After two days of driving, we set yesterdayaside to explore the local area around Mount Taranaki and New Plymouth. We left our motel around mid-morning and drove about 30 kms to New Plymouth on the western coast.
New Plymouth It is named after the English city of Plymouth, in Devon, UK from where the first English settlers migrated. The New Plymouth District has a population of around 90,000. The city itself is a service centre for the region’s principal economic activities that iclude intensive pastoral activities (mainly dairy farming) as well as oil, natural gas and petrochemical exploration and production.
An award winning Coastal Walkway spans over 12 km along the New Plymouth coast line. Crashing waves, and crystal ocean as far as your eye can see, are good enough to stop you in your tracks and capture your attention. The walkway is bike, pram, scooter, mobility scooter, and wheelchair friendly, so this is an activity that can be enjoyed by everybody.
At one place on the walkway stands a Māori carved post, or Pou. Traditional wooden carvings likre this apparently represent ancestors and tribal history and provide narratives on Marae (meeting grounds) and in ancestral houses. I read that these poles often feature stylized human figures including intricate patterns with pāua (abalone) shell eyes.
At New Plymouth’s Back Beach, we found a striking coastal landscape of fine volcanic sand and imposing cliffs. The beach is famous for its ideal surfing conditions, with powerful waves and favourable swells drawing enthusiasts year-round. It’s a hotspot for those seeking thrilling surf rides.
The nearby Sugarloaf Islands offer opportunities for marine exploration, with rich wildlife adding to the beach’s allure for nature lovers.
We ate lunch on the clifftop overlooking these islands, enjoying the sun a nice 24C day.
We then went on to the next spot that interested us – the Te Rewa Rewa Bridge. The bridge is part of the Coastal Walkway and is located on the site of a battle that occurred during the Maopri Musket Wars. It is located on the site is a burial ground. Fom a distance, it looks like any arched bridge but as you get closer, you see a much more interesting sight.
The Maori Musket Wars took place from 1818–1840. They were a series of intense intertribal conflicts fueled by the introduction of European muskets. They sparked an arms race with tribes seeking to settle old disputes, resulting in roughly 20,000–50,000+ deaths, widespread displacement, and forced social change that fundamentally altered Māori society.
The bridge designer, Peter Mulqueen, is quoted as saying he understood that the bridge should “touch lightly” on the ground in order to honour the deceased. This ruled out heavier designs like cable stays and angular truss structures. Mulqueen wanted to achieve a bridge with a “harmonious and dignified character.
The bridge is aligned to Mount Taranaki. The mountain, sacred to Maori, is framed within the skewed arch, when viewed while leaving the sacred ground – promising what is eternal.
On our way back towards Stratford, we stopped at Lake Mangamahoe. This man made reservoir forms part of the local water supply. Ssurrounded by lush forests and stunning views, The lake is a haven for water birds.
The shores offer awe-inspiring scenic views and lookouts. The waters often mirror Mount Taranaki, creating postcard-perfect moments. With some cloud sitting on the top of the mountain, we had a good view but not a complete one.
Before returning to our motel we took an 18 km deviation to the Plateau Carpark on the mountain. Mount Taranaki is a 2,518-metre (8,261 ft) active, yet dormant, stratovolcano, renowned for its almost perfect conical symmetry. While the Maori name of Taranaki has been adopted, it is still located in located in the originally named Egmont National Park. The mountain is roughly 120,000 years old, last erupting around 1854. It is a first class hiking destination, with a challenging 8-10 hour summit climb that requires high fitness, particularly during summer months (January to April).
Back to Stratford for dinner and a last night here before moving on tomorrow
