Taranaki between Maunga and Coast

Taranaki reveals itself through its walking tracks, the Surf Highway 45 coastal route and exceptional gardens. The cultural significance of Taranaki Maunga is another important part of the region. Which of these aspects you focus on will also shape the character of your stay: a full-day hike calls for different planning than a stroll through a park or a drive along the coast.

Maunga and Walking Tracks

Taranaki Maunga is an ancestral mountain with a deep cultural and spiritual connection to the eight iwi of Taranaki. The walking tracks in Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki National Park also offer opportunities to explore the natural and cultural surroundings. If you’re considering a longer hike, the Pouākai Crossing gives you a clear idea of what the day involves: this outstanding day hike is 19 kilometres long and usually takes between 7 hours 30 minutes and 9 hours 30 minutes.

The Pouākai Crossing passes through Ahukawakawa Swamp and reaches tarns that reflect Taranaki Maunga. This landscape gives the route a distinct character: the swamp and the mountain reflections in the tarns offer contrasting experiences along the way. The typical duration also makes clear that this is a substantial day’s undertaking.

The Taranaki Maunga Summit Climb is a different experience: it’s considered a challenging full-day hike. Several local operators can arrange transport to the starting point; there is no scheduled transport service. Be sure to include transport in your preparations.

The Coast on Surf Highway 45

Surf Highway 45 is a 105-kilometre coastal route between New Plymouth and Hāwera. Along the route are dozens of surf breaks, beaches, historic and cultural attractions, viewpoints, and cafés in Taranaki villages. The route brings together a range of interests without being limited to a single way of travelling: coastal scenery, culture and places to stop for a break are as much a part of its character as surfing.

For your travel plans, the route offers a different focus from the full-day hikes on the Maunga. Rather than a single outing with a fixed timeframe, it’s a long coastal drive with a variety of attractions and experiences along the way. You can weigh up whether to spend more of your time hiking or exploring the coast.

Gardens and Walks

Tūpare is an outstanding garden with a unique homestead. The garden recently received the NZ Gardens Trust’s highest rating of six stars. The garden and homestead give Tūpare a distinctive place among Taranaki experiences: the focus here is on design and the exceptional building, rather than a long hike or coastal route.

Pukekura Park offers both guided and self-guided walks. This gives you two ways to explore the park: with a guide or on your own. Check the availability of walks again before your trip. Together with Tūpare, the park offers a focus on gardens and walks that clearly differs from the long hikes and the drive along Surf Highway 45.

When planning a stay in Taranaki, you can plan around these different timeframes and experiences: a challenging full-day hike on the Maunga, the Pouākai Crossing, which usually takes up to 9 hours 30 minutes, the coastal route between New Plymouth and Hāwera, or walks in the gardens. This lets you shape your trip around whether hiking, the coast or garden visits matter most to you.

Discover more destinations: Omata, New Plymouth District, Stratford, South Taranaki District, Okato, Kakaramea, Waitara, Waiongana.

For the main travel overview: New Zealand.