Self Drive Tour Site Index

Mokau / North Taranaki: Before you reach Taranaki you will pass through the Awakino Gorge and then shortly after this, the small settlement of Awakino where you’ll find a pub and a craft shop. There is a campsite nearby called Seaview Holiday Park and from the carpark and beach on a clear day you can see Mt Taranaki away to the southwest. A little further along is Mokau, you’re not actually in Taranaki, but you’ll think you are. Although the towns of Awakino and Mokau are outside the region, the locals have a close relationship to Taranaki, because they say, “it’s the place where you get the first view of Mt Taranaki when travelling from the north”, and that’s good enough

	A. White Cliffs:  To get to the white cliffs you have to find Pukearuhe Road and to get there, you will leave this coastal section of highway and travel inland to the summit of Mt Messenger, which is just after you pass through the tunnel. Pukearuhe Road is approximately 15 minutes further travel from the summit of Mt Messenger and you’ll find you’re travelling up the green valley of Uruti, and in the hills of this valley it is a great place for goats, and goat shooting.
	B. Pukerangiora Historic Reserve:  This story continues the path of destruction by the northern invaders, in 1832. When the local Maori heard that the advancing enemy, were coming they became fearful and sought security and shelter at Pukerangiora Pa a strong fighting Pa. However it was soon overcrowded and in their haste to arrive many had forgotten to bring extra food. The invader’s who were led by Potatau Te Wherowhero made several attacks but were repulsed, so they decided to starve the defenders into submission.
	C. Mahoetahi Historic Reserve: What happened here was this. In early November 1860 the Maori who were occupying the hill fired on a party led by Colonel Mould from Waitara. The Pakeha wanted the sight to construct a stockade. General Pratt had plans drawn up to dislodge the Maori and so 670 soldiers from New Plymouth’s 65th, 40th and 12th regiments made a full-scale assault.
	D. Marsland Hill:  Continue up Robe Street for 100m to the entrance for this historic site.The small sign beside the stairs going up onto Marsland Hill tells you that Maori once inhabited this place and it was called Pukaka Pa and that it had changed hands before it was evacuated about 1790.
	E. Mt Taranaki Visitor Centre: The Mt Taranaki Visitor Centre was opened in 2000 as a replacement for the older building You will learn the story of Taranaki the Mountain and the Maori legends that connect the tribes to the Mountain, and about the plants and living creatures, as well as the tramping routes and how to get to the summit. The café provides refreshments and there a souvenirs to purchase. The key topic of interest for this site is the story of Mt Taranaki In the middle of North Island on the southern side of Lake Taupo resided a group of mountains.
	F. Pukeiti Gardens: Nestled between the Pouakai Range and Kaitaki Range, Pukeiti is a world-renowned facility, displaying their rhododendron selection annually. Once the passage north to south for Taranaki Maori, the rain forest of the ranges surrounding this wilderness wonderland was once a refuge for Maori, from invaders.
	G. Fort St George / Tataraimaka: Tataraimaka Pa was sacked earlier by the northern Maori tribes and Pakeha had taken the position for themselve’s by constructing a stockade. This infuriated Maori, who resided at the nearby Katikara Pa, because there seemed no end to the Pakeha settling on Maori land. This then became the site of the second Taranaki Maori Wars between Maori and Pakeha, It happened on 4 June 1863 and was called the battle of Katikara.
	H. Puniho Pa: Someone may be there to greet you. It is customary to offer a donation of thanks to the people of the Pa for the privilege of your visit and the maintenance of the road and grounds. The Maori word for donation, is Koha The story Rauhoto Te Pairu, the guide for Mt Taranaki Rauhoto is the guide of Maunga Taranaki and lay in the field by the sea for centuries, it was known to local Maori as having a spell cast over it.
	I. Parihaka Pa: The Taranaki Wars had ended however a new battle had been stirring on “the coast”, called peaceful resistance. From 1860, Parihaka Pa was the refuge for many Maori who followed the faithful teaching of two spiritual leaders. Their names were Tohu Kakahi and Te Whiti o Rongomai. The two believed that peaceful resistance would deter the Pakeha from taking any more land, but the Pakeha had other ideas and decided to create a road through Maori lands.
	J. Te Namu Pa: Events took place here in June 1833 that Te Namu Pa might well be remembered with pride in Taranaki. A small band of 150 Taranaki warriors armed with one musket but principally with native weapons, repulsed a numerically much stronger force of 800 Waikato raiders, who had the advantage of being armed with muskets. Te Namu Pa is protected from any attack by cliffs and parapets that could not be penetrated and therefor the enemy muskets were in effective. After months of trying the Waikato warriors retreated, because their food was running short

	K. Dawson Falls: Dawson falls were known by Maori as Rere-a-noke, which was named from a story about a certain tribal outcast who took refuge behind the falls to escape his peril at the hands of his tribe. However, Thomas Dawson discovered them in 1886, who appears to have stumbled across them by accident. Since that time of discovery, tourists from around the world have visited the falls. Many feel a spiritual enrichment and further up the stream from theses falls are the Victoria falls where the Maori spiritual leader Wiremu Ratana received a revelation that began the Ratana faith movement.
	L. Tawhiti Museum: This is the story of one mans dream and is a unique heritage product. The museum depicts the history of South Taranaki in one outstanding complex. As museums go, there is little to compare this with others. This place will inform and educate you. The creator is Nigel Ogle and his family, are your hosts. Your visit can take 1 hour or 4 hours as you roam through the past; you can enjoy a train ride, and relax over a cup of coffee or tea in the café.
	M. Dairyland: The welcome mat for the 9th largest dairy producing company in the world. The welcome sign is out and you can browse through the dairy producing facts of history. Here at Dairyland is the dairy museum. You can take a ride with the driver of a milk-tanker as he collects the milk from the farms, simulated of course.