New Plymouth travel guide

Background

Like the mountain, New Plymouth and Taranaki as a whole has an unsettled and, at times, explosive history. Prior to the arrival of Europeans there were several Maori pa in the vicinity of New Plymouth, particularly around the port area and the natural fortification of Paritutu Rock. The first Pakeha (European) to arrive in 1828 were whalers who soon found themselves joining forces with the local Te Ati-awa to defend against marauding tribes from the Waikato. In 1841, in an area now almost deserted as a result of these skirmishes, the New Zealand Company bought up large tracts of land, and European settlement began in earnest. With the return of exiled Maori, disputes quickly arose surrounding the sale of their land and, after unsuccessful arbitration by the crown and fuelled by the white settlers’ greed, war broke out. The Maori in the Taranaki had not signed the Treaty of Waitangi so were treated as rebels and many land claims and transactions were highly dubious. The war was to last for 10 years, and battles between the Europeans and the Maori were amongst the fiercest ever fought in the country. As a result, most settlers deserted the area leaving New Plymouth as little more than a military settlement. It was not until 1881 that formal peace was made and New Plymouth and the region as a whole settled down and began to prosper through its rich agricultural lands. New Plymouth was named after Plymouth in Devon, England, from where many of the first settlers came. Today, as well as agriculture, economic booms have been enjoyed through the discovery of natural gas and oil.

See http://www.taranaki.co.nz for details.

Getting around

New Plymouth’s central grid of streets has a very confusing one-way system, so a certain amounmt of patience is required. The local bus company is New Plymouth City (Okato) Services, T06-753 9646, http://www.okatobus.co.nz. Wither’s, T06- 751 1777, http://www.withers.co.nz, runs a service to hostels and the mountain.

Ins and outs

Getting there

By road, New Plymouth is a little out of the way: 254 km from Hamilton and 172 km from Wanganui, which is roughly halfway between Auckland and Wellington. SH3 links New Plymouth to Hamilton, is notorious for slips and is in a constant state of upgrading, while its continuation to Wanganui is a little better, but still quite slow. Intercity, Newman’s and Dalroy Express, 7 Erica Place, T06-759 0197/T0508-465622 http://www.dalroytours.co.nz, run regular bus services to New Plymouth from Auckland and Hamilton to the north and Wanganui and Palmerston North to the south. The major operators stop on Ariki Street in the city centre. White Star, 25 Liardet Street, T06- 758 3338, http://www.yellow.co.nz/site/whitestar, also has daily freight and passenger services south from Ariki Street. For bookings and information contact the VIC (I-Site) or the Travel Centre, 19 Ariki Street, T06-759 9039.

New Plymouth

Airlines offices

Air New Zealand, 12-14 Devon St East, T06-757 3300.

Bicycle hire

Cycle Inn, 133 Devon St East, T06-758 7418. Raceway Cycles, 207 Coronation Av, T06-759 0391.

Car hire

Avis, 113 Gill St, T06-755 9600. Budget, T0800-283438.

Taxi

New Plymouth Taxis, T06-757 3000.

Banks

Most main branches can be found on Devon St. Currency exchange at TSB Centre, 120 Devon St East, T06-759 5375.

Computer Corner, Shop 8, Richmond Centre (Egmont St) is the cheapest. Also at: Antons, 242 Devon St East; and New Plymouth Library, Brougham St. Medical services Pheonix Accident and Medical Clinic, 95 Vivian St, T06-7594295, Mon-Fri 0900-1800, Sat-Sun 0900-1600.

Police

Powerham St, T06-759 5500.

Post office

Currie St, Mon-Fri 0730-1730, Sat 0900-1300.

Useful numbers

AA, 49-55 Powerham St, T06-968 7840.