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Matariki public holiday opening hours

Some of our facilities will be closed or operating with reduced hours for Matariki public holiday, observed on Friday, July 10.

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Leisure and culture
Kake hoiho

Horse riding

Horses may be ridden in most areas, but riders need to be able to fully control their horses around people. In urban areas, horse owners are required to remove horse manure.

Horses on Beaches: trial summer hours for Ōākura and East End to Waiwhakaiho

New hours for horses on beaches at Ōākura and East End to Waiwhakaiho are being trialled over the 2025-2026 summer.

  • From 25 October 2025 (Labour weekend Saturday) to 30 November 2025, no horses will be allowed on beaches from 10am to 6pm weekends and public holidays.
  • From 1 December 2025 to 28 February 2026, no horses will be allowed on beaches from 10am to 6pm daily.
  • From 1 March 2026 to 6 April 2026 (Easter Monday), no horses will be allowed on beaches from 10am to 6pm weekends and public holidays.

From 7 April 2026, we are back to the previous rules below.

No other beaches are subject to these trial hours.

Horses are not allowed to be ridden:

  • 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.
  • Ōākura Beach (including the foreshore and beach area located between Ahu Ahu Road to the west and the Ōākura river mouth to the east) from 9am to 6pm daily during daylight savings.

New Plymouth has two areas specifically for riding your horse:

  • Lake Mangamahoe Bridle Path (north side of the lake).
  • Audrey Gale Reserve (right hand side only).
Horse riding

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Page last updated: 11:08am Mon 08 September 2025

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