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Destination Guides > New Zealand > Taranaki
TaranakiTaranaki comprises the western tip of the North Island, which is dominated by the snow-capped cone of Mount Taranaki (also known as Mount Egmont). New Plymouth is the main centre of this dairy farming region, which is also home to some great surf beaches. New PlymouthThis is the major centre in the Taranaki region and is a very pleasant city with nice parks and open spaces and the newly opened Puke Ariki museum. New Plymouth has a great location with ski slopes and great surf beaches within a one-hour drive of the city centre. New Plymouth is off the beaten track and none of the three main backpackers buses come here. The city doesn't attract many travellers, which is a pity as it is one of New Zealand's most underrated places. Practical InformationVisitor Information CentrePuke Ariki, 65 St Aubyn Street, New PlymouthTel (06) 759 6060 Website www.taranakinz.org Open Mon-Tue 9am-6pm, Wed 9am-9pm, Thu-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat-Sun 9am-5pm Department of Conservation220 Devon Street West, New PlymouthTel (06) 758 0433 Website www.doc.govt.nz Open Mon-Fri 8am-4.30pm Coming & GoingAIRNew Plymouth Airport has several daily flights by Origin Pacific and Air New Zealand to Auckland and Wellington and a couple of Sun Air flights each week to Hamilton and Tauranga. Withers Coachlines (tel 0800 751 177; website www.withers.co.nz) run an airport shuttle service that can pick up and drop off at your hostel. BUSInterCity coaches stop at the corner of King and Queen Streets. White Star (tel (06) 758 3338) operates daily coach services to Wanganui, Palmerston North and Wellington. The Mount Egmont/Taranaki Shuttle (tel (06) 758 3222) runs a daily service between New Plymouth and the North Egmont Visitor Centre. The fare is $25 one-way or $35 return. Withers Coachlines (tel 0800 751 177; website www.withers.co.nz) also run a daily mountain shuttle service from New Plymouth. The return fare is usually $32, but it can cost up to $100 if you're the only one on the bus. Hitchhikers should try their luck on State Highway 3. AccommodationEgmont Eco-Lodge YHA12 Clawton Street, New PlymouthTel (06) 753 5720 Shoestring Backpackers48 Lemon Street, New PlymouthTel (06) 758 0404 Sunflower Lodge25 Ariki Street, New PlymouthTel (06) 759 0050 Wave Haven Backpackers1518 Main Road, OakuraTel (06) 752 7800 SightsGovett-Brewster Art GalleryThis excellent contemporary art museum combines a permanent collection with a variety of temporary exhibitions. It is an impressive gallery for such a small city. Queen Street, New PlymouthTel (06) 758 5149 Website www.govettbrewster.org.nz Admission free Open 10.30am-5pm daily Puke ArikiThis brilliant museum is the city's top attraction. It features excellent displays on the region's geological and cultural history. 1 Ariki Street, New PlymouthTel (06) 759 6060 Website www.pukeariki.com Admission free Open Mon-Tue 9am-6pm, Wed 9am-9pm, Thu-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat-Sun 9am-5pm Egmont National ParkNew Zealand's second national park is centred on Mount Taranaki (Mount Egmont), which towers above the surrounding farmland. The mountain is one of the country's most striking maintaining its snow-capped crater year round. Although hiking trails in the national park are popular, treks up the mountain shouldn't be taken lightly if you are not an experienced mountaineer, as Mount Taranaki is New Zealand's most dangerous mountain. It has claimed the lives of more than 60 people over the years. If you don't feel like climbing to the summit, there are plenty of shorter walks, many of which are just 30 minutes long. Practical InformationDawson Falls Visitor CentreManaia Road, KapongaTel 025 430 248 Open summer 8am-4.30pm daily; winter Wed-Sun 8.30am-4.30pm North Egmont Visitor CentreEgmont Road, InglewoodTel (06) 756 0990 Open 8am-4.30pm daily Coming & GoingThe Mount Egmont/Taranaki Shuttle (tel (06) 758 3222) runs a daily service between New Plymouth and the North Egmont Visitor Centre. The fare is $25 one-way or $35 return. Withers Coachlines (tel 0800 751 177; website www.withers.co.nz) also run a daily mountain shuttle service from New Plymouth. The return fare is usually $32, but it can cost up to $100 if you're the only one on the bus. AccommodationMost people visiting Egmont National Park stay in Egmont Village or drive up from Stratford or New Plymouth The CamphouseEgmont Road, RD6, Mt TaranakiTel (06) 752 2550 The Missing LegState Highway 3, Egmont VillageTel (06) 752 2570 HikingEgmont National Park has over 140km of hiking trails including multi-day hikes around the mountain and the popular, and often dangerous, one-day climb. Climbing Mount Egmont/TaranakiOne of the most popular activities in the park involves climbing Mount Egmont/Taranaki, however it is dangerous and over 60 people have died attempting it. The best time to climb is between February and April when there is very little snow on the mountain. The ascent can be done in one day with the return climb taking around eight hours. There are several routes to the summit with the most popular departing from the North Egmont Visitor Centre. It is recommended that inexperienced hikers go along with a guide. Ian MacAlpine (tel (06) 765 6234; website www.macalpineguides.com) and Taranaki Outdoor Professionals (tel 0800 448433; website www.topguides.co.nz) conduct guided climbs of the mountain. Around the Mountain CircuitThis popular five-day walk circles the mountain and during summer there is a shorter three-day version at a higher altitude. There are huts located at one-day intervals along the track. Dawson FallsThe 16.5m high Dawson Falls are a 20-minute walk from the Dawson Falls visitor centre. StratfordStratford is the closest major town to Egmont National Park and some travellers use the town as a base for visiting the park. Practical InformationVisitor Information CentreProspero Place, Broadway, StratfordTel (06) 765 6708 or 0800 765 6708 Website www.stratfordnz.co.nz Open Mon-Fri 8.30am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-3.30pm Department of ConservationPembroke Road, StratfordTel (06) 765 5144 Website www.doc.govt.nz Open Mon-Fri 8am-4.30pm Coming & GoingThe Visitor Information Centre serves as Stratford's coach stop. InterCity coaches go to Auckland, New Plymouth, Wanganui and Wellington and Dalroy Express (tel (06) 755 0009) coaches go to Auckland and Hawera. AccommodationStratford Top 10 Holiday Park10 Page Street, StratfordTel (06) 765 6440 Taranaki Accommodation Lodge7 Romeo Street, StratfordTel (06) 765 5444 SightsGlockenspielStratford's Tudor-style clock tower is home to New Zealand's only glockenspiel, which features six figures of Romeo and Juliet and performs for five minutes daily at 10am, 1pm and 3pm. Broadway, StratfordTaranaki Pioneer VillageThis open-air museum features 50 historic buildings depicting life 100 years ago. 3912 Main South Road, StratfordTel (06) 765 5399 Website www.stratfordnz.info/PioneerVillage/ Admission $7 Open 10am-4pm daily HaweraThis small town serves the surrounding dairy farms and is the gateway to the southern Taranaki region. The town's name is Māori for ‘the burnt place' and it has suffered the wrath of four major fires. After a particularly devastating fire in 1912, insurance companies demanded that a water tower be erected as a fire-fighting reservoir. The tower was completed in 1914 and remains the town's major landmark. Practical InformationVisitor Information Centre55 High Street, HaweraTel (06) 278 8599 Open Mon-Fri 8.30am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-3pm Coming & GoingInterCity and Dalroy Express coaches stop outside the information centre on High Street. AccommodationWheatly Downs Farmstay Backpackers46 Ararata Road, 8km north of HaweraTel (06) 278 6523 SightsDairylandFonterra, the huge dairy company that accounts for 7% of New Zealand's GDP, operates this dairy industry display centre that features interactive displays, life-size models and simulated tanker rides to illustrate milk's journey from cow to customer. Corner Whareroa Road & State Highway 3, HaweraTel (06) 278 4537 Website www.fonterra.com Admission $3 Open 9am-5pm daily Tawhiti MuseumMany people regard Tawhiti Museum as New Zealand's best small privately run museum. It uses brilliant dioramas to cover the history of South Taranaki. 401 Ohangi Road, HaweraTel (06) 278 6837 Website www.tawhitimuseum.co.nz Admission $6.50 Open Jan 10am-4pm daily; Feb-May Fri-Mon 10am-4pm; Jun-Aug Sun 10am-4pm; Sep-Dec Fri-Mon 10am-4pm ActivitiesDam DroppingOne of the craziest things you can do in New Zealand is to sledge the world's highest commercially sledged hydro dam. The Kaitiaki Adventures Dam Dropping trip involves sledging over an eight-metre waterfall and then spending around three hours sledging on the Waingongoro River. One of the attractions of white water sledging (compared with white water rafting) is that you are in control of a buoyant and highly manoeuvrable water sledge rather than being guided on a raft. Kaitiaki Adventures, Surf Highway, HaweraTel (06) 278 4452 Website www.kaitiaki.co.nz Dam drop only $40; full trip $80; full trip with t-shirt $100 |
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