Stratford

STRATFORD ACTIVITIES AND TRAVEL | Stratford Information

Stratford is a town in the central Taranaki district of Stratford District of the North Island, New Zealand. It is located around half-way between New Plymouth and Hawera.

Stratford is popular amongst visitors for its many attractions such as: gorgeous parks and gardens and the country's only glockenspiel tower. The glockenspiel plays a scene from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet four times daily and is definitely a must-see while in the area.

Stratford also has a few outdoor activities. From short walks to four day trek or bike riding to a 4WD journey through native bush, there is something for everybody.

Most the streets in Stratford are named after Shakespearean characters, as Stratford-in-Taranaki was named to honour Shakespeare's birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon. The town is also the point before the Forgotten World Highway which is a 150 kilometre journey with no service stations on the way that ends at Taumarunui.

Stratford History

Early settlements in Stratford were small Maori villages in the forested hills as places of shelter in times of war. While coastal regions of Taranaki were settled by Europeans in the 1840s, the forested inland Taranaki areas were kept isolated until the land wars of the 1860s.  Following those wars the land of Stratford District was in some cases forcibly purchased and in some cases freely sold.

Main Towns in the Taranaki Region

Other Towns in the Taranaki Region