The city of New Plymouth is known for its sunny climate, art galleries and beautiful parks. It is also New Zealand's 'oil town', with offshore rigs extracting natural gas and oil.
Mount Taranaki provides a dramatic backdrop to the city, while reminding you that the hiking trails of the Egmont National Park are just a short drive away.
Down at the New Plymouth waterfront you'll find Puke Ariki, a wonderful museum and heritage centre that overlooks a six kilometre coastal walkway. At any time of the year, Pukekura Park is a place to relax and enjoy nature.
First populated by Maori in the early 14th century, New Plymouth was formally established and named by English immigrants in the 1840s. Once a primitive trading and whaling station unofficially begun by infamous pioneers John Love and Richard Barrett in 1828, the city enjoys a wide range of hotels, cafes, a movie complex and retail therapy to wear out most credit cards.
As well as New Plymouth, the district includes the towns of Oakura, Waitara, Inglewood, Lepperton, Tarata, Egmont Village and Urenui, which each offer a unique personality to visitors.
Approx Population 50,000