About Ring Plain Journal

Ring Plain Journal is an independent, English-language travel publication about Taranaki, New Zealand. It is written for people planning a trip to the region, whether for a weekend on the coast, a walk in the national park or a longer tour of the North Island, and for anyone curious about this corner of the country.

The name

The ring plain is the broad, gently sloping apron of land that surrounds Taranaki Maunga, built over thousands of years from material carried down the volcano's flanks. Almost everything in the region, from the towns and roads to the farms and the surf breaks, sits on it or at its edge. Our logo shows the cone, the circle of the plain and the sea beyond.

What we cover

• Mountain and outdoors: the national park, its walks and huts, and mountain safety.
• Coast and surf: Surf Highway 45, beaches, coastal walks and the New Plymouth waterfront.
• Gardens, art and events: public gardens, galleries and the regional calendar.
• Planning: where to stay, how to get here and how to get around.

How we work

• Sourced. Articles are written from public sources: the Department of Conservation, regional and district councils, museums, galleries, New Zealand legislation and reference works such as Te Ara. Sources are listed at the end of each article.
• No changeable details we cannot keep current. We do not publish prices, timetables or opening hours, which change with the seasons; we point you to the official source instead.
• Independent. We accept no payment, free stays or commissions from operators, and we do not rank or review individual businesses.
• Respectful. Where places have cultural significance to Māori, we follow the guidance published by the iwi and agencies concerned.

Articles are researched and written collectively by the editors of Ring Plain Journal and carry no personal byline. Ring Plain Journal is not a tourism board, a regional development agency or an official information centre, and it does not speak for any of them.

About this domain

This domain previously hosted a different project, an earlier Taranaki tourism website with which Ring Plain Journal has no connection. Ring Plain Journal is a new and independent publication: it is not the continuation of that project, does not use its name, logo or material, and is not affiliated with the organisations behind it. Because people still follow old links to the domain, the addresses of that site's former visitor-guide section now lead to our own, newly written guide to the same region.

Corrections

Travel information goes out of date. If you notice an error, the editors would like to hear about it; see the legal notice for how to reach us.