Taranaki Road Trip Itinerary
6 nights / 7 days from/to Auckland
The Taranaki region has been on my personal NZ bucket list for a while now. In January this year (2021), we finally managed to go on a Taranaki road trip! And tell you what, it’s an absolute must-do if you have a week of leave! We totally fell in love with New Plymouth, Mt Taranaki and the complete Taranaki region, really.
In this itinerary, I’ll show you exactly where we explored and where we stayed so you can just copy/paste our trip for your own roadie. You can also easily extend your stay or shorten it to fit a weekend getaway. For more ideas on what to do in Taranaki, please check out this post here.
Taranaki Road Trip Itinerary 7 days / 6 nights ex Auckland
tARANAKI ROAD TRIP MAP
Day 1: Auckland to New Plymouth (360km)
The drive from Auckland to New Plymouth takes about 5 hours in pure driving time, so ideally hit the road early to avoid traffic (we left at 5am). The first stop is in Otorohanga, where the cafes open pretty early for breakfast.
The scenic part of today’s drive starts in Awakino, where Highway 3 meets the ocean. After crossing the bridge in Tongapurutu, take the first right turn off the highway. At the end of the track is a freedom camping spot (for self-contained certified vehicles only) as well as two shipping container cafes, one selling coffee and ice cream and the other burgers).
Coffee and ice cream stop at the three sisters.
At low tide, you can walk to the Three Sisters from here.
One more hour and you’re in New Plymouth, ready to check-in. We stayed at the Metrotel New Plymouth and can happily recommend the hotel. It’s new, modern, ultra-central and comes with a free car park for guests.
Mt Taranaki is visible even from the centre of new plymouth.
Take the afternoon to explore some of New Plymouth. How about a visit to the Puke Ariki Museum to learn more about the Taranaki area and its past? Also nearby is the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery/Len Lye Centre, housed in one of the coolest buildings in all of New Zealand.
hOW COOL IS THIS BUILDING, PLEASE? lEN lYE CENTRE, nEW pLYMOUTH
During our stay in New Plymouth, it was the last weekend of the 44 days-long Festival Of Lights in Pukekura Park. If you’re visiting between Christmas and the end of January, a stroll through the light installations is a must!
OUR ROOM AT THE METROTREL NEW PLYMOUTH
Day 2: Explore New Plymouth
Start your first full day in New Plymouth with a proper challenge: Climb Paritutu Rock. While it’s just a short way up, maybe about 20 minutes each way, Paritutu surely isn’t for the faint of heart. The rock sticks out of the otherwise flat landscape like a tooth. It starts with stairs, like any other walk, but quickly changes into a proper climb that has you clinging tightly to the chains. The views over New Plymouth from the top are worth the adrenaline, though.
ON TOP OF PARITUTU ROCK
After an early morning climb, head over to the Bach on the Beach for a delicious breakfast right at the water’s edge. If you visit on the weekend and would like a window table, call and make a booking.
brekky at bach at the beach with a view of paritutu rock
Next on the list is a bike ride along the New Plymouth Coastal Walkway. . We hired our bikes from Cycle Inn as it was just around the corner from our hotel and the rental price is reasonably cheap. The Coastal Walkway is mostly flat and easy to ride. It also passes Te Rewa Rewa Bridge, a bridge in the shape of a wave that perfectly frames Mt Taranaki in the background.
biking on the coastal walkway in new plymouth
Te REwa Rewa Bridge
Day 3: Hike to the Pouakai Tarns
Accommodation: Pouakai Hut (DOC Hut)
Check out from Metrotel and drive about 20 minutes towards Mt Taranaki. At the end of Mangorei Road, you’ll spot a big parking lot. Follow the wooden boardwalk for about 2.5 hours through the bush. The track is not very challenging technically, all you need to do is follow the boardwalk. It’s just a gradual climb that you’ll feel in your legs later, thanks to the gear you need to carry to the hut.
Up the stairs towards the pouakai tarns
Once you arrive at Pouakai Hut, leave most of your gear on your chosen bed and continue on the path until you reach the Pouakai Tarns. On a calm day, the tarns reflect Mt Taranaki perfectly, almost like a mirror.
compulsory picture at the pouakai tarns
Spend the rest of your day and evening chatting to the other people staying in the hut, enjoying the view and watch the sunset. On a clearn night, you can see the light of New Plymouth below you and the twinkly stars of the Milky Way above.
the mount taranaki sunset was absolutely magical!
Day 4: Pouakai Hut to Ōpunake (77km)
Get your head torches ready for an epic sunrise at the Pouakai Tarns. As it’s still dark when you leave the hut, you should’ve been to the tarns the day before to know where to walk. Bring your camera and plenty of warm clothes as it’s cold. Seeing the sun rise and bathe Mount Taranaki in golden light is absolutely worth getting up for!
mount taranaki star trails reflecting in the tarns
Back at the hut, drink some hot tea and eat your brekky before heading back to the car.
Continuing your Taranaki road trip, head back towards the ocean and stop for a second breakfast at the Tides Cafe in Ōakura just outside New P for the best Italian sandwich in New Zealand (I’m not exaggerating). Everything else looked delicious, too.
…and we’re back on the beach in oakura
If you like lighthouses, turn off the Surf Highway towards the ocean to see Cape Egmont Lighthouse. The lighthouse is located on private property, though, so you won’t be able to take a closer look.
A true highlight for all Lord of the Rings fans is to pay a visit to Steve at Custom Leather Works in Rahotu. He’ll love to tell you all about when he used to make the leather works for Weta for the Lord of the Rings outfits and movie props. A true master of his trade! You’ll find Steve’s workshop in a blue building at the town’s entrance. There’s most likely no sign, so you’ll just have to stick your head in.
steve from custom leather works showing chris his work for the lotr movies
Stay at Ōpunake Beach Holiday Park in a cabin. The campsite is perfectly located a few steps from the swimming and surf beach. You have the choice between a self-contained cabin with a private kitchen and bath or the basic cabin with shared facilities.
sunset for dinner at opunake beach
Day 5: Ōpunake to Dawson Falls (36km)
Go for a stroll up and down Ōpunake’s main street. This typical Kiwi town has a cool surf-vibe and lots of great op shops. For great coffee and breakfast, head over to the quirky Sugar Juice Cafe. Then drive the approx 40mins to Dawson Falls.
opunake’s charming cinema
There are lots of great short walks in Dawson Falls but the most popular ones are to Wilkies Pools and Dawson Falls waterfall. Both lead through the aptly named Goblin Forest and are loop tracks of about 90 minutes each.
you can see why it’s called the goblin forest. cue some fog for extra magic
Dawson Falls Lodge is the place to stay in Dawson Falls. The lodge got its Swiss theme in the 70s and was the life project of Taranaki local Keith Anderson. He built every single of the rooms in painstakingly details to look like a Swiss mountain lodge. As a Swiss myself, I can confirm it does look like a Swiss chalet.
our stunning room at dawson falls lodge. everyting is custom built!
What’s more, the hosts are absolutely lovely as is the food they serve.
Day 6: Dawson Falls to Whanagamomona (85km)
Looping back towards Auckland via the Forgotten World Highway, make sure to fill up your fuel in Stratford. At 150km long, the Forgotten Highway has no petrol station until you reach the other side in Taumarunui.
on the forgotten world highway
The first kilometres is mainly farmland before the road gets steeper and curvier. Passing 3 saddles before arriving at the half-way point, the Republic of Whangamomona.
Check into your accommodation and explore further along the Forgotten World Highway. Damper Falls are a great excuse for a little excursion off the highway and lets you drive through the Hobbit Hole Tunnel twice.
damper falls off the forgotten world highway
Visit the Tangarakau Ghost Town. Which is not really a ghost town anymore but home to a lovely campsite (called Bushlands) and the Pouatu manuka honey farm. If you ask the owners nicely, they might even show you the track to their breathtaking canyon where wild goats and wild horses live!
where the wild horses (and goats) live: tangarakau canyon
Back at the Whangamomona Hotel, the allegedly most remote pub in New Zealand, get yourself a pint of Whagamomona Ale and a burger and have a yarn with the locals. The hotel rooms are upstairs (private rooms with shared bath/toilet facilities). Your bed has never been closer to a pub!
the charming republic of whangamomona with the most remote pub in nZ.
Please be aware that the Forgotten World Highway is not allowed to drive with most rental cars and motorhomes. Check before you hit the road!
Book a night at the Whangamomona Hotel
Day 7: Whangamomona to Auckland (350km)
We’re homeward-bound today! But first, there’s a 12km stretch of unsealed road ahead. It’s not too hard to drive, however, just be cautious and reduce your speed.
morning traffic on the forgotten world highway
A few kilometres before you reach the end of the Forgotten World Highway in Taumarunui, stop for some coffee and cake in the lovely garden at Lauren’s Lavender. With some luck, you get to visit during the blooming season from roundabout December to March.
at lauren’s lavender just outside taumarunui
From Taumarunui, you can head back up to Auckland via Waitomo Caves or continue your road trip towards Tongariro National Park.
A few thoughts on our Taranaki road trip itinerary
As we’ve never been to the Taranaki region before this road trip and the area’s not on the usual tourist route (in contrast to Rotorua, Tongariro etc), I found it a little difficult to come across current information. Luckily, Venture Taranaki gave me some very useful tips and ideas on what to see along the way.
Here are some thoughts on our Taranaki road trip itinerary plus what we would do differently next time we visit:
Distances
Everything is close-by in Taranaki. You could easily drive the Surf Highway from New Plymouth to Hawera and back to New Plymouth along highway 3 in one day (it’s only 170km)! So if you don’t like to change your accommodation on the daily, just base yourself in New Plymouth and explore the region from there.
a taranaki road trip is fairly easy and not too far to drive.
Pouakai Tarns Walk
The same applies to the Pouakai Tarns track. The walk can easily be done within a day from New Plymouth and back, you don’t have to stay in the hut (since long-drops and bunk beds are not for everyone). However, the best chance for a calm tarn for your Taranaki reflection shots is early in the morning. If this is important to you, you either need to start walking before sunrise or stay in the hut for the night.
By the way, Pouakai Tarns Hut now needs to be booked online.
What we would do differently next time
We would’ve liked to stay in Ōpunake for 2 nights instead of the one. We only reached the campsite in the afternoon and didn’t get a good chance to explore the lovely looking new Ōpunake Loop Track. We would’ve also checked out the Tāwhiti Museum in Hāwera.
Plus, if you’re not used to road tripping, staying only one night in each location (apart from New Plymouth where we stayed for 2 nights) can be exhausting, adding a second night every now and then makes the roadie more fun.
Have you been on a Taranaki road trip yet? What was your favourite part of the roadie?