New Plymouth district, Taranaki, New Zealand

Places to visit near Waitara

Waitara is a town in New Plymouth district, Taranaki, New Zealand, home to about 6,318 people. Within 50 km by road there are 239 places to visit — 87 hill stations & viewpoints, 62 wildlife, forests & gardens, 26 forts & heritage and 12 beaches & coast. The must-see places are Te Rewa Rewa Bridge (15 km), North Taranaki Bight (15 km) and Coastal Walkway (16 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Waitara on the map

Waitara, Taranaki
Waitara, New Plymouth district, Taranaki, New Zealand. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Waitara at a glance

Location
New Plymouth district, Taranaki, New Zealand
Population
about 6,318
Coordinates
39.0016° S, 174.2384° E
Places within 50 km
239 (21 must-see)
Best time to visit
October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; November to March for sightings for wildlife, forests & gardens

Top places to visit near Waitara

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Waitara: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

More places near Waitara

Things to see near Waitara, by type

Hill stations & viewpoints near Waitara

119 hill stations & viewpoints within 100 km of Waitara. The closest is Tuahu (22 km); the best-known is Kaitake Range (37 km). Best time: october to february for cool, clear air.

  • Kaitake Range · viewpoint · New Plymouth · ~37 km · Must-see
  • Pouākai Range · viewpoint · New Plymouth · ~40 km · Must-see
  • Tuahu · viewpoint · New Plymouth · ~22 km
  • Taramoukou · viewpoint · New Plymouth · ~24 km
  • Urenui · viewpoint · New Plymouth · ~24 km
  • Taranaki Maunga · viewpoint · Stratford · ~45 km · Must-see

All hill stations & viewpoints in Taranaki →

Wildlife, forests & gardens near Waitara

68 wildlife, forests & gardens within 100 km of Waitara. The closest is Mangahinau Esplanade Reserve (1 km). Best time: november to march for sightings.

All wildlife, forests & gardens in Taranaki →

Forts & heritage near Waitara

30 forts & heritage within 100 km of Waitara. The closest is Puketakauere Pā (2 km). Best time: october to february.

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Beaches & coast near Waitara

14 beaches & coast within 100 km of Waitara. The closest is Bell Block Beach (12 km); the best-known is North Taranaki Bight (15 km). Best time: october to march.

All beaches & coast in Taranaki →

Waterfalls near Waitara

14 waterfalls within 100 km of Waitara. The closest is Pukekura Falls (19 km). Best time: july to january, best august to november right after rains.

All waterfalls in Taranaki →

Rivers, islands & mangroves near Waitara

10 rivers, islands & mangroves within 100 km of Waitara. The closest is Moturoa (24 km). Best time: september to february.

All rivers, islands & mangroves in Taranaki →

A one-day trip from Waitara

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 72 km on the road.

  1. Start in Waitara
  2. 15 km North Taranaki Bight · beach, Taranaki
  3. 35 km Pukekura Falls · waterfall, New Plymouth
  4. 1 km St Andrew's Church · church, New Plymouth
  5. 3 km Holy Trinity Anglican Church · church, New Plymouth
  6. 2 km Coastal Walkway · trek, Taranaki
  7. 16 km Back to Waitara

Plan a longer trip from Waitara — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Waitara

No traveller has reported from around Waitara yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

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How to reach Waitara

    All places near Waitara by distance

    Within 15 km of Waitara

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Waitara by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Hill stations & viewpoints87119Tuahu (22 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens6268Mangahinau Esplanade Reserve (1 km)
    Forts & heritage2630Puketakauere Pā (2 km)
    Beaches & coast1214Bell Block Beach (12 km)
    Waterfalls1114Pukekura Falls (19 km)
    Rivers, islands & mangroves1010Moturoa (24 km)
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs88Waipu Lagoons (12 km)
    Other attractions56Te Rewa Rewa Bridge (15 km)
    Churches66Holy Trinity Anglican Church (16 km)
    Treks55Coastal Walkway (16 km)
    Museums44Puke Ariki New Plymouth Museum (20 km)
    Parks22Tupare Garden (18 km)
    Caves11Planet Kashyyyk (The Wookie Cave) (5 km)

    Waitara: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Waitara?

    Te Rewa Rewa Bridge (attraction, about 15 km), North Taranaki Bight (beach, about 15 km), Coastal Walkway (trek, about 16 km), Holy Trinity Anglican Church (church, about 16 km), St Andrew's Church (church, about 19 km), Pukekura Falls (waterfall, about 19 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Waitara?

    239 places on Spotwander: 87 hill stations & viewpoints, 62 wildlife, forests & gardens, 26 forts & heritage, 12 beaches & coast, 11 waterfalls.

    Which is the nearest viewpoint to Waitara?

    Tuahu, about 22 km by road; Taramoukou (24 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest sanctuary to Waitara?

    Mangahinau Esplanade Reserve, about 1 km by road; Manukorihi Recreation Reserve (2 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest fort to Waitara?

    Puketakauere Pā, about 2 km by road; Otaraoa Pā (4 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Waitara?

    Start in Waitara, visit North Taranaki Bight, then Pukekura Falls, then St Andrew's Church, then Holy Trinity Anglican Church, then Coastal Walkway, and drive back — about 72 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Waitara?

    October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; November to March for sightings for wildlife, forests & gardens.

    Towns near Waitara

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Waitara’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Waitara on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.