For years the western edge of the North Island that thrusts out into the Tasman Sea was isolated from the cities of Auckland and Wellington. The people of the area have always been independent, and in 1840 Maori chiefs from the Taranaki refused to sign the Treaty of Waitangi. After peace was made between Maori and Europeans, trade and transport hugged State Highway 1, or the main trunk railway line, down the middle of the island, and the industrious folk of the Taranaki and Wanganui regions kept themselves busy with the important task of helping to drive New Zealand's dairy industry. In 1959 natural gas and oil were discovered in the South Taranaki Bight, and the dual industries of dairy farming and energy have ensured the area’s economic wellbeing since.

Almost 50 years on from the discovery of oil and natural gas, New Plymouth, Taranaki’s capital, is now recognised as one of the country’s most dynamic provincial cities. It enjoys one of the lowest unemployment rates and is an increasingly popular destination for local and international visitors alike. ‘Just far enough away’, claims the tourist literature, and now Taranaki's relative isolation is a benefit and a bonus.

Visitors are attracted by an array of excellent beaches and the opportunity to explore the diverse wilderness of the Egmont National Park (the iconic volcanic cone of Mt Taranaki was previously dubbed Mt Egmont by Captain James Cook in 1770). Southeast of New Plymouth, the Wanganui region is steeped in Maori and pioneer European history. The quiet river city of Wanganui is the jumping off point for exploring the winding and verdant labyrinth of the Whanganui River, and the challenging walking tracks of the Whanganui National Park. To the north, en route to the mountains of the Tongariro National Park, the canyons of the Rangitikei River are becoming an exciting adventure tourism hub.