Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
likely be the rambling 3.6 hectare garden surrounding it. Bluebells and birdsong under the
boughs…picnic paradise.
Hurworth Cottage
(
www.historic.org.nz
;
906 Carrington Rd; adult/child/family $5/2/10; 11am-3pm Sat & Sun)
This 1856 cot-
tage, 8km south of New Plymouth, was built by four-time NZ prime minister Harry Atkin-
son. The cottage is the sole survivor of a settlement abandoned at the start of the Taranaki
Land Wars: a rare window into the lives of early settlers.
HISTORIC BUILDING
Taranaki Aviation, Transport & Technology Museum
(TATATM;
http://tatatm.tripod.com/museum
; cnr SH3 & Kent Rd; adult/child/family $7/2/16; 10.30am-4.30pm Sat
& Sun)
Around 9.5km south of New Plymouth is this roadside museum, with ramshackle
displays of old planes, trains, automobiles and general household miscellany. Ask to see
the stuff made by the amazing bee guy (hexagons ahoy!).
MUSEUM
North via SH3
Heading north from New Plymouth along SH3 are various seaward turn-offs to high sand
dunes and surf beaches.
Urenui
, 16km past Waitara, is a summer hot spot.
About 5km past Urenui is arguably the highlight of North Taranaki:
Mike's Organic Brewery
( 06-752 3676;
www.organicbeer.co.nz
; 487 Mokau Rd; tastings/tours $15/25; 10am-6pm)
, which offers
tours (book ahead), takeaways, tastings of the legendary Mike's Pale Ale (the pilsener and
lager are ace, too), and an Oktoberfest party every (you guessed it) October. A little fur-
ther on is the turn-off to
Pukearuhe
and
White Cliffs
, huge precipices resembling their Dover
namesakes. From Pukearuhe boat ramp you can tackle the
White Cliffs Walkway
, a three-hour
loop walk with mesmerising views of the coast and mountains (Taranaki and Ruapehu).
The tide can make things dicey along the beach: walk between two hours either side of
low tide.
Continuing north towards
Mokau
, stop at the
Three Sisters
rock formation signposted just
south of the Tongaporutu Bridge - you can traverse the shore at low tide. Two sisters
stand somewhat forlornly off the coast: their other sister collapsed in a heap 10 years ago,
but check the progress of a new sis emerging from the eroding cliffs.
Activities
