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New Plymouth Travel Guide, New Zealand

New Plymouth is located in the Taranaki region of New Zealand and is the region's main city. It has developed into a city that is rich in sports, dining, outdoor life, and arts. The city is well known for great parks, which include Nga Motu/Sugar Loaf Islands Marine Park, Pukekura Park, Egmont National Park, Pukeiti Rhododendron Trust, and Tupare Gardens. There are also many city walkways and heritage trails, including Coastal Walkway, which is 7 kilometers long, as well as good beaches, which include Ngamotu, Oakura, Fitzroy, and East End.

There are also many historical buildings in New Plymouth, including the St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral, of which is the country's oldest stone church, and Puke Ariki, which is the first fully integrated information center, library, and museum in the world. There is a collection of kinetic sculptures by Len Lye at the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery.

New Plymouth is a mecca for surfers, climbers, and trampers alike, as its environment offers the best natural wonders for these enthusiasts. Taranaki is blessed with unusual beauty that is rarely found around the world, and the Tasman Sea and Mt. Taranaki volcano provide a stunning backdrop to the area of the city. The natural attractions in New Plymouth have boosted its international profile in tourism during recent years. The city has become a home for many different types of artists and craftspeople with its wide range of studios and galleries to go exploring in.

The volcano, Mt. Taranaki, has become the country's most climbed mountain and provides safe access for tramping, photography, climbing, and skiing. It has a canning resemblance to Japan's Mt. Fuji, rising 251 meters, and is surrounded by green countryside, feeding more than 50 streams and rivers. It is one of New Zealand's the wettest areas, creating a botanic environment that is perfect for sub-alpine herb fields, sub-tropical forestation, and a broad selection of introduced and native vegetation.

The region of Taranaki is also recognized as an important supplier and distributer of energy and petrochemicals. The local economy boasts agriculture, having a strong emphasis on dairy production, as well as floriculture, forestry, horticulture, and aquaculture.

New Plymouth is also a great location to have a cost effective business conference, with the capability of accommodating as many as 1,000 delegates rather easily. Both the holidaymaker and businessperson can find accommodations here with ease, offering campgrounds, hostels, Bed & Breakfasts, hotels, lodges, and self-catering motels. Entertainment and food options are also consistent with those that are offered in other cities, with a huge selection where some are good and some are not as good.