Taranaki What to See & Do

New Zealand Taranaki What to See & Do. If you are looking for comprehensive travel information for Taranaki What to See & Do including Activities, Natural Attractions, Food and Wine, Entertainment, Shopping and Information & Services, you will find it here on AA Travel.

Taranaki is full of wonderful things to see and do, with something for everyone. If it's not here, you won't have to travel far to find it. As this country is known as the 'Adventure Capital of the World', you can always find thrills of every kind nearby, from bungy jumping and skydiving to jet boating and white-water rafting. Our 14 national parks are perfect for tramping, where spectacular scenery abounds. Our geothermal hotspots provide natural thermal pools, shooting geysers and bubbling mud pools, while our incredible wildlife is a must-see for animal lovers. There are plenty of picturesque beaches for swimming, surfing or relaxing, mountain ranges for skiing and snowboarding, glassy lakes for fishing and water sports, and native forests for exploring. Try delicious gourmet delights, visit an art or craft studio, go shopping, check out a Maori cultural performance or take advantage of our exciting range of events. And that's just the beginning!

Taranaki: Maori settled throughout Taranaki before the arrival of Europeans. The wars of the 1860s began here and some of the fiercest engagements took place in the area. A number of fortified sites may be visited and museums throughout the area preserve the history of the region. New Zealand's only known petrochemical deposits lie in the Taranaki region, offshore from Oaonui and at Kapuni and Stratford. Synthetic fuel is produced at the Motunui plant where there is an information centre. Taranaki also hosts the Rhododendron Festival in late October/early November, and the biennial Festival of Arts is held in March.