Taranaki delivers the best of New Zealand when spring arrives, with plenty of free and low-cost activities that the whole whānau will enjoy.
Here’s your ultimate guide to a spring experience, like no other.
The garden capital
Spring is when Taranaki truly earns its title as New Zealand’s Garden Capital. For 10 days, the region bursts into life, offering rare access to passionate gardeners and their stunning private and public green spaces, including 12 prestigious NZ Gardens Trust Gardens.
At the heart of this celebration are three vibrant festivals: the Centuria Taranaki Garden Festival, the Taranaki Fringe Garden Festival, and the Taranaki Sustainable Backyards Trail. Together, they create an unmissable season of gardens, creativity, and sustainable living.
The Centuria Taranaki Garden Festival (31 October–9 November), the longest-running garden festival in New Zealand, transforms the region into a living gallery with over 40 stunning public and private gardens across the region to explore, as well as more than 30 specially curated events. Garden entry prices start from just $5.
Te Kāinga Marire, a Garden of International Significance, is a must-visit. This peaceful native sanctuary offers guided tours that weave together the indigenous flora of Aotearoa and design principles with stories of place and people.
Running alongside the garden festival is the Sustainable Backyards Trail (31 October–9 November), where locals open their eco-living spaces to share knowledge on regenerative gardening, innovative builds, water-wise techniques, and organic farming practices. Free workshops, tours, and conversations offer inspiration for anyone looking to live more lightly on the land.
If you’re seeking something more whimsical, the Fringe Garden Festival (31 October–9 November) celebrates the personality and flair of local gardeners. It’s where creative flair meets horticultural expertise; many gardens feature art studios, handmade goods, and locally grown produce for sale. It’s an experience that’s as charming and unfiltered as the region itself.
A visit to Te Popo Gardens near Stratford is a day well spent. This expansive private haven features rainforest walks, river gorges, a 30m suspension bridge, over 40 life-sized animal sculptures, and picnic-perfect spots, plus it's dog-friendly (on a lead), making it a great outing for everyone, including your furry friends. The gardens are open year-round, daily from 10am to 4pm, and entry is just $5 per person.
Taranaki Arts Trail
Art meets landscape at the Taranaki Arts Trail, a free, self-guided trail that runs parallel with the garden festivals and events (31 October–9 November). Visit over 50 working studios across the region and meet painters, potters, jewellers, and sculptors in their creative zones. Whether you’re a collector or just curious, it’s a rare chance to connect with the people behind the work and see how the region’s stunning landscapes shape their inspiration.
Affordable family fun
Don’t miss Destination Kāwaroa, the region’s epic new playground, perched on the edge of the New Plymouth Coastal Walkway with easy access to the Kāwaroa Reef rockpools. This playground is one of the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere, filled with super-fun slides, waterplay, climbing towers, a flying fox, wheelchair accessible trampoline, and sensory spaces inspired by the maramataka (Māori lunar calendar).
Brooklands Zoo offers a free, fun day out for the whole whānau. Home to an impressive range of animals, including capuchin monkeys, meerkats, parrots, and tortoises, this small but mighty zoo is a hit with kids and adults alike, complete with a playground and picnic areas, making it an easy, low-cost way to enjoy a full day outdoors.
In the mood for friendly competition? Head to the Hillsborough Hideaway where you can race down the exhilarating luge track, challenge each other on the Bathurst-themed mini putt course, or check out the impressive collection of Holden vehicles and memorabilia.
Outdoor experiences
Hit the trails to enjoy crisp spring air and vibrant backdrop of our natural landscape. At the heart of it all stands Taranaki Maunga, rising 2,518m above sea level and surrounded by Te Papakura o Taranaki National Park. With more than 200km of walking tracks, from mossy forest rambles to panoramic ridge-line climbs, there’s a path here for everyone.
The maunga holds deep cultural significance; granted legal personhood in 2023, he’s recognised as a living ancestor of the eight iwi of Taranaki. That means every step you take is not just through nature, but in connection with a deeply respected tupuna (ancestor) of the land.
Prefer wheels over walking? Hire an e-bike from King & Queen Hotel Suites and cruise New Plymouth’s award-winning Coastal Walkway in comfort. This 13km stretch is packed with surf views, public art, and photo-perfect stops, from the iconic Te Rewa Rewa Bridge to Len Lye’s Wind Wand and striking stone carvings like Mothers and Daughters.
Looking for more adventure? Head to Mangamahoe Mountain Bike Park, just outside New Plymouth, where you’ll find over 30km of free trails for all skill levels, including beginner-friendly greens and technical downhill lines, plus a scenic gravel loop around the lake. If you’re travelling with younger riders, Bell Block and Stratford have kid’s pump tracks that offer a free and low-key spot for building confidence on two wheels.
A taste of Taranaki
Driving down from the north? Stretch your legs at Bratwurst Bros. in Uruti, right on SH3. Refuel with a barista-made IncaFé coffee, a smoky bacon & egg roll, authentic German bratwurst, or classic currywurst with pommes.
If pastries and pies are calling your name, head into Piccolo Morso in Fitzroy. This neighbourhood gem fills the air with the scent of freshly baked goodness, offering everything from crusty loaves and soft rolls to melt-in-your-mouth doughnuts and New Plymouth’s most sought-after pies.
Nothing says Taranaki lifestyle quite like a barbecue at East End Beach Reserve, beside the river at Tūpare Gardens, or with a portable grill at one of the region’s many quiet picnic spots. Taranaki is full of places to sizzle sausages, flip a few burgers, and share a meal with friends and whānau. Add in the best of local flavours, fresh fish from Egmont Seafoods, sausages from Bratwurst Bros., fresh buns from Piccolo Morso, or premium cuts from Field to Fork, and you’ve got a feast that’s pure Taranaki.
Love your picnic spot? Leave it spotless when you go, so everyone can enjoy the magic of dining alfresco.
A run like no other
The Coastal Five, 15-16 November, is the most scenic and social running event in New Zealand. Held over two days in New Plymouth, this unique festival lets you run five different events totalling 42.2km, or choose your favourite.
You'll race past Taranaki Maunga, along the Coastal Walkway, through the heart of Pukekura Park, into the lush rainforest of Pukeiti, and around Lake Mangamahoe. It's part run, part adventure, and full of unforgettable views.
Surf & scenic attractions
No spring Taranaki roadie is complete without a cruise down Surf Highway 45, a 105km coastal trail linking the surf spots, cafes, and communities that hug the region’s west coast. This scenic route winds its way through iconic coastal villages such as Ōakura, Ōkato, and Ōpunake, connecting wild black-sand beaches and world-class surf breaks, including Stent Road and the Kumara Patch.
New Plymouth Surf School offers lessons for all ages and skill levels, making it easy for beginners to catch a wave or two at some of New Zealand's most renowned surf beaches.
History comes alive along Surf Highway 45. At low tide, kids will love spotting the rusted skeleton of the SS Gairloch rising from the waves like giant whale bones, a shipwreck tale from 1903. Further along, the Cape Egmont Lighthouse shines with stories of Taranaki’s past, while the Historic Cape Light & Museum lets you step inside a replica lighthouse to see the original 1850s Fresnel Light and learn about a young Lord Rutherford growing up nearby. It’s history with a dash of adventure, perfect for curious road-trippers.
Stop by for coffee and a bite to eat at Dawn, located in a beautifully restored Church in Ōakura, serving sourdough toasties, house-made focaccia sandwiches, and seasonal salads daily.
Drop into Drifters in Ōkato, which sells carefully curated, handmade homeware, skincare, surf-inspired fashion, and locally crafted one-of-a-kind pieces from Rachel Lambert Jewellery, as well as a selection of cabinet food and coffee.
Ōpunakē is a coastal destination with something for everyone. Catch a film at the charming Everybody’s Theatre, where blockbusters meet classics, indie gems, and foreign favourites. Explore the stunning Ōpunakē Loop Trail, with its sweeping sea views and hidden art installations. Then taste a local legend at Ōpunakē Fish, Chips & More, where fresh fish and hearty treats are best savoured at picnic tables overlooking the beach, bay, or lake.
Rest Easy
After a full day of exploring, unwind the Taranaki way.
Cabin Hill offers off-grid luxury. Soak in the wood-fired hot tub with views of the Pouākai Ranges and Tasman Sea on one side, and Taranaki Maunga on the other. Nestled in native bush, it’s an ideal Spring romantic escape.
Travelling with kids? Kaupokonui Beach Camp is a hidden gem situated near Manaia, offering access to both the river and the beach, along with cabins, powered sites, a playground, BBQ facilities, and a shop selling ice cream, bait, and essential items. It’s a relaxed base to explore South Taranaki and beyond.
Make spring your season
Taranaki in spring is vibrant, grounding, and unforgettable. Book your garden trail, plan your hikes, and discover a region blooming with potential.