Taranaki has many well known spots worth visiting, most of which are fairly easy to find online. There’s certainly nothing wrong with the well trodden path, however I’m always on the look out for slightly lesser known places to adventure. This list is a few of my favourite “hidden” or lesser known spots I reckon are worth a visit in the ‘Naki. I’ll keep updating it as I find more places worth checking out.
Jam Roll Bay
An hours drive north of New Plymouth CBD is one of the coolest spots on the Taranaki coast. The iconic jam roll is a unique geological formation created by an undersea slip rolling layers of mudstone into their “jam roll” layering. The location is also a hotspot for little blue penguins and has a lush waterfall that pours right onto the beach.
The Mermaid Pool
Only a few minutes drive from the centre of New Plymouth is one of the best coastal swimming spots in the region. Accessible at low tide, the mermaid pool on Pararaki (Seagull Rock) looks and feels like it belongs in a tropical paradise.
Wreck of the Waitangi
To the right of Mana Bay in Pātea is the wreck of the Waitangi. The ship wrecked on the beach on the 5th of May 1923 after trying to cross the bar at the mouth of the Pātea river. Much of the ship was salvaged, including the whistle which was used at the Pātea meatworks for many years. Despite being almost 100 years old, the ship is still visible.
Wreck of the Gairloch
If you’re looking for a shipwreck slightly closer to New Plymouth the Gairloch is only a short drive and walk from Oakura. Wrecked in 1903 on Timaru Reef, the remains are scattered around the bay and become exposed at low tide.
The Gairloch on stormy evening.
Native orchids at Pukeiti
Spring is definitely the best time of year for orchids however there are a range of species that flower throughout the year. Skip past the beautiful planted gardens and into the native bush to start finding some of the real delights. Less showy than the introduced rhododendrons our indigenous orchids take a wide range of shapes from small spider orchids, hanging easter orchids and camouflaged greenhoods.
