TRIP 1 LOWER NORTH ISLAND
TR IP 1
a journey through
Taranaki
SIDE TRIP
Awakino to New Plymouth via Inglewood, Stratford, Egmont Village on SH 3 to New Plymouth 2hr, 154km Stratford to Whangamōmona via SH 43 57min, 61.6km New Plymouth to Hāwera via the Surf Highway/SH 45 1hr 37min, 115km
Hāwera to Whanganui via SH 3 1hr 8min, 89km
RIGHT: The Three Sisters, Tongapōrutu © Rach Stewart ABOVE: Sarjeant Art Gallery, Whanganui © Whanganuinz.com
T
his road trip explores the wild coast of the North Taranaki Bight, takes a short detour inland, heads to New Plymouth then continues down the line to Whanganui. From Awakino you’ll pass rugged black-sand beaches with rolling surf and experience the charm of small coastal towns and bucolic landscapes, before turning inland to Inglewood, gateway to Taranaki’s Egmont National Park. After time in super cool New Plymouth and lovely little Stratford, head south by the curve of coast that wraps around the famous mountain. It’s known as the Surf Highway for good reason – almost every side road that heads towards the coast leads to an excellent, uncrowded surf break. Explore Hāwera, a country town of many attractions, then head to Whanganui, another New Zealand city blessed with mountain-to-sea landscapes.
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