New Plymouth i-site Visitor Centre

The New Plymouth Information Centre is now part of the Puke Arikicomplex containing a library, museum and heritage collection.

Sitting on the coast at the base of Mount Taranaki, New Plymouth (population 80,000) is the major town in the energy province of Taranaki. It has the West Coast's only deep water port. The town was established by settlers from the West of England with the first settlers arriving in 1841. A series of disputes over ownership and settlement of land developed between Maori and settlers soon after and New Plymouth became a fortified garrison town in 1860-1861. More than 3500 Imperial soldiers, as well as local volunteers and militia, fought Maori in the First Taranaki War.

Today Taranaki is famous for its gardens and celebrates with an annual rhododendron festival. New Plymouth's waterfront walkway gives visitors (and locals) the chance to make the most of its coastal location. It has recently been extended beyond its initial 10km length by a spectacular bridge over the Waiwakaiho River.

TRANSPORT In 2010 New Plymouth and Hastings were chosen as model communities—urban environments where walking or cycling is offered to the community as the easiest transport choice. Branded 'Lets Go' the New Plymouth initiative involved a combined $7 million over two years to develop walking and cycling initiatives to encourage people out of their cars and onto our shared pathways and street-scapes.


Print of New Plymouth 1860 by John Gully