Discover Egmont Village

Horse riding, signposted access to nearby tracks and several historical connections shape travel planning in Egmont Village. The schedule for the riding programme and the different route profiles are particularly useful when planning your visit.

Horse riding lessons with set time slots

Egmont Village Riding School offers horse riding lessons for children, teenagers and adults, including private and group lessons as well as holiday programmes. During the school term, private and group lessons and pony rides are available from Tuesday to Saturday. The holiday programme runs from Monday to Friday during school holidays. If you plan to include horse riding in your itinerary, these different time slots are an important guide.

Access and directions

In Egmont Village, the turnoff from SH23 onto North Egmont Road is signposted for the Veronica Loop Track. To reach the Nature Walk, Ambury Monument Walk and Ngatoro-Waiwhakaiho Loop Track, turn from State Highway 3 onto Egmont Road in Egmont Village; access to the visitor centre at the end of the road is also signposted.

North Taranaki Visitor Centre is outside Egmont Village, at the end of Egmont Road. It is the main gateway to Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki, formerly Egmont National Park. The Veronica Loop Track starts at the visitor centre, so the turnoffs in the village and the visitor centre are two separate landmarks for finding your way.

Walking tracks with different profiles

The Veronica Loop Track climbs through varied alpine rainforest. An optional detour takes you to a lookout with views of the mountain and as far as the coast. The Connett Loop Track passes through a forest covered in moss and lichen to a small lookout with views of the mountain. Both tracks offer mountain views; the optional detour on the Veronica Loop also adds views extending to the coast.

The Nature Walk is family-friendly and passes through the forest and by Ambury Monument. By contrast, the Ngatoro-Waiwhakaiho Loop Track is a challenging hike through some of the last remnants of Taranaki’s lowland forest. These contrasting characteristics offer practical guidance when choosing between a family-friendly walk and a challenging hike.

Monuments and regional history

The Ambury Monument Walk leads to a monument to mountaineer Arthur Ambury. He died on 3 June 1918 while making a heroic rescue attempt to save William Edwin Gourlay, who had slipped on ice. The walk thus connects a hike in the Egmont Village area with a specific historical event.

The York Loop Track in Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki, formerly known as Egmont National Park, also has a history that can be traced along the route. It follows part of the former Egmont Branch Railway Line. Built in 1901, the railway carried roading materials and stone for Port Taranaki; quarrying operations ended in the late 1920s. Features preserved along the track include the sites of former barracks and houses, as well as an old crusher site with a large retaining wall.

In the village itself, Egmont Village’s blockhouse was later used as the village’s first school. Another historical connection is the Olson family, who were known in Egmont Village for making homemade cheese and butter until 1892.

Egmont Downs and seasonal planning

Egmont Downs is a garden in Egmont Village and is listed as a “Returning Garden”. The festival route is seasonal; check current opening dates and visitor rules before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Oakura, New Plymouth, Hillsborough

For the broader travel overview: New Plymouth District.