South Taranaki Travel Guide
South Taranaki accommodation, South Taranaki activities and attractions, South Taranaki maps, transportation to and around South Taranaki - the ALL NEW Jasons South Taranaki Destination Travel Guide is your complete visitor guide for South Taranaki.
South Taranaki’s varied landscape ranges from the black sand beaches of the coast through the mist-filled Waitotara Valley and the fertile dairying lands around
Hawera. A string of surf beaches stretches down the South Taranaki coast boasting some of the country’s best surfing. Head down Surf Highway 45 from Hawera to
New Plymouth to take advantage of the many surf spots. Behind the South Taranaki coast, the towering peak of
Mount Taranaki provides a breathtaking backdrop and a year-round source of adventure and activities. There is hiking, climbing and winter skiing in
Mount Egmont National Park, or fish for trout in the clear mountain rivers and streams.
South Taranaki includes the small townships of
Eltham,
Kaponga,
Opunake, with its fine surf beach, and
Patea, perched on the banks of the Patea River. South Taranaki’s key town is Hawera, a thriving dairy centre surrounded by fertile volcanic soils. These rich soils have graced South Taranaki with some lovely gardens. If you can, try to visit during November when the annual Taranaki Garden & Rhododendron Festival takes place and the region’s gardens open their doors to the public.