Places to see in New Plymouth

New Plymouth, the main city of Taranaki District is renowned in New Zealand for the breathtaking scenery and sightseeing destinations. New Plymouth is ideally located within the short distance from Auckland and Willington. Depending on the kind of vacation you plan to enjoy, there are plenty of places to see in New Plymouth. Mount Taranaki, Egmont National Park, Pukekura Park, Oakura are some of the well known places to see in New Plymouth.

The Taranaki Museum is an important place to see in New Plymouth. This museum has an outstanding collection of Maori artifacts, moa skeletons, old paintings and etchings some even dating back to eighteenth century. Govett-Brewster Art Gallery exhibits the display work of internationally renowned artist and filmmaker Len Lye. Govett Art Gallery is also famous for the adventure shows, which attracts art lovers and critics both.

Egmont National Park tops the list of places to see in New Plymouth. Egmont National Park is a eco tourist adventure. The challenging climb of Egmont National Park attracts tourists all year round. The park also offers beautiful walks along side lush green forests to waterfalls, wetlands and some other eye catching viewpoints. The Egmont National Park has 13 entrances, which make it one of the most accessible parks in New Zealand. The ‘Around the Mountain Circuit’ walks are popular among tourists; it usually takes 3 to 5 days to complete. A good number of short walks can also be found around Dawson Falls and East Egmont.

The Fun Ho! National Toy Museum Foundry, is a real fun treat for kids is also an exciting place to see in New Plymouth. This unusual museum started in 1942 has unique collection of tough aluminum sand cast toys and they are all hand made. Children can enjoy the variety of toy models of tractors, cars, trucks, planes, trains and other miscellaneous toys. Free demonstrations of toy making are also given to the tour groups visiting the Fun Ho! Museum.

Guided tours, easy access walks and tramping tracks allows you to explore the scenic beauty and lush locales of New Plymouth. Everett Park, Moki track, Rerekapa track, Mount Damper Fall walk and Whitecliffs Walkway gives you the chance to enjoy scenic reserve walk all through the city. Walk enthusiasts get the chance to explore the unscathed beauty of New Plymouth.  

While in New Plymouth, a visit to Brooklands Park is a must. The Brooklands Park is home to 2000 year old puriri tree, 300 different varieties of Rhododendron along with a children’s zoo. Tourists can also enjoy world class surfing at Fitzroy and East End beaches located on the east of New Plymouth.