Taranaki - aka Mt Egmont

Taranaki - or Mt Egmont as it was once known is the Kiwi version of Mt Fujiama. It is a perfect cone shape and rises above the Taranaki plains and the nearby coastal city of New Plymouth. The city is the cultural hub of the area and for a small place does very well in the arts scene. It is one of my favourite places.

Mt Taranaki is surrounded by rich emerald dairy land and the area is famous for some amazing gardens which are open to the public.

When you fly over or towards NZ it is this mountain and the other three peaks of the North Is that you see rising up from the landscape. Except for the summer season these peaks are usually snow-capped.

Near the city are some excellent surfing spots - with the west coast black sand of course!