Located 242 kms southwest of Hamilton and 234kms northwest of Palmerston North, New Plymouth is the main commercial centre for the Taranaki region and the base for the off shore oil production and petrochemical industry.

New Plymouth District has a reputation as an events centre, with major festivals (the annual TSB Bank Festival of Lights, Taranaki Rhododendron and Garden Festival, WOMAD and the G-TARanaki International Guitar Festival, and the biennial Taranaki Arts Festival), sports fixtures (including international rugby, cricket and tennis matches, and the annual ITU World Cup Triathlon) and concerts (from Sir Elton John and Michael Crawford to R.E.M and Stevie Nicks).

With its rich volcanic soil, the city is well known for its gardens. Chief among them are the 52ha Pukekura Park in the centre of the city (named a Garden of National Significance), and Pukeiti, a rhododendron garden of international significance high on the Pouakai Range.

The Park is also the home of the TSB Bank Festival of Lights, which runs for free every year from mid-December to early February. It has daytime and night time programmes of events for people of all ages, and the festival itself transforms the park into an illuminated wonderland every evening.

30 Minute drive from New Plymouth, is Mount Taranaki/Egmont providing recreation opportunities, from skiing and snowboarding to rock climbing and alpine walks.  New Plymouth and the surrounding coast  is known as ‘big wave territory’ with some of the country’s best surfing spots found off this coastline.

New Plymouth is served by regular daily coach and bus services to and from Auckland, Rotorua, Tauranga, Taupo, Napier, Hastings, Whanganui, Palmerston North and Wellington.

Air New Zealand Link operates regular daily air services to and from Auckland, Nelson, Christchurch and Wellington.

There are no passenger train/rail services from New Plymouth to Auckland, Whanganui, Taupo, National park, Ohakune, Rotorua, Tauranga, Palmerston North or Wellington