New Plymouth

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Beaches (General)

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auskiwi
auskiwi
First Reviewer
4 out of 5
Avg. Member Rating
1
Review
18
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Editor Pick

Beaches

  • August 3, 2006
  • Rated 4 of 5 by auskiwi from Tacoma, Australia
Beaches

New Plymouth has a significant stretch of coastline—including many surf beaches with black volcanic sands, vast stretches of remote rugged rocky outcrops and areas of tall towering cliffs.

Urenui is approximately a 1 hour drive north of New Plymouth and is where my family and I used to go camping. There is a large camping ground/caravan park situated a stones throw away from the beach. Going to Urenui used to be summer holiday ritual for many other family groups. It has the benefit of having the river—great swimming for the younger kids—and then the surf beach which is great fun for all.

Fitzroy Beach and East End Beach are very popular places for the people of New Plymouth to congregate on a warm summers day to laze about in the sun, catch a few waves and just have fun. Fitzroy Beach joins up with the Waiwhakaiho River mouth to the east and East End Beach to the west. It is fun to stroll along the beach on even the most blustery winters day, winding your way through large pieces of drift woods, throwing a ball for the dog.

Fitzroy beach also has a fanastic camping ground/caravan park that is just a walk over the dune, access to the Coastal Walkway and an outside, chlorinated, swimming pool for those who can’t handle the surf conditions. East End Beach has a large skating rink, a small reserve and access to the Coastal and Te Henui Walkways.

Ngamutu is situated in the port area at the opposite end of town and is a small bay sheltered from the open ocean by seawalls on both side. Ngamutu usually attracts families with infant or small children and has a small reserve area with swings, slides and seesaws. Ngamutu also has access to the Coastal Walkway.

Back Beach is located within 5 minutes drive over the hill from New Plymouths port. This is another popular surfing beach. Back Beach has tall cliff tops that overlook the beach so sun baking is only ever any good in the afternoons.

Paratutu is a large rock formation that juts out from the coastline and has a great walkway up the top where you can get great 360 degree views. Paratutu is just a short walk from Back Beach.

Oakura Beach is further around the eastern coast, about ½ hours drive from New Plymouth and is the place to be seen in summer—surfers, boogey boards, swimmers, sun bakers, families and the like flock here every weekend and there is plenty of beach for everyone to share. Oakura has both the flat beach front as well as tall cliffs at the eastern end – this is the end you walk to if you want to escape the crowd.

Oakura also has a great hotel and a couple of great arts and crafts shops – The Alley Cat and The Crafty Fox.

From journal New Plymouth - My Home Town

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