The Hillsborough Holden Museum preserves and displays a private collection of Australian Holden vehicles and memorabilia. Hillsborough also offers other activities, including mini golf and the Hideaway Luge. The museum is a ten-minute drive from central New Plymouth.

Holden vehicles at the museum

The collection includes well-preserved early models, carefully restored models and newer vehicles from more recent years. This means different types and conditions of vehicles can be seen side by side: early models alongside restored and newer vehicles. The museum welcomes car enthusiasts who enjoy and appreciate classic and modern vehicles.

The focus is on the vehicles and memorabilia themselves. If you’re interested in Holden, the collection offers a specific reason to include this part of Hillsborough in your travel plans. Its private nature also sets it apart from a general overview of the region’s history and natural environment.

Mini golf, downhill rides and live music

Mount Panorama Mini Putt offers 18 mini golf holes. The entire course—not just individual holes—is modelled on the famous Mount Panorama course in Bathurst. This makes the course a leisure option in its own right, alongside the Holden Museum’s thematic focus.

The Hideaway Luge is a 240-metre road course for downhill rides on the property at Egmont Road, next to the Hillsborough Holden Museum and Mount Panorama Mini Putt. Hideaway Luge Taranaki was announced as open; check whether visits are currently possible before travelling there. The Hideaway Luge does not accept individual bookings. Check the current booking policy before making plans.

The Hillsborough Holden Museum gardens are also home to the Hideaway Soundshell, a new live music venue. So if live music is important to your travel plans, check the specific event dates.

Food and practical information

The Hideaway Cafe is a fully licensed café serving homemade meals, sweet treats, wine and beer. As you should check its current operating status before your trip, it’s best to confirm in advance whether you can include the café in your plans. Parking is available on site at Hillsborough Hideaway.

The ten-minute drive from central New Plymouth gives you a useful guide for getting to the Hillsborough Holden Museum. When planning your day, consider whether the vehicle collection, mini golf or the announced leisure and music offerings are your priority. For the Hideaway Luge, check in advance both whether visits are possible and what the booking policy is; the café information should also be checked before your trip.

More options in New Plymouth District

If you’re considering other things to do besides Hillsborough, you can also explore the wider New Plymouth District. The Coastal Walkway is a 13.2-kilometre path along the coast: it runs from Pioneer Park at Port Taranaki to the eastern side of Bell Block Beach. This is a different kind of outing from visiting the Holden collection or the mini golf course.

For a cultural and historical experience in New Plymouth District, Puke Ariki has three permanent exhibition galleries about the region’s history, taonga and natural world. The Puke Ariki Historic Walk is a guided tour of about three kilometres through central New Plymouth and takes two hours. Times and booking requirements can change; check them in advance if you’re planning to take the tour.

Discover more destinations: Oakura, New Plymouth, Egmont Village.

For the broader travel guide: New Plymouth District.