New Plymouth Coastal Walkway

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This paved mutli-use trail is a lovely hike along the shores of New Plymouth. Starting from the wharf at the south end and heading north, hikers will follow along the coast. The path starts by heading through several parks and crosses the train tracks several times before coming to the section of the coast across from downtown where you can spot the iconic wind wand sculpture towering above the coastal walk. On a windy day, take a minute to stop and watch this unique artwork in action!

From here, the path follows a rocky shoreline composed of eroded volcanic rocks. This section of the path has gates that can close it off in the event of inclement weather or high water. Watch your footing on the few sections of wood planking that cross the pathway as they can be slippery when wet. There are several benches and great viewpoints all along this portion.

Next, you'll pass through a small park with a playground and restrooms and cross a bridge over a small river. Take a left to continue on the Coastal Walkway. Once past this river, the shoreline changes from a harsh, rocky shore to a beach where you can enjoy walking, running, wading, and surfing. The trail passes a small holiday park and skirts the edge of the town’s golf course, before heading out to what feels like the countryside.

You'll soon see the Te Rewa bridge, which is an impressive structure for a pedestrian bridge. The large white bridge resembles half of a giant whale rib cage, and on clear days, the bridge frames the volcanic cone of Mt. Taranaki in the distance for a post-card-worthy photo.

From the bridge, the trail continues along the shore and through rolling green hills and farm land giving the impression that you are much further from downtown New Plymouth than you actually are. The trail is a nice out-and-back option so simply turn around whenever you would like to retrace your steps to the start. For more information on the walkway, click here.