Under the mountain
Taranaki is one of the few places in the world where you can go snowboarding and surfing in the same day, followed by an evening relaxing in a restaurant with great food and wine.
You can watch the ever-changing moods of the majestic, snow-capped Mount Taranaki from wherever you are in the region. According to Māori legend, Mount Taranaki once resided in the middle of the North Island alongside Ruapehu, Ngāuruhoe and Tongariro, but lost a battle for the heart of pretty Mount Pīhanga and was banished to the coast.
Māori opposition to European settler land purchases and appropriation led to conflict in Taranaki through the 1860s, and in the late 1870s Parihaka became a centre for peaceful protest. From the 1880s dozens of small dairy factories were built – now replaced by one massive complex near Hāwera.
Today, the Taranaki region, with its population of 102,900, offers a huge range of outdoor activities, from strolls through native forests and multi-day hikes, to river rafting, surfing and winter snow sports.
When it’s time for something a little less energetic, you’ll discover art trails and festivals, award-winning museums and galleries along the waterfront, a thriving cafe culture and some great local shopping.
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Did you know?
Local Rugby stories
Tough, uncompromising forwards complemented by speedy backs saw Taranaki set the benchmark for provincial rugby in the 1950s and 1960s.
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NZ History
Sacred peak
For the Māori of the region, Mt Taranaki was a sacred place they dared not climb. In this 1840 lithograph, the mountain has an overwhelming presence.
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Te Ara: Encyclopedia of New Zealand
