Discover Okato

Okato offers specific options for different kinds of holiday days: access to the Puniho Track, a path through lowland forest and an outdoor pool with two distinct pools. There are also the remains of Ngaweka Pa and a local award from 2019. If you are looking for a holiday home, these different interests can help you consider Okato as a destination when planning your trip.

Walking Tracks and Forest Scenery

Access to the Puniho Track to Kahui Hut is via Wiremu Road, from Puniho Road in Okato. If this route is part of your plans, you can take this specific track access into account when choosing where to stay.

The Stony River (Hangatahua) Walkway passes through lowland forest, made up mostly of kohekohe and kawakawa. In the wider New Plymouth District, the walkway also offers views of Taranaki Maunga. You can walk it as an out-and-back route or a loop. This lets you include both the forest scenery and your preferred route format in your day’s plans.

Outdoor Pool, Culture and Local History

Ōkato Pool has a 25-metre outdoor pool with six lanes and a toddlers’ pool. This gives you two clearly different pool options to consider: a longer pool with marked lanes and a separate pool for toddlers. Check the current opening days and hours before visiting.

The remains of Ngaweka Pa are in the bushland of Ōkato Domain. They add a cultural point of interest to the town’s more activity-focused offerings. For a culinary highlight, there is Ōkato Fish n Chips: in 2019, the business received the national title for the best fries in Aotearoa.

More Experiences in the New Plymouth District

The wider New Plymouth District also offers a range of themes to consider when planning your trip. The Coastal Walkway is 13.2 kilometres long and runs along the coast from Pioneer Park at Port Taranaki to the eastern side of Bell Block Beach. A section from the Waiwhakaiho River to the car park on Smeaton Road provides access to Te Rewa Rewa Bridge. For your planning, this is a different kind of walking experience from the forest at the Stony River.

Puke Ariki has three permanent exhibition galleries about the region’s history, taonga and natural world. Admission to all areas of the museum is free; check the latest visitor information before your visit, as admission conditions can change. Another option is the guided Puke Ariki Historic Walk through central New Plymouth. The tour is about three kilometres long and takes two hours. If it suits your plans, check dates and booking details in advance.

Brooklands Zoo is home to capuchin monkeys, meerkats, parrots and tortoises, among other animals. From central New Plymouth, you can walk to the zoo through Pukekura Park; alternatively, access is via Brooklands Park Drive. On weekends and during school holidays, zookeepers give talks twice daily, at 12 pm and 2 pm. Check the current schedule before your visit.

The interpretive track at Pukerangiora Pā is an easy loop around the pā site. There are sweeping views from the clifftop lookout, and the track also features archaeological highlights. This means the wider New Plymouth District’s offerings range from coastal and urban walks to a loop with scenic and archaeological points of interest.

Choosing the Right Base

When choosing a holiday home, you can start by considering whether Okato’s specific routes, forest scenery and outdoor pool should be the focus of your stay. The other examples in the New Plymouth District add a coastal walkway, museum, zoo and guided city tour to the options. This lets you tailor your search to the kind of trip you want to plan.

Discover more destinations: Kakaramea, Waiongana, Waitara, Omata.

Back to the main travel overview: Taranaki.