New Plymouth
Perched between the sparkling Tasman Sea and the mythical peak of Taranaki Maunga/Mount Taranaki, New Plymouth offers it all.
World-class gardens, stunning contemporary art, marvellous museums, a rich cultural heritage and fantastic walkways offer lots to see and do in the heart of the city, while mountain and sea offer bigger adventures. Supporting these is an acclaimed dining scene, and great options to park-up for the night.
New Plymouth is one of the very few locations around the world where you can ski and surf in the same morning, even stopping for a perfect coffee in between. This mountain to sea location saw the Taranaki region crowned one of the world’s top regional destinations by Lonely Planet in 2017, an accolade which lifted the lid on all the region has to offer – rich history, contemporary art galleries, glorious gardens, countless surf breaks and spectacular gardens.
New Plymouth is just a 4.5 hour drive away from Auckland or Wellington, three hours from Hamilton, and four hours from Rotorua and Taupo.
The history of New Plymouth
Maori first came to Taranaki about 1300, but it was the early 1800s that saw the region’s rich history of war and peace begin, when war parties descended from the north. Europeans arrived in 1828, setting up a trading station at Ng?motu (now New Plymouth), ahead of the arrival of six European settler ships from 1841 - it was these settlers who established New Plymouth. The 1860s saw wars between Maori and Europeans erupt over the sale of land at nearby Waitara.
New Plymouth was formally established in 1876 and became a city in 1949. Since then it has seen significant growth, and on the back of economic strengths in black gold and white gold – oil and dairy production – has emerged into a fantastic lifestyle destination, with substantial investment into the waterfront Puke Ariki museum, library and i-SITE, a celebrated Coastal Walkway, the stunning Len Lye Centre alongside the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, and ongoing growth of the 50-year old TSB Festival of the Lights in Pukekura Park.
New Plymouth District Council | Ph: 06-759 6060 | Address: 84 Liardet Street, New Plymouth
