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If you’ve driven into Taranaki by car from the north, south or east, you’ll understand just how special the drives into this region are. The beauty of the North Taranaki coastline, the breathtaking panorama of the Forgotten World Highway 43 from Taumarunui to Stratford, the meandering ease through dairy country from the south…suffice it to say, Taranaki is a driver’s dream.
The huge ringplain surrounding Mt Taranaki offers easy driving between various attractions. Not to be missed is Surf Highway 45, a 105km highway linking New Plymouth with Hawera. This road passes nearly all the region’s renowned surf spots, as well as showcasing some of the best arts and crafts in New Zealand.
Bus services offer regular timetables around the region, particularly linking New Plymouth with Inglewood, Stratford, Eltham, Hawera, Oakura, Okato, Opunake and Patea. Bus timetables are available from the Taranaki Regional Council (TRC) website, bus stations, and i-Sites. You can also email TRC
Tourism operators also offer shuttles up to Mt Taranaki and Egmont National Park on a regular basis, particularly during the Manganui Skifield season and during the summer. I-Sites around the region will be able to give details of these services.
If buses and cars aren’t your scene, how about a helicopter ride? Several operators around the region can take you for a bird’s eye view of the region and its spectacular mountain, or you can charter a fishing boat for a spot of trawling down the coast.
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New Plymouth
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Stratford
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Opunake
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Hawera
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New Plymouth
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30 minutes
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50 minutes
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1 hour
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Stratford
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30 minutes
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35 minutes
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30 minutes
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Opunake
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50 minutes
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35 minutes
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30 minutes
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Hawera
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1 hour
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30 minutes
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30 minutes
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