New Plymouth & Mount Taranaki

Mount Taranaki rises in an almost symmetrical cone over the Taranaki region, and on a clear day it steals every photo. Below it, New Plymouth is an underrated coastal city with a 13-km seaside walkway, the Len Lye art gallery and surf beaches.

Camp near the coast and split your days between the mountain's forest tracks and the beach. The maunga makes its own weather, so pick a clear window for the walks.

Taranaki Maunga dominates everything here, and on a clear day the near-perfect cone is visible from most of the region — it is also frequently in cloud, so if you get a clear morning, drop your plans and drive up to the Pouākai or North Egmont road ends. New Plymouth's Coastal Walkway runs 13 kilometres along the shore and is flat, paved and excellent on a bike.