Taranaki
Where you can ride your horse in Taranaki
New Plymouth
Audrey Gale Reserve
Enter at 257 Mangorei Road, New Plymouth. Drive down the long drive past Merrilands Domain on your left. There is public parking just off to the left as you round the last corner, or gravel\grass right at the end of the drive. Suggest you turn so you're heading back up the hill.
Keep to the area to the right of the drive when riding. Horses can be swum in Waiwhakaiho river if no one is in the water.
Lake Rotomanu
Lake Rotomanu is accessed via Clemow Road.
There is a large parking area near the entrance, and others further around the lake edge.
Beware of jet skiers and water skiers-this is primarily their place, so share with care.
A walk around the lake is lovely for a bombproof horse. Rideable to Waiwhakaiho/North FItroy Beach - follow the road, rather than the walking path. Ride to the end of the carpark next to Waiwhakaiho reserve to find the path onto the black sand beach (instead of trying to ride down the rocks)
Lake Mangamahoe Bridle Trail
Lake Mangamahoe about 10 minutes drive from New Plymouth on Lake Mangamahoe Rd, off SH3 (aka Junction Rd). Look for a 4 way junction, large sign at the entranceway.
Access is restricted to daylight hours
Winter - 7.00am-6.00pm outside of daylight savings.
Summer - 7.00am-8.30pm during daylight savings.
Trail and Terrain
Forest with well marked trails approx 5km
The trail is wide enough for riders to walk two abreast, please share with care as these trails are ridden in both directions.
safe parking area, picnic area, tie-rails (hitching rails), marked trails, map(s)
Parking
A large car park is on the left of Lake Mangamahoe Rd, approx 1km from the entrance gates. Holds around 20 horse vehicles/floats.
Beaches
Bell Block Beach
best accessed from Tiromoana Crescent where there is good parking on the grass along the beach front. parking area and alongside Coastal Walkway to boat ramp. Mangati Rd also has a public carpark, and you may need to ride along the grassy foreshore to find a spot to get your horse onto the beach at the large rocks protecting the foreshore are quite formidable.
Waiwhakaiho Beach
Access from Bell Block Beach is a lovely low tide ride, but you can also access Waiwhakaiho beach from Lake Rotomanu.
If you ride south onto Fitzroy beach, be aware of the seasonal restrictions, during daylight savings time.
Tapuwae Beach
A small beach approx 15 mins south of New Plymouth. Black sand beach with a small grassy reserve, and a river entrance for some low tide fun. Only access appears to be riding up from Oakura beach (Corbett park) . There is one rocky 'corner' before the black sand continues up to Tapuwae, but you will have to keep a keen eye on the tides because of this.
Bell Block beach
Waiiti Beach
Beach Rd, off Pukearuhe rd, Waiiti. A very small beach, probably not worth the effort unless you are local. Good parking on the side of the road near the beach. Toilets at the grassy reserve.
Beaches with restrictions during summer
During Daylight Savings (Oct-Mar) you must ride BEFORE 9am or after 6pm. Riding is permitted any time outside of daylight savings.
East End Beach to Fitzroy Beach
Including the foreshore and beach area located between the Te Henui river mouth to the west and Waiwhakaiho river mouth to the east . Best parking is at Fitzroy park, near the skatepark, or ride down from the north (Lake Rotomanu)
Oakura Beach
Including the foreshore and beach area located between Ahu Ahu Road to the west and the Oakura river mouth to the east).
Best access and parking is at Corbett Park, Omata, off SH45 near the bridge that crosses the Oakura river (or Victoria Rd if coming from the north, right turn just as you get to the bottom of the hill/double yellows stop) where there is good parking, turnaround and access onto the beach north of the river.
At low tide you'll be able to cross the river and ride down Oakura beach or ride north all the way to Tapuwae beach.
Corbett park has plenty of parking beside the Oakura river, and access onto the beach. Please respect other park users, No riding on the park, and clean up all manure.
South Taranaki
During daylight savings (Oct-Mar) you must ride BEFORE 9am or after 6pm on Cave Beach.
You may not ride on Opunake Beach and Camp Ground at any time.