New Plymouth brings together a botanical park in the heart of the city, a 13.2-kilometre coastal route, museums and notable historical connections. When planning your trip, it is worth considering the longer routes, central cultural sites and private historic site separately. This will help you decide whether walks, wildlife, art or city history should be the focus of your stay.
Park Trails and Coast
Pukekura Park is in the heart of New Plymouth, covers 52 hectares and is one of New Zealand’s leading botanic gardens. Lakes and walking paths through native bush define the park. It is also home to the Fernery and Display Houses: three glass-roofed caverns excavated into a hillside. This combination of parkland and unusual design gives the site a distinctive architectural character alongside its paths and water features.
The Coastal Walkway runs for 13.2 kilometres from Port Taranaki to the eastern end of Bell Block Beach. It is paved and has some gentle inclines. You can use the route for walking, running, cycling, skateboarding, skating and scootering. Its length, surface and inclines give you specific points to consider when choosing how you want to travel along the coast.
The Te Henui Walkway offers a different perspective on the trails. It follows Te Henui Stream and connects the Coastal Walkway with the New Plymouth suburbs of Merrilands and Welbourn. Unlike the coastal route, this one is oriented around the stream and connections to the two suburbs. This lets you choose between a coastal route and a path alongside the stream without treating the two routes as interchangeable.
Culture and History in the City Centre
In the New Plymouth District, Puke Ariki is at 65 St Aubyn Street in central New Plymouth, opposite the Walkway and the Len Lye Wind Wand. The museum has three permanent exhibition galleries covering the region’s history, taonga and natural world. Admission to all areas is free. Check the current visitor information before your visit, as admission arrangements may change.
The Puke Ariki Historic Walk through central New Plymouth offers a guided addition to your visit. The tour is about three kilometres long and takes two hours. If you plan to take it, check the current times and booking conditions in advance.
Te Henui Vicarage is classified as a Historic Place Category 1 and is privately owned, not open to the public. Its exceptional historical significance stems from its direct connection to the founding of the Church of England in New Zealand. The coat of arms of Bishop Selwyn of the undivided Diocese of New Zealand, set into the building’s masonry, embodies this connection. The vicarage is therefore an important historical landmark, but not a publicly accessible visitor attraction.
The Govett-Brewster Art Gallery | Len Lye Centre in New Plymouth is a founding member of the Coastal Arts Trail. This self-guided route leads to art galleries and museums on the west coast of the North Island, from Wellington via Palmerston North and Whanganui to New Plymouth. The trail places the gallery in a wider arts context, while Puke Ariki focuses on the region’s history, taonga and natural world through its permanent exhibitions.
Brooklands Zoo and Other Trails
Brooklands Zoo offers a different focus for a stay in New Plymouth. From the city centre, it can be reached on foot through Pukekura Park; alternatively, access is via the upper end of Brooklands Park Drive. Animals on view include farm animals, reptiles and amphibians, meerkats, Bolivian squirrel monkeys, capuchin monkeys and white-faced sakis, as well as colourful birds in a walk-through free-flight aviary. There is also a playground and outdoor areas for visitors. On weekends and during school holidays, keepers give talks twice daily, at 12 noon and 2 pm. If you want to plan around these talks, check the current schedule before your visit.
More Things to Do in New Plymouth District
Beyond the city’s attractions, New Plymouth District also offers a variety of landscapes and trail experiences. The interpretive trail at Pukerangiora Pā is an easy loop around the pā site. The clifftop lookout offers wide-ranging views, and archaeological features are also among the trail’s highlights. The Stony River (Hangatahua) Walkway passes through lowland bush and offers views of Taranaki Maunga. You can walk it as an out-and-back route or as a loop. These options help you choose in advance between returning along the same route and taking a circular route. Waitara Marine Park is where the Waitara River meets the sea.
Discover more destinations: Egmont Village, Oakura, Hillsborough
Return to the main travel overview: New Plymouth District.
