Lake Mangamahoe Bridle Zone (north side of the lake - SEE MAP HERE (thanks to BTW for assisting with this map). DOWNLOAD THE MAP HERE -150ha's of peaceful forest trails on the outskirts of New Plymouth.
All beaches at any time but not Oakura, Ngamotu, and East End to Fitzroy Beaches during daylight saving between 9am and 6pm.
Bell Block Beach and Waiwhakaiho Beach are 'any time' beaches.
Lake Rotomanu(beware of jet skiers and water skiers-this is primarily their place but round the lake is lovely for a bombproof horse).
Audrey Gale Reserve (right hand side only) off Mangorei Road. Steep drive in but horses can be swum here if no one is in the water.
Balsom Park (also off Mangorei Rd). 10 acres of exotic trees but available only to local riders as there is no parking available. Apply to TEN for a key.
Pony club grounds ( New Plymouth,Oakura, Waitara and Inglewood Pony Clubs) on purchase of a key.
Future rides-hopefully the Bell Block to Waitara Coastal Walkway Extension, Puke-iti Gardens , the Kaitake Trail , Hickford Park.All these trails are yet to be built but TEN is rearing and bucking to ensure horses are on them and tracks are wide enough.
Outside the NPDC area, contact the Stratford District Council or South Taranaki District Council for their riding places.
Riding rules everywhere require riders to be in full control of their horses around people. In NPDC urban areas, horse owners are required to remove horse manure from roads within two hours.
Specific rules on prohibited riding:
Along any footpath, grass berm or other grassed area in an urban area unless it is a designated horse riding area.
Ngamotu Beach (includes the reserve, beach and playground area) at all times.
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) from 9am to 6pm daily during daylight savings.
Oakura Beach (including the foreshore and beach area located between Ahu Ahu Road to the west and the Oakura river mouth to the east) from 9am to 6pm daily during daylight savings.
From Bell Block Beach- a lovely low tide ride. Not prohibited in daylight saving times.You just need one confident horse to lead others over the riverstone slope onto the beach. From there it is a place of beauty.
Bell Block Beach
From Tiromoana Crescent parking area and alongside Coastal Walkway to boat ramp - another place to park in order to access Bell Block Beach at low tide and take the dune trail along to North Waiwhakaiho Beach.
Lake Rotomanu
Parking areas for floats - primarily a place for jet skiers so take your quiet horse here but NPDC are happy for horse riders to take a walk around the lake.
Waiongana to the Sea
A destination ride for riders wanting a pleasant 1.5 hour trek (excluding a beach ride) seeing parts of North Taranaki unknown to most.
Arrive by turning into Mahoetahi Rd at Sentry Hill (off SH3 between Waitara and NP) and drive towards the sea. Don’t be distracted by the left fork in Mahoetahi Rd – continue straight ahead. 100m’s ahead are your parking spaces. We recommend you park here rather than down further by the yards where the turnaround would be tight with floats on the verge. There’s room enough for 10 – 15 floats. A good place to meet your friends for a relaxing trek.
View the airport from a new perspective and enjoy the sturdy bridge over the river. Horses are good with this bridge. Amazing wide road verges take you along Brown Rd to the public walkway along the southern end of the Pony Club grounds. If you are lucky and strike key carriers, you can ride through the grounds to Cracroft St and out to the sea. Otherwise, take the roads to the reserve on Battiscombe Tce and enjoy a beach experience.