Search results
New Plymouth (Māori: Ngāmotu) is the major city of the Taranaki region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after the English city of Plymouth, in Devon, from where the first English settlers to New Plymouth migrated.
New Plymouth is a vibrant and contemporary city, known for its sunny climate, art galleries, picturesque parks, decadent dining, and family-friendly fun.
- Climb Paritutu Rock. When you arrive in a new city, the first thing you want to do is get a good perspective of the place, right? You know, get your bearings?
- Walk or Cycle the Coastal Walkway. The New Plymouth Coastal Walkway is kind of a staple in New Plymouth featuring lots of fun sculptures and picturesque coastline along the way.
- Learn Something New at the Puke Ariki Museum. Every city needs that boredom-busting museum (or rainy day activity). Puke Ariki is here to serve in New Plymouth!
- Go Surfing! New Plymouth is a city of surf so it would be a crime to not add surfing to the top five of the best things to do in New Plymouth! There are some awesome surf beaches right on the coast of the city, including Fitzroy Beach and Back Beach.
- Marvel at the most incredible view of Mount Taranaki (easy access) If there’s one thing you absolutely cannot miss when visiting New Plymouth, it’s taking in the spectacular views of Mount Taranaki from Lake Mangamahoe.
- Catch a sunset from Back Beach. Back Beach is an absolute beauty, and it’s less than a 10 minute drive from the town centre. Not only is it a lovely black sand beach, but the setting is incredibly dramatic, with the Sugar Loaf Islands ahead and the towering Paritutu Rock to the right.
- Discover the secret glow worm colony. Standing surrounded by hundreds of little twinkling blue lights that look like an incredible night sky is always a magical experience.
- Take a dip under the shadow of a volcano. Imagine sliding into an ice blue waterhole and then looking up to see Mount Taranaki looming above you. It sounds like the stuff of dreams, but that’s exactly what you’ll find at Wilkies Pools.
- sue. Tauranga, New Zealand 1 contribution. Beautiful park. Excellent park, free to visit, small zoo for kids. A great place of nature to wander and relax. Light festival a must see visit too.
- Simon D. Auckland, New Zealand 720 contributions. Beautiful walking spot. A special place whenever we visit New Plymouth. Easily accessed from the city where we were staying, a nice wide flat path and easy walking.
- wundabar. Auckland 113 contributions. Well worth the drive into the country... Magnificently maintained grounds and gardens, so many options and tracks to follow; quite a lot of info available, including historical info and relevant from around the world, though a few more individual tree/plant IDs would be good.
- Jane C. australia 190 contributions. Fantastic museum. What a fantastic space. Really interesting and enjoyable. Great for all and kids will enjoy it too. And free to boot!
Just the sheer laidback and authentic vibe of the small city of New Plymouth is a luxury, while the views of Mt Taranaki and the Tasman Sea enhance the experience. There are premium ways to explore New Plymouth’s diverse landscapes, from guided hiking tours to helicopter flights.
Feb 27, 2024 · Things to Do in New Plymouth, New Zealand: See Tripadvisor's 35,896 traveller reviews and photos of New Plymouth tourist attractions. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in July. We have reviews of the best places to see in New Plymouth. Visit top-rated & must-see attractions.
