Morgan Maw launched Boring Oat Milk in 2021 and it is now Aotearoa\u2019s top-selling oat milk. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n
Morgan\u2019s parents live just down the road<\/a> in the same home she once grew up in. Meanwhile, her younger brother and his wh\u0101nau have based themselves close by and many of the extended family members aren\u2019t far away.<\/p>\n \u201cHaving grandparents in the same town for our son was a big drawcard for us moving from Auckland. <\/p>\n \u201cThat intergenerational support is pretty special.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite 16 years away from New Plymouth \u2013 \u201cI grew up here, then studied in Wellington, went travelling and eventually settled in Auckland\u201d \u2013 she\u2019s found it grounding to be back.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople here are deeply connected to the ocean and Taranaki Maunga, with life and conversations often revolving around one or both,\u201d Morgan says.<\/p>\n \u201cBlack sand beaches, great surf, bush walks, river swims, trips to my aunty\u2019s farm. It\u2019s the kind of place that quietly tunes your compass to nature and community.\u201d<\/p>\n Now firmly settled in Ng\u0101motu with her young family, Morgan has a treasure trove of favourite places.<\/p>\n She shares her favourite things about her hometown and tips for those planning to visit.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re not in a hurry, the drive from Auckland is windy but spectacular! I generally fly though as I\u2019m usually on the way to Hawke\u2019s Bay (two flights!) to the Boring factory. If it\u2019s a clear day, you get some stunning views of Taranaki and over to Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu. <\/p>\n One thing I wish people knew before visiting New Plymouth is simply where it is. It\u2019s not the same place as Palmerston North (no offence, Palmy).<\/p>\n My go-to restaurant is Black Sand in \u014cakura for epic pizzas and stunning sunsets over the Tasman Sea. <\/p>\n Dawn (also in \u014cakura) has high vibes, tasty tapas and \u2013 through the winter months \u2013 an excellent Sunday dinner service.<\/p>\n My favourite cafe is Down to Earth \u2013 an organic wholefoods store just a short stroll from home. <\/p>\n Word has it they do a top-notch oat milk fluffy too.<\/p>\n But if I\u2019m staying in… Vietnamese chain Rice Rice Baby has just opened its third site in town (the other two are in Hamilton and Mount Maunganui).<\/p>\n I don\u2019t drink alcohol, but New Plymouth has always had a high standard for coffee \u2013 favourite spots not already mentioned are Ozone Coffee, Proof & Stock, Bleached, Fitzroy Kiosk and Little Easy.<\/p>\n I split my groceries across a few places \u2013 Down to Earth for quality wholefoods and artisan treats; Ottimo to stock up on Mediterranean goods; and good old Crazy Pumpkin for the weekly fruit and vege shop. <\/p>\n My all-time favourite store is Crystal Cylinder, a surf-lifestyle-homeware store owned by local frother and community builder, Benny Connolly. <\/p>\n Benny and his team have curated a great range of brands, there\u2019s an epic cafe in the store and a gallery space next door where they often host exhibitions and openings. <\/p>\n If you\u2019re into markets, Peeps Market is a cute monthly vintage clothing and makers market that is run and frequented by a handsome and talented bunch. <\/p>\n My favourite things to do revolve around the beach. I have a couple of other w\u0101hine that I surf with. My favourite spot is Waiwhakaiho (aka Waisies). It\u2019s a reef break that you get to by paddling across the river. I love the surf community that goes out here \u2013 especially on the smaller days. Long waves, high vibes.<\/p>\n If I\u2019m by myself, one of my favourite things to do \u2013 particularly in the cooler months \u2013 is to visit the Sauna Project, which sets up at East End beach two to three times per week. Although often busy, I still feel like I get to Zen out and enjoy some alone time in there. The owner, Jeff, parks the sauna right beside the beach so you can have a dip in the ocean as a reprieve from the 90C heat.<\/p>\n When I\u2019m working in town, I bike the coastal walkway to Manifold \u2013 a co-working space. It\u2019s a lovely space to work from and I really enjoy my water cooler chats with my de facto workmates. <\/p>\n On sunny days, you\u2019ll catch me at Fitzroy Beach for a fun swim or beach walk followed by a bike ride on the coastal walkway. <\/p>\n Pukekura Park is a stunning place to visit in any weather, but it\u2019s truly special on a drizzly day. The native bush is dense and varied, the rhododendrons are vast and stunning in spring and there are many beautiful giants to admire \u2013 including a 2000-year-old P\u016briri tree.<\/p>\n A true locals-only secret is the Back Beach lagoon. But to get there, you need to time the tides and swim across \u201cShark Alley\u201d, then scramble over Seagull Rock where the lagoon is situated. Not for the faint-hearted, but it\u2019s a fun adventure. <\/p>\n We\u2019re spoilt for great hikes with heaps of tracks around the maunga. There are also a bunch of DoC huts that are handy if planning an overnighter or multi-day tramp, including the brand new Pouakai Hut (we\u2019ve booked to stay there later in the year \u2013 can\u2019t wait). <\/p>\n Lake Rotokare is a stunning native bird sanctuary about 45 mins drive south, near Eltham \u2013 expect to see t\u012beke (saddleback), korimako (bellbirds), toutouwai (robin), and hihi (stitchbird) drinking from the custom feeding stations. <\/p>\n Moving away from Auckland, I don\u2019t spend a lot of time in the car anymore, but the coastal road south from New Plymouth along Surf Highway 45 is my favourite drive. With 180 degrees of coastline to take in and consistent swells, it is a surfer\u2019s paradise (just don\u2019t forget your wetsuit). <\/p>\n A creative space I can\u2019t recommend enough is the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery\/Len Lye Centre \u2013 in my view, the best contemporary art gallery in the country. Exhibitions change three or four times a year so there\u2019s always something new to see. They also have an excellent independent cinema which screens interesting films from here and across the world.<\/p>\n Although my husband and I are big music fans, the local music scene definitely wasn\u2019t a drawcard for moving here. In saying that, Dawn hosts some great little gigs in their church-turned-cafe and bigger touring acts play at the TSB Showplace in town. <\/p>\n Over summer, the Festival of Lights hosts some fun, free gigs in Pukekura Park, and then at the tail end of summer, WOMAD is an absolute must (although devastatingly not in 2026!<\/a>).<\/p>\nMorgan Maw returned to her hometown of New Plymouth in 2022. Photo \/ Alexanders Art Agency<\/p>\n
Dawn, a trendy establishment housed in an old \u014cakura church, stays open late over weekends. Photo \/ Dawn<\/p>\n
Down to Earth doubles as quality wholefoods store and Morgan’s favourite cafe. Photo \/ Down to Earth Organics<\/p>\n
Morgan’s daily life blends family outings with surfing at Fitzroy Beach and coffee at her favourite locals. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n
There’s a hidden lagoon on one of the islands by popular surfing spot Back Beach. Photo \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n
The Len Lye Centre at the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, New Plymouth. Photo \/ Simon Devitt<\/p>\n