as a selection of exotic parrots housed inside a walk-through free-flight aviary.
Reviewed By Usedomka - Hamilton
This is such a great little zoo to visit. The Kids loved it, so did I. And all for free. WOW. Very tidy & well maintained, we will be back next time we down this way.
6. Puke Ariki
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 403 reviews
Reviewed By kwendyk - Auckland Central, New Zealand
If you are in New Plymouth as well as the Govett Brewster gallery, don't miss a visit to the Puke Ariki museum. Really great exhibits ... the format of the information is engaging and makes finding out interesting facts a real pleasure.
Great places to eat?...the Bach around near the port on the waterfront. Take note of the slick bach decor and buy a very clever and unique vintage fabric apron.
Also try the Social Kitchen in the CBD... very interesting menu and atmosphere.
7. Sugar Loaf Islands and Paritutu Rock
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 170 reviews
Reviewed By TanyaLSNT - NT, Australia
Amazing views each step of the way. Half the climb is via steep but well built stairs with little platforms every couple of flights to take a much needed rest and a photo. The other half is via a very steep rock climb with a chain rail for assistance. Definately for the brave and/or able bodied!!
8. Te Henui Walkway
Overall Ratings
5 based on 78 reviews
Reviewed By Narziss - New Zealand
We were advised by a local that this is the walk/cycle way that they use and enjoy the most. It is delightful, most of it in the shade as it follows the Te Henui river upstream, which you don't really notice until you get to turn around and then find yourself coasting back.It departs from just by the cafe on the main walkway so is easy to find and the cafe makes for great stop on the way back.
9. Port Taranaki Walkway
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 109 reviews
Reviewed By AndrewMN - New Zealand
Having done the Coastal walkway ride from Fitzroy to Bell Block in the morning we did the Fitzroy to the Port ride in the afternoon.
Encountered a mix of walkers, runners and bike riders - all happily able to coexist.
If you end up at the Port Taranaki end - make sure you go out onto the breakwater and walk to the end. Hopefully you will strike a good day as we did when Mt Taranaki/Egmont was showing its snowy whiteness.
10. Back Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 92 reviews
Reviewed By Morris S - New Plymouth, New Zealand
This is my favourite spot in Taranaki. Go to the lower car park (last one coming from NP) and walk to the right heading towards Paratutu. Awesome! But check the tides and don’t go around high tide as it can be dangerous. The views are sensational, a swim is refreshing, there can be seals down by the Paratutu end and the waves crashing around the rocks is a must see. I love the place for a nice beach stroll. Enjoy.
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