By Stu Haynes
Taranaki is a region that has come of age, and is making a name for itself as a vibrant destination combining big city luxury with bucolic splendour.
Another drawcard is the climate – in 2021 New Plymouth was officially Aotearoa’s sunniest spot, recording a balmy 2592 sunshine hours. AOPA members planning a fun family adventure or wanting a safe (air)space to develop their skills should mark Taranaki down as a ‘must-visit’ destination this summer.
Taranaki’s strong AOPA membership base is always excited to show off their province (by the time this appears in print they hope to have hosted another fantastic One Day Fly-in).
The region has four public airfields for visiting pilots to choose from: Hawera, Stratford, Norfolk and New Plymouth. All but New Plymouth are GA. For pilots who are nervous about flying in controlled air space, New Plymouth offers an ideal, lower-pressure place to gain valuable experience. The region’s relatively low air traffic volume and friendly Air Traffic Controllers make it the ideal environment to practise controlled airspace communications and procedures.
The North Taranaki Aero Club is based out of the Norfolk Airstrip (a 5 minute car ride from the township of Inglewood, where you can visit the national toy museum, Fun Ho! Toys, get the kids up close and personal with the animals at Stoney Oaks Wildlife Park, or try the award winning offerings from local vegan ice creamery Little Liberty).
Norfolk is a good choice for pilots arriving from the south through the Stratford Gap. This approach can get lumpy in certain winds – but alternatives abound.
A popular option is to come ‘around’ the coast, which is a scenic approach with great coastal and city views. Visitors from the north generally take a seaward approach with the White Cliffs to the north signalling it’s time to start making preparations for landing.
Taranaki Webcams have recently been added to the AOPA website and are a great visual tool to use during your flight planning.
While you can refuel at all four airfields, New Plymouth offers additional AOPAfriendly facilities and drawcards. The aerodrome hosts commercial passenger flights, pilot training and recreational flights. There are mechanical services on the ground and a variety of training options for pilots wanting to develop their skills. Local flight school, Flight Tech, offers training for recreational, private and commercial pilot licencing, plus IFR and MER training and biennial flight reviews. The more daring can really flip things upside down and sign up to do aerobatics training!
If your training has a more DIY edge, New Plymouth is a good place to polish up your skills for flying, landing and taking off in crosswinds.
Avid plane spotters should keep their eyes peeled after landing. Among the GA aircraft are some rarer gems, such as a heritage De Havilland Vampire, an L-39 Albatross, four Yak 52s and New Zealand’s only Catalina Flying Boat (currently up for sale, if you fancy trading up!).
On the ground, Taranaki has plenty to keep the whole family happy. New Plymouth’s Coastal Walkway, retail precinct and stunning Pukekura Park are a quiet stroll from an array of smart bistros and cafés, together with top quality local coffee roasters, including Ozone, Escape and Devil’s Cup.
On the creative side, the Len Lye Centre and Govett Brewster Gallery are world-class contemporary art galleries, while the Taranaki Arts Trail – which runs alongside the region’s annual Garden Festival in October and November – offers a unique opportunity to visit artists in their own studios and workshops.
All around the Maunga, quaint townships and natural attractions beckon. Take a walk in a Goblin Forest, visit Dawson Falls, or explore the region’s stunning gardens. The more adventurous might want to pop their surfboard in the cargo hold and tackle the swell around the notorious Surf Highway 45, or try their luck with a fishing rod. Maybe a bit of dam dropping will appeal!
Taranaki offers superb scenic flight possibilities. The ‘must do’ on any pilot’s list is surely a summit flight. Head southwest around the coast before turning inland from coastal Oakura and climbing ast the Kaitaki and Pouakai ranges, to the 8262m summit of Mt Taranaki. From there you can fly through the Pouakai Saddle past Bells Falls and Holly Hut and back to the airfield.
Flying north from New Plymouth, there is spectacular coastal scenery heading north-east past Onaero and Urenui to the White Cliffs and Three Sisters rock formations at Tongaporutu. And while a roundtrip scenic flight over the central volcanic plateau (checking out the views of Mounts Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro) can be done in two hours, your dilemma will be deciding what to do this trip and what you’ll save for your next visit.
This article first appeared in the Summer 2022 edition of Approach Magazine, the dedicated magazine of AOPA NZ, which is published quarterly.