Some destinations promise good weather. Taranaki can prove it. On the west coast of New Zealand's North Island, this vibrant region recorded 2,743 sunshine hours in 2025, the highest total in the country, according to national climate reporting.

It's not a fluke, either. Taranaki has topped the national sunshine charts three times in the past five years. For Australian travellers, that stat translates into something simple: more blue-sky days to explore this hiking and surfing paradise.

Taranaki is a vibrant region, built around a maunga to moana (mountain to sea) way of life, where the near-perfect volcanic cone of Taranaki Maunga rises from the lush landscape offering countless tracks and trails, and black-sand surf beaches stretch for miles.

Taranaki Maunga (mountain) is central to the story, and not just for the views. In 2025, Taranaki Maunga was recognised as a legal person, reflecting the deep cultural and spiritual connection as an ancestor for local Māori. Visitors feel that difference on the ground: this is a place to slow down and connect authentically with the spectacular landscapes and stories.

There's a range of trails for every pace. Go big with multi-day alpine routes like the iconic Pouakai Crossing. Or take shorter, high-reward experiences like the 100-metre Manganui Gorge Suspension Bridge, with sweeping views across the Stratford Plateau and back to the maunga.

Then drop back to the coast and follow the legendary Surf Highway 45, a 105-kilometre touring route linking iconic breaks, creative coastal villages, and famous west coast sunsets that have lured generations of surfers for decades.

When you're ready to shift gears, the region's creative energy holds its own, from the spell-binding kinetic works at the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery and Len Lye Centre, to Te Whare Hononga, a powerful cultural experience sharing the story of justice and reconciliation between Ngāti Te Whiti hapū and the Church of St Mary's, New Zealand's oldest stone church.

Now is the time to discover Taranaki – Like No Other, with less crowds, more awe, and a whole lot more sunshine.

Media Famils:
Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki, the Regional Tourism Organisation, welcomes Australian journalists on upcoming media famils. If you'd like to experience New Zealand's sunniest region first-hand, get in touch to register your interest.

Holly Collins, Communications and Marketing Manager, holly.collins@venture.org.nz