Be prepared to be surprised by this buzzy little city of 66,000 people.

A coastal city with a mountain within 30 minutes drive away, where residents and visitors to New Plymouth can snowboard, ski, water ski and surf all in the same day.

Excellent cultural amenities, stunning gardens, and fabulous nature walks. Here are some of the prettiest rolling green pasture youll see anywhere in the country.

Prepare to be surprised by the standard of cuisine in this little provincial outback. For a town of its size, it has an unbelievable number of very good eateries.

Mount Taranaki, the Fuji like jewel in the Egmont National Park crown, which attracts hundreds of trampers, mountaineers, rock climbers, and casual walkers.

The Taranaki Museum underwent massive renovations during 2001 and reopened in 2003. The impressive two wing complex rises up in the heart of the city, a groundbreaking knowledge centre that houses the full public library, the museum, and the visitor information centre. An air bridge connects the two wings. The museum showcases, including many Maori treasures associated with the Taranaki tribes. Treasures are the name that encompasses all gallery spaces, each one focusing on different components of the Taranaki experience. Make sure you check out Taranaki Stories, which details the regions tumultuous Maori land wars through to pioneer history and current Taranaki residents. The complex has two cafes and a large grass park.

There are the cows, the milk, the cheese, the worlds biggest dairy factory at nearby Hawera.

The city is a service centre for the regions principal economic activities including intensive pastoral activities, mainly dairy farming as well as oil, natural gas and petrochemical exploration and production.

An agricultural chemicals company founded in 1944 by brothers Ivon, Harry and Dan Watkins in 1944 and joined as a partner 20 years later by Dow Chemicals of Michigan. A 2005 study found that people who lived close to the Watkins plant between 1962 and 1987 were likely to have dioxin levels on average four times higher than the general public. In some groups the level was as much as seven times as high. A Public Health Medicine senior adviser has claimed that based on international findings, the residents exposure to dioxin may cause increased rates of disease, in particular cancer. In March 2007 the Ministry of Health announced it would offer a major health support programme to anyone affected

New Plymouth has a warm, moist, temperate climate. The average summer afternoon temperature is 21 to 22 average summer night time temperature is 12 to 13. In winter the average afternoon temperature is 13 to 14 and night time temperature is 5to 6. The average annual rainfall is 1436mm.