Unforgettable Experiences
In 2017, Taranaki was judged the world’s second best regional destination by influential global travel guide Lonely Planet. The award picked on two aspects of the region’s tourism offering, both of which are just as accessible to conference and event delegates.
The first is the Pouakai Crossing, a spectacular one-day walk across the slopes of Taranaki Maunga that spans goblin forests, alpine environments and mirror lakes offering postcard-perfect reflections of the summit. The crossing or many smaller walks on the mountain can be incorporated into a conference programme, but there are countless more accessible outdoor adventures on offer to balance out the time spent in a conference room, from the lush Pukekura Park to New Plymouth’s award-winning Coastal Walkway or head out of New Plymouth to experience the Forgotten World Highway or Surf Highway 45.
New Plymouth’s architecturally amazing Govett-Brewster Art Gallery and Len Lye Centre also attracted Lonely Planet’s attention, as much for its stainless-steel façade as the dynamic contemporary art within. This too is the tip of the proverbial iceberg, with public sculptures, vibrant street art, eclectic museums and much more offering a uniquely cultural component to any visit to the region.