Things to Do in Hawera and South Taranaki — A Local's Guide
- Serah-Anne
- May 11
- 4 min read
Hawera sometimes gets overlooked when people talk about Taranaki. New Plymouth gets most of the attention — the mountain, the coastal walkway, Govett-Brewster. And those things are great. But Hawera has its own thing going on, and if you're thinking about living here (or even just visiting), it's worth knowing what that actually looks like day to day.
This isn't a tourism brochure. It's what locals actually do.
The Outdoors
Lake Rotokare Scenic Reserve
This is Hawera's hidden gem. A 230-hectare predator-free sanctuary with native bush, a lake, and walking tracks ranging from 20 minutes to 3 hours. You'll hear (and see) kiwi, tūī, kererū, and other native birds you won't find in most of New Zealand anymore. It's run by volunteers, it's free, and it's genuinely world-class conservation.
Tawhiti Museum
Not an outdoor activity exactly, but Nigel Ogle's life-size exhibits depicting Taranaki history are unlike anything else in the country. Think incredibly detailed dioramas and displays covering Māori and colonial history. It's won multiple awards and it's right here in Hawera. Open most Fridays to Mondays (check their website for hours).
The Coast
Ōhawe Beach is a 10-minute drive from town. It's wild, it's beautiful, and on a good day it's one of the best surf breaks in Taranaki. The walk from Ōhawe to Waihi Beach takes about an hour and follows the coast past rock formations and tidal pools.
Further afield, the Whitecliffs walkway (about an hour north) is a stunning coastal walk with views back to the mountain.
Mount Taranaki
The mountain is about 45 minutes from Hawera, and it dominates the skyline. You don't have to summit it (though the Fanthams Peak route is popular for experienced trampers). The Dawson Falls area on the southern side is the closest access point from Hawera — easy bush walks, waterfalls, and the Wilkies Pools loop track.
In winter, there's skiing at Manganui on the eastern side (about 1.5 hours from Hawera).
Golf
The Hawera Golf Club is an 18-hole course in good condition with green fees that would make Aucklanders weep. The South Taranaki region has several courses within easy driving distance.
Food and Coffee
Hawera's food scene isn't Auckland, and it's not trying to be. But there are genuine standouts:
Fresco Eatery — The go-to for brunch and lunch. Good coffee, fresh food, consistently solid.
Someday Café — Relaxed vibe, good cabinet food, popular with locals.
La Familia — Italian-style dining. Good for a proper evening out.
The Good Home — Gastropub with a decent beer selection and reliable meals.
Fat Pigeon Café (Normanby) — 10 minutes from Hawera, in an old church. Proper country café experience.
The Hawera Farmers' Market runs on Saturdays and is worth the early start for local produce, baking, and coffee.
Community and Culture
South Taranaki i-SITE and LibraryPlus
The combined library and information centre is a community hub. Events, reading groups, kids' programmes, and a solid collection. It's also where a lot of community groups meet.
Cinema 2
Hawera has its own two-screen cinema. It gets new releases and runs special screenings. It's small, it's local, and it's surprisingly good.
Events Calendar
Taranaki Garden Festival (late October/November) — The region becomes a garden destination. Several private gardens in and around Hawera open to visitors.
Hawera A&P Show — Classic rural show with livestock, food, and community events.
Lysaght Watt Gallery — Rotating exhibitions from local and national artists.
Taranaki Arts Trail (August) — Open studios across the region, including several in South Taranaki.
Sport
This is Taranaki — rugby is life. The local club competitions are well attended, and Hawera's Yarrow Stadium holds major events. There's also netball, cricket, hockey, tennis, and swimming (Hawera Aquatic Centre has a 25m pool, hydroslide, and spa pool).
Practical Stuff
Shopping
Hawera has a New World, PAK'nSAVE (the closest is in Hāwera itself), The Warehouse, and most of the basics you need day to day. For anything more specialised, New Plymouth is 45 minutes up SH3.
Healthcare
Hāwera Hospital handles A&E and most general needs. Taranaki Base Hospital in New Plymouth covers more complex cases. There are several GP clinics in town.
Schools
Hawera has solid primary schools (Hawera Primary, St Joseph's, Normanby School) and Hāwera High School for secondary. For those with younger kids, there are several early childhood centres.
Getting Around
You need a car — this is small-town New Zealand. But traffic doesn't exist, parking is always free, and everything is 5–10 minutes from everything else. New Plymouth is 45 minutes north. Whanganui is about an hour south. Wellington is 3.5 hours (or a quick flight from New Plymouth).
Why People Stay
The thing about Hawera is that it's not flashy. There's no pretension. People wave at you on the street, your neighbours actually know your name, and the pace of life is exactly what a lot of people are craving after decades in the city.
The cost of living is genuinely low. A couple on NZ Super can live comfortably here — not just survive, but actually live. We ran the numbers on that.
And if you want to be part of a community that's growing and investing in itself, Kotare Estate is a new gated subdivision on the edge of town with freehold sections and mountain views.
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