New Plymouth

New Plymouth is the major centre in the Taranaki region and is a very pleasant city with nice parks and open spaces and the Puke Ariki museum. It has a great location with ski slopes and great surf beaches within a one-hour drive of the city centre.

New Plymouth is off the beaten track and none of the three main backpackers buses come here. The city doesn’t attract many travellers, which is a pity as it is one of New Zealand’s most underrated places.

Local transport

New Plymouth Citylink operate 11 bus routes in the New Plymouth area. The central bus terminus is on Ariki Street next to Puke Ariki.