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City in Taranaki, New Zealand
Photo: Sgroey, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
New Plymouth is the largest city with an urban population of 58,000 (2021) in the Taranaki region, on the western coast of North Island in New Zealand, about midway between Auckland and Wellington, but well to the west. It lies on the coastal plains just to the north-west of Mount Taranaki (Egmont).
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Museum, library, visitor information centre, restaurant and cafe.
One of New Zealand's finest collections of Modern Art. Has a very good cafe and gift shop. Attached to it is the Len Lye Centre, which opened in 2015 in a shiny new extension and houses a collection of works by kinetic artist Len Lye.
The city's botanical gardens. Excellent and well worth walking around. There are themed garden areas, small ponds and "lakes", attractive bridges and wonderful trails. This park was filmed as the Imperial Army Parade area and Palace in The Last Samurai. Attached to the park is Brooklands a further large park, with concert stage and a small zoo.
A kinetic sculpture designed by Len Lye. It is a 45m pole, with a soft red light on top at night, that moves in the wind.
The world's only lawn bowls museum.
Commercial art gallery.
The World of Music, Arts and Dance festival.
Runs annually for about 8 weeks in December and January. The beautiful Pukekura Park in the centre of New Plymouth is lit up, with live entertainment and activities for all ages. A winter festival of lights is sometimes held in the CBD in June, but this is not happening in 2026. The next summer festival is 19 December 2026 to 24 January 2027.
Volunteer run observatory
Scenic flights around New Plymouth and nationwide air charter services.
New Plymouth Society of Model & Experimental Engineers Inc
Volunteer run sit-on model railway, offers rides around a track on a house sized plot.
A great place for Northern Indian food.
Good Indian cuisine.
The campground has an excellent view out over the Tasman Sea to the north-west as well as the city's harbour just below and with a view of Mt Egmont to the south east when it's clear.
Good 23 unit family run motel (built in 2011) with studios and 1 & 2 bedroom units. Some rooms have a sea view, ask if that is your preference. Rooms have microwave, toaster and kettle.
Apartment style accommodation comprising of 41 studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom self-contained apartments in the current Post Office Building
formerley Fitzroy Beach Motel
Opened in 2009, luxury motel. Free bikes for hire and usage on the proximal coastal walkway. 200m from a lifeguard patrolled beach.
The Timandra Motel is a quiet yet centrally located motel at the end of Timandra Street, a no exit road just off State Highway 3. The motel has extensive gardens and offers a mixture of 1 & 2 bedroom en-suite accommodation, suitable for individuals, couples or family groups.
It also provides shuttle services to popular hiking spots in the mountains nearby.
By bus
National bus operator InterCity Coachlines provides daily services in and out of New Plymouth and the Taranaki region with connections throughout the North Island.
By car
State Highway 3 passes through New Plymouth.
By train
On rare occasions, a steam engine can be seen on the track. This most likely will be from the Waitara Railway Preservation Society, which runs the engine between Waitara and Lepperton.
By bus
There are buses on eleven routes on weekdays, branded as Citylink, supported by Taranaki Regional Council. On Saturday buses run on two routes, and none run on Sunday.70.
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New Plymouth · Regional · NPL
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