What to Do in Patea
A town rich in culture and history, Patea is well worth stopping by on your Taranaki road trip! Located in the South Taranaki district, on the coast between Hawera and Waitotara, Patea has a few excellent attractions to check out. Check out the free museum packed with some of the oldest relics found in New Zealand, get spectacular coastal views along the Patea Riverside Walk, or escape further into nature at Lake Rotorangi. Get more inspiration with this list of things to do in Patea!
While you’re here, how about checking out the 10 Taranaki Must-Dos or the 6 Towns You Can’t Miss in South Taranaki.
Table of Contents
1. Take a Look Around Aotea Utanganui – The Museum of South Taranaki
A real hidden gem of the Taranaki region, Aotea Utanganui is impressive inside and out. Step through the carved arch into the free museum filled with some of the oldest wooden relics from New Zealand. See old waka (canoes), colonial industry items, a 1.3 million-year-old fossilised baleen whale skull and so much more!
Location: 127 Egmont Street
© NZPocketGuide.com2. Snap Up the Aotea Waka Memorial
You can’t miss this grand memorial in the centre of town, which is just another reason to stop in Patea. The sculpture commemorates the settlement of the area by Turi and his tribe who travelled from Hawaiiki to Kawhai and then settled in Patea.
Location: Egmont Street
© NZPocketGuide.com3. Walk the Patea River Historic Walkway
Start from either Patea Beach or York Street, following the river with several interesting historical sites to note. Once you get to the beach, you can make use of the free barbecues and picnic benches. Note that there is a steep section near the York Street end which can get slippery in wet weather. Check out more walks in the area with our 5 Walks You Can’t Miss in South Taranaki.
Location: York Street or Patea Beach
© Michal Klajban on Wikipedia4. Play Golf at the Patea Golf Club
Get stuck into New Zealand’s most popular sport (by participation rate) by playing golf at the Patea Golf Club! This 18-hole par-72 course is a gently undulating course offering spectacular views of Mt Taranaki, Mt Ruapehu and the ocean. Get a world-class view for a green fee of only NZ$10!
Location: 13 Oxford Street
© Pxhere5. Check Out the Historic Buildings and Art Gallery
Just a wander through the town will reveal a number of interesting buildings, parks and art galleries. Check out the Hunter Shaw Building built in 1930, St Georges Church built in 1878 and the Patea Post Office built in 1923. Browse local artwork at Gallery Patea and walk along the whalebone walkway in The Garden of Tutunui on the corner of Bedford Street.
Location: Patea town centre
© Phillip Capper on Flickr6. Discover New Zealand’s Longest Lake
Lake Rotorangi is well worth the side trip from Patea offering an attractive lakeside and forest walk. The Lake Rotorangi Hydro Walk takes you across a dam and through a native forest filled with black beech trees. Allow about 40 minutes to complete the walk. There is also the Ball Road Campground, should you want to spend longer in this stunning pocket of Taranaki. Find out more about this campground and others in Where to Camp in South Taranaki.
Location: Ball Road, 38km from Patea
© Phillip Capper on FlickrMore Things to Do Near Patea
Sources:
The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:
- Tourism New Zealand (General travel advice - Updated [2025])
- Department of Conservation (Tracks, hikes, campsites and more - Updated [2025])
- AdventureSmart (Know before you go - Update [2025])
- Tiaki Promise (Care for people place and culture - Updated [2025])
- NZ Māori Tourism (Official Māori Tourism platform - Updated [2025])
- Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (Road and transport tips - Updated [2025])
- DriveSafe (Road safety - Updated [2025])
- Council websites and freedom camping maps (Local travel advice region by region - Updated [2025])
- Safe Travel (NZ travel advisories - Updated [2025])
- Tourism Export Council New Zealand (Tourism trade association - Updated [2025])
- TIA (Independent tourism association - Updated [2025])
- Visit Taranaki (Regional tourism website)
- Taranaki Regional Council (Local council website)
- New Plymouth District Council (Local council website)
- South Taranaki District Council (Local council website)
- Stratford District Council (Local council website)
Our editorial standards: At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.
