Hawera

Hawera:   Situated on the ring plain around Mount Taranaki, the fertile volcanic soils make Hawera a rich farming area. The meaning of the name Hawera is "the burned place". The township locality between mountain and sea makes it a perfect base for seeing the local sights and attractions. The beaches are known for their excellent surfing conditions and the rivers radiating off the mountain provide attractive picnic sites and fishing spots. The local aquatic centre offers a 50 metre pool, split level toddlers pool and 25 metre pool for year round swimming.

Dairyland, Hawera

On the corner of Whareroa Road and State Highway 3 visit Dairyland for an insight into the processes involved in producing our dairy products. Dairyland encompasses interactive audiovisual displays, a souvenir shop and revolving restaurant all under one roof

Eltham

Eltham is a vital town known for its production of fine cheeses and famous people. Historically it has been the most highly industrialised town (per capital) in New Zealand. This trend is still evident with the headquarters of Eltham Meats, Rennet, Ferndale, Galaxy Cheeses and Mainland Packing all being based here. Eltham’s industrial tradition is reflected in a variety of New Zealand "firsts". Bridge Street was the first street to be tarsealed. The first concrete floored cowshed was in Eltham and the Eltham Power Board was the first to use concrete power poles. The first dairy produce to be exported was butter sent in casks from Eltham to England in 1884. The casks were sent by Chew Chong - a Chinese peddler whose career in Eltham included trading his hand made wooden toys for butter and milk and later buying fungus which became known as ‘Taranaki Wool’. In later years the dairying tradition continued with the invention of the first turnstyle cowshed by Mr M. L. Hicks.

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Eltham

Places of interest in Eltham include several parks and playing areas, two swimming pools and two beautiful lakes. Lake Rotokare (meaning "the rippling lake") is fed entirely by natural springs and the only outlet is at the western end. Together with 212 hectares of surrounding native bush the lake forms a scenic reserve containing diverse types of vegetation and wildlife. A walkway around the lake takes just over an hour and there are toilets and a picnic area at the road end. Further inland along Rawhitiroa Road is Lake Rotorangi. Formed behind an earth dam built for hydro-electric power purposes, Rotorangi is currently the longest man-made lake in New Zealand at 46 kilometres in length. The Eltham shopping centre caters for most requirements with one or two businesses being well known throughout Taranaki for the quality of service and stock that they offer.

The Water Tower

King Edward Park

The town boasts two beautiful parks, walkways and reserves to enjoy, plus the picturesque Te Ngutu golf course.A number of private gardens are open to the public during the popular Taranaki Rhododendron Festival which usually runs the first week in November each year.

King Edward Park

Manaia A peaceful rural town with a population of around 1069, Manaia is situated on the coast at the foot of Mount Taranaki’s southern slopes. The town is a 10 minute drive northwest of Hawera and a one hour drive south of New Plymouth on Surf Highway 45. The octagonal town centre surrounds the Band Rotunda and from here you can choose roads leading to the mountain, the coast, Opunake or  Hawera. Manaia is also fortunate enough to boast the largest export bakehouse in New Zealand. Yarrows is renowned for the export of frozen breads and pastries.

Manaia's Band Rotunda

Manaia has first class sporting facilities including tennis courts, a bowling green, hockey and soccer grounds and a beautifully kept golf course at the Manaia Domain. The clean mountain waters of the Kapuni and Kaupokonui Rivers provide good trout fishing, Kaupokonui Beach, a 10 minute drive from Manaia, is a clean, safe swimming beach and a popular surfcasting spot with Kawhai being caught regularly. There are several nurseries in the area and during the Rhododendron Festival there are a number of glorious private gardens open to the public. Manaia Domain features some lovely trees and a Rhododendron Walkway.

Opunake Beach from Rotary Lookout

Opunake:   With a population of around 1600 Opunake township hosts one of the most magnificent crescent shaped beaches in Taranaki. During summer the population swells with tourists and holiday makers. The main camping ground is right on the beach next to the patrolled swimming area.

Opunake Surf Shop

A visit to Hawera is not complete without climbing the Water Tower, a local landmark, for wonderful views of the surrounding area.

Tawhiti Museum

Turuturumokai is the most impressive and well kept historical site in South Taranaki. Turuturumokai is an old Maori pa site and was occupied during the Taranaki Land Wars of the 1860’s. For a further introduction to history of the area don’t miss the Tawhiti Museum. Widely acclaimed as the best private museum in the country, Tawhiti Museum. recreates many aspects of early life in South Taranaki from the Taranaki Land Wars to the struggles and set backs of an infant dairy industry. Life sized figures cast from real people are used extensively to provide a very real image offering a social perspective as well as a technological history.

Hollard Gardens

Kaponga Nestled at the base of Mount Taranaki, Kaponga is a pleasant township through which most visitors to Dawson Falls pass. The town was first settled in 1882 and now has a population of approximately 370. The name Kaponga means "tree ferns used for palisades". Kaponga has a strong Swiss community and is known as the Swiss centre of New Zealand. In fact, some of the first settlers in the area were Swiss and in 1952 a Swiss Club was formed in the town. The club is the focal point for Swiss families in the area and Taranaki as a whole. Four kilometres north of Kaponga is Hollard Gardens, yearly featuring in the Taranaki Rhododendron Garden Festival,  gifted to the Queen Elizabeth National Trust in 1982, which is open to visitors all year round. The gardens are most colourful from September to late November when many plants, especially the rhododendrons are in flower.

Kaponga view of Mount Taranaki

North of Kaponga is the southern entrance to Egmont National Park. The road end at Dawson Falls has an excellent visitor centre which offers information on the history of the mountain, its flora and fauna, significant points of interest and where they can be found. Also situated at the road end is the Dawson Falls Tourist Lodge which was established in 1896. This lodge offers high quality accommodation and has a fully licensed restaurant. Kaponga is also home to the Hazelwood Horse Ornament Museum. This private collection of horse ornaments belongs to the Hazelwood family and includes a number of family heirlooms. Although there are no accommodation facilities available in Kaponga, visitors to the area are well served by both Konini Lodge and Dawson Falls Tourist Lodge on Mount Taranaki.

Kaponga Playground