New Plymouth
From MaxTravelz
New Plymouth is the major city in Taranaki, on the western coast of the North Island of New Zealand, about midway between Auckland and Wellington. It lies on the coastal plains just to the north of Mount Taranaki. The rugged country further to the north and east means New Plymouth, and all of Taranaki for that matter, are off the main travelling routes through the North Island.
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Understand
New Plymouth is the main center of the Taranaki region, which has a total population of around 100,000.
Get in
By air
New Plymouth Airport is located on the coast 7km to the north of the city at Bellblock. A taxi service is available to town (Cost: $15 - $20).
On the rare days when Mount Taranaki is totally free of cloud, southbound flights can get spectacular views of the mountaintop.
- Air New Zealand Link operates services to Auckland and Wellington, with 6 - 7 return flights daily to each, using 33-seat turboprop aircraft.
- Origin Pacific operates services to Auckland, Wellington and Nelson, using smaller (19 - 25 seat) aircraft, with a frequency of 1-2 daily flights to each destination.
By bus
Bus services to Auckland and Wellington run twice daily, with a choice of several operators. A new bus terminal was opened in 2004 in Ariki St.
By car
State Highway 3 passes through New Plymouth.
From the north: (Auckland or Hamilton) State Highway 3 departs State Highway 1 at Hamilton and travels via Te Kuiti in the King Country and Waitara in Taranaki. The journey from Hamilton is ~270km - at least 3.5 hours by car, though allow 4.5 hours to be safe. A section of this road is narrow, winding, and includes a very short single-lane tunnel. It is prone to closure by slips in bad weather.
From the south: (Wellington and Palmerston North) Travel via State Highway 1 and/or State Highway 3 to Bulls then via State Highway 3 through Wanganui to Hawera, then inland via Stratford (which always has petrol 2c a litre cheaper than the standard price) and Inglewood. Wellington to New Plymouth is ~360km and takes 4.5 - 5.5 hours non-stop, depending on traffic near Wellington; allow 6 - 7 hours including scenic stops and rest breaks.
State Highway 45, The Surf Highway, which follows the coast (though seldom in sight of it) around the west of the mountain, via Opunake, is ~25 km longer and hillier, but scenic, alternative route from Hawera. Allow an extra half hour over travelling State Highway 3 direct.
State Highway 43, The Forgotten World Highway, intersects State Highway 3 at Stratford. This can be an interesting alternative trip from the Central North Island via Taumarunui. The road winds and climbs for 160km and includes about 30km unsealed though a spectacularly beautiful gorge. It's worth stopping at the numerous historical information boards along the way. Allow 4-6 hours. (Note: There is no petrol available between Stratford and Taumarunui and this highway section is difficult to maintain.)
By train
Although there is a railway station, passenger rail services ceased in 1985.
Get around
See
- WOMAD - World of Music and Dance festival. March 2005.
- The Wind Wand - A kinetic sculpture based on the ideas of Len Lye. It is a 45m pole, with a soft red light on top at night, that moves in the wind. On the foreshore.
Do
Buy
drink
if your not into the kinda bar that stinks of spew and general filthyness when you walk in, dont go to the mill, ifi ti happens it happens but wouldnt recommend it, the grump molr seems to be filled with a happy hairdresser type crowd, the dude dave miller that works there is funny as hell. um the powder room is pretty up there for a good nitghts drinking and its partner in crime 55 arround the corner has a fairly good line up every month, for a good release of all your dancing tension get there on a good night! a few more on devon bush n bull, mad toms for the old and underaged, but if you can get out to the pub at oakura get the spare ribs, you could even join the local pool players for a good game n puff : )
Sleep
Get out
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