It is difficult to think of Patea without also recalling the outstanding Patea Maori Club and its chart topping single “Poi-E” which swept to popularity in 1982 and is still arguably one of the country’s favourite contemporary Maori songs.
Patea has a rich Maori and European history which is well documented in the South Taranaki District Museum (Aotea Utanga nui) in the main street of the township. The replica of the Aotea canoe at the western entrance to the town commemorates the settlement of Taranaki by Turi and his hapu, who travelled from Hawaiiki to Kawhia and then overland to Patea.
Today Patea has retained a strong community focus and enjoys many services. Nearby Carlyle Beach and Mana Bay are popular for their excellent fishing, boating and surfing and visitors to the area will enjoy beautiful, wild, rugged scenery that is typical of the South Taranaki coast. The beach and river offer a boat ramp, scenic lookouts and walkways. The shopping centre has supermarkets and a butcher, cafes, dairies and hotels and includes a well resourced medical centre, pharmacy, public swimming pool and trust owned rest home.
Things to see and do while visiting Patea:
Carlyle Beach Motor Camp – Situated at the Patea River mouth this black sand beach and river offer a boat ramp, good surfing, lookouts and walkways.
Patea Heritage Buildings
Fancy a game of golf? If golf is your favourite pastime there are good things in store for you in South Taranaki. Visit our separate webpage for a list of all the golf clubs in our area.
Lake Rotorangi Walkway – Takes you across the spillway and dam and through virgin bush filled with tawa and hinau. A feature of the walkway is a grove of black beech or tawhairauriki, which flower in a burst of brilliant red in October and November.
Patea River Walk - The Patea River Historic Walkway leads from Patea Beach and follows the river up to York Street, with several interesting historical sites along the way.
Public Swimming Pool – Stafford Street – open early December to mid March.
SouthTaranaki District Museum (Aotea Utanga nui) - contains archives and memorabilia from the districts past and in particular the history of Patea.
South Taranaki i-site Visitor Information Centre
For great advice, service and friendly tourist information wherever you are in the region, please phone or visit the i-Site Visitor Information Centre in Hawera. All South Taranaki libraries also offer visitor and tourist information throughout the working week and display boards are kept up to date with community notices and events.
Address: 55 High Street (PO Box 5), Hawera
Telephone: 06 278 8599
Fax: 06 278 6599
Email: visitorinfo@stdc.govt.nz
Open Hours:
Monday-Friday 8.30 am-5.15 pm
Weekends and Public Holidays 9.30-4 pm (December-April), 10 am-3 pm (May-November)
CLOSED CHRISTMAS DAY
