7 Luxury Activities in New Plymouth© NZPocketGuide.com
7 Luxury Activities in New Plymouth

7 Luxury Activities in New Plymouth

© NZPocketGuide.com

Premium Tours and Experiences in New Plymouth

A small city on the shores of the North Island’s west coast, nestled between the majestic volcano of Mt Taranaki and sweeping black sand beaches, New Plymouth offers a city escape with a difference. The local talent can be admired through the prestigious art galleries and gardens of the area, while adventures are never too far away with the Egmont National Park on its doorstep. Discover how you can experience Taranaki in style with this list of luxury activities in New Plymouth.

For more advice on planning a premium trip, see The Luxury Guide to New Plymouth and the 10 Best Luxury Accommodation in New Plymouth.

1. Take a Comprehensive Tour of New Plymouth from Auckland

Have limited time to see it all? Let’s begin with a fabulous way to see the highlights of New Plymouth on a small-group two-day trip with Kiwi Day Trips. Their tour, The Taranaki Trail, offers convenient transport from Auckland, with scenic stops of the way to New Plymouth before discovering sights like Paritutu Rock, the New Plymouth Coastal Walkway, the northern Egmont National Park and its “goblin forest” and much more! Accommodation is included with room upgrades available. See more activities like this in the 10 Romantic Activities in New Plymouth for Couples.

Location: Tours depart from 72 Victoria Street West, Auckland CBD.

7 Luxury Activities in New Plymouth© NZPocketGuide.com

2. Do a Guided Hike of the Magnificent Egmont National Park

If you’re basing yourself in New Plymouth, be sure to take the opportunity to explore the wild and wonderful alpine environment of Mt Taranaki. Top Guides offers guided experiences to help you get more out of the Egmont National Park’s walks through sharing local knowledge, while also keeping you safe in some of the harsher alpine environments. Summit the peak of the volcanic cone whether in summer or winter, take on the day walk of the Pouakai Crossing to get that money shot of the Pouakai Tarns with Mt Taranaki in the background, or join the team for one of their other half-day, full-day or multi-day hiking adventures.

Location: Local pick-ups available.

7 Luxury Activities in New Plymouth© NZPocketGuide.com

3. Fly Over Mt Taranaki or to a Remote Waterfall

For a unique perspective of the region, join Precision Helicopters for their Taranaki heli tours. Some of their adventures include a flight over the mightly Mt Taranaki, as well as a landing by a remote waterfall in the northern Taranaki region. Their tours get you to see more than the average scenic flight in New Zealand, with flights lasting approximately an hour with time to do a bushwalk or have a picnic if doing the waterfall landing tour.

Location: 192 Airport Drive, New Plymouth Airport, approximately 12km (7 miles) from New Plymouth city centre.

7 Luxury Activities in New Plymouth© Unsplash

4. Do a Curator’s Tour of the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery / Len Lye Centre

New Plymouth and the surrounding region is adorned with fabulous art galleries, where you can create your own self-guided art trail using the 10 Best Galleries & Museums in New Plymouth and 10 Best Galleries & Museums in Taranaki. One of the premium experiences, however, is a guided tour of the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery / Len Lye Centre. Inside the striking stainless steel facade, the Museum Curator Tour takes you on an in-depth look at the current exhibitions with one of the curatorial team. The one-hour experience concludes with morning or afternoon tea at the on-site Monica’s Eatery. Note that the minimum number for the tour is four people. Alternatively, shorter museum tours are available for a minimum of two people.

Location: 42 Queen Street, New Plymouth city centre.

7 Luxury Activities in New Plymouth© NZPocketGuide.com

5. Tee Off at One of the Many Golf Courses Around New Plymouth

New Plymouth has no lack of scenic golf courses lapping up those sea and mountain views. For instance, the Fitzroy Golf Club can be found along the New Plymouth Coastal Walkway, boasting 4,977m (5,443 yards) of undulating slopes. The Inglewood Golf Club and its fairways are lined with trees and a reflective creek, while the Westown Golf Club is a rural golf course beneath the prominent view of Mt Taranaki. Finally, don’t miss New Plymouth’s classic golf course established more than a century ago, the New Plymouth Golf Club.

Location: Fitzroy Golf Club – Record Street. Inglewood Golf Club – Lepper Road, Inglewood. Westown Golf Club – 964 Upper Mangorei Road. New Plymouth Golf Club – 24 Golf Course Lane.

7 Luxury Activities in New Plymouth© Pixabay

6. Indulge in High Tea at Tupare’s Historic Homestead and Gardens

Even just wandering the pristine manicured gardens of one of New Plymouth’s renowned gardens, Tupare, is a must. But those looking to elevate their experience should book into one of the monthly high tea experiences. Relive the splendour of Tupare’s homestead, designed by James Chapman-Taylor and built in the 1930s, with a high tea experience. The event takes place every first Sunday of the month between July and October. Otherwise, the gardens are open daily, while the Chapman-Taylor House is open with a public tour at 11am on Fridays to Mondays from October to March.

Location: 487 Mangorei Road, approximately 12km (7 miles) from New Plymouth city centre.

7 Luxury Activities in New Plymouth© NZPocketGuide.com

7. Treat Yourself at One of New Plymouth’s Fine Dining Restaurants

Complete a special day in New Plymouth with a gourmet experience at one of the city’s fine dining restaurants. Table at the Nice Hotel is an award-winning restaurant serving gorgeously presented plates of international cuisine with a Kiwi twist. Or watch the waves roll in as you dine in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows of Salt Restaurant in the Millennium Hotel New Plymouth. Finally, head out to Taranaki’s premium vineyard and winery, Okurukuru for all in-house made meals at their European inspired bistro. For more recommendations, check out The Foodie Guide to New Plymouth.

Location: Table at Nice Hotel – 71 Brougham Street, Salt Restaurant in the Millennium Hotel New Plymouth – 1 Egmont Street. Okurukuru – 738 Surf Highway 45.

7 Luxury Activities in New Plymouth© Nice Hotel

More About Luxury Travel in New Plymouth

That’s it for the best luxury activities in New Plymouth. Find even more tips to make your luxury getaway exceptional in The Luxury Travel Guide to New Zealand.

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:

Our editorial standards: At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.

About The Author

Laura S.

This article has been reviewed and published by Laura, the editor-in-chief and co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. Laura is a first-class honours journalism graduate and a travel journalist with expertise in New Zealand and South Pacific tourism for over 10 years. She also runs travel guides for five of the top destinations in the South Pacific and is the co-host of over 250 episodes of the NZ Travel Show on YouTube.

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