• New Zealand Guide

  • Introduction to New Zealand
  • When to go
  • Things not to miss
  • Getting around
  • Public holidays
  • Entry requirements
  • Money

• Explore New Zealand

  • Auckland
  • Around Auckland
  • Northland
  • Western North Island
  • Central North Island
  • The Coromandel, Bay of Plenty and the East Cape
  • Poverty Bay, Hawke's Bay and the Wairarapa
  • Wellington
  • Marlborough, Nelson and Kaikoura
  • Christchurch and south to Otago
  • The Central South Island
  • Dunedin to Stewart Island
  • The West Coast
  • Central Otago
  • Fiordland

• Cities

  • Auckland
    
  • Christchurch
    
  • Dunedin
    
  • Nelson
    
  • New Plymouth
    
  • Wellington
    

New Zealand Guide

Western North Island

New Plymouth

• Accommodation
• Food and Drink
• Nightlife

The city of New Plymouth, on the northern shore of the peninsula, is the commercial heart of Taranaki, bustling with prosperity and bristling with a sense of importance. Port Taranaki, at the edge of the city, serves as New Zealand's western gateway and is the only deep-water international port on the west coast. That said this is still a small city with a tight grid of central streets flanked by an attractive waterfront enhanced by Len Lye's Wind Wand. A couple of streets back is the admirable Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, and a regional museum and gallery complex known as Puke Ariki.

Just offshore is the Sugar Loaf Islands Marine Reserve, a haven for wildlife above and beneath the sea, and south of town is Carrington Road, a picturesque drive leading to the colourful rhododendron gardens of Pukeiti, past a historic cottage and a small zoo.