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 Located 242 kms southwest of
Hamilton and 234kms northwest of Palmerston North, New Plymouth is the main
commercial centre for the Taranaki region and the base for the off shore oil
production and petrochemical industry.
New
Plymouth District has a reputation as an events centre, with major festivals
(the annual TSB Bank Festival of Lights, Taranaki Rhododendron and Garden
Festival, WOMAD and the G-TARanaki International Guitar Festival, and the
biennial Taranaki Arts Festival), sports fixtures (including international
rugby, cricket and tennis matches, and the annual ITU World Cup Triathlon)
and concerts (from Sir Elton John and Michael Crawford to R.E.M and Stevie
Nicks). With its rich
volcanic soil, the city is well known for its gardens. Chief among them are
the 52ha Pukekura Park in the centre of the city (named a Garden of National
Significance), and Pukeiti, a rhododendron garden of international
significance high on the Pouakai Range.
The Park is also the home of the TSB
Bank Festival of Lights, which runs for free every year from mid-December to
early February. It has daytime and night time programmes of events for
people of all ages, and the festival itself transforms the park into an
illuminated wonderland every evening.
30 Minute drive from New
Plymouth, is Mount Taranaki/Egmont providing recreation opportunities, from
skiing and snowboarding to rock climbing and alpine walks.
New Plymouth and the surrounding coast is known as ‘big wave
territory’ with some of the country’s best surfing spots found off this
coastline.
New Plymouth is served
by various
coach/bus operators providing regular daily services from
Auckland, Rotorua, Tauranga, Taupo, Napier, Hastings, Whanganui and
Wellington.
Air New Zealand Link operates regular daily air services from
Auckland, Nelson and Wellington.
There are no passenger train services from New Plymouth to Auckland,
Whanganui, Taupo, National park, Ohakune, Rotorua, Tauranga, Palmerston
North or Wellington |