Taranaki Pioneer Village is an outdoor museum experience representing a Taranaki Village from 1850 to 1950.

The 10 acre property has over 40 original buildings dating back to 1853. Buildings onsite include the Tariki Railway Station (1903), Opunake Railway Station (1925), Stratford Courthouse (1895), Mangatoki Church (1904), Kaponga Jail (1914), and Pembroke School (circa 1930s).
There are also historic homesteads and many village shops including a bank, barber, bookbinder, butcher, chemist, cobbler, Doctors and dental surgery, drapery, grocery store, hardware store library, post office, and printshop.
There also also agricultural buildings, such as a dairy factory, forge and saddlery, barn, and cow shed.
All the buildings are set up inside with artefacts from pioneer times. The Pioneer Village also has live days where a barber, bookbinder, forge, and printshop operate.


Library
The Pioneer Village also includes the Stratford Hospital Museum, which was developed after the closure of Stratford Hospital, and is run by a group of retired nurses.
There is a Pioneer Express train, which is based on Barclay shunting engine that would have been used in Stratford in the 1920’s. The train does two circuits of the perimeter of the Village. I recommend doing this first to get a layout of the Village.
During the summer months the Pioneer Village is open daily, during the winter months it is open Wednesday to Sunday. Check their website for current hours.
Taranaki Pioneer Village is located at 3912 Mountain Rd, Stratford.

Pioneer Express Train and Opunake Railway Station

Stratford Courthouse

Kaponga Jail, Cobbler’s shop, and Police Station


Mangatoki Church

Pembroke School

Barber


New Plymouth Savings Bank





Stratford Hospital Museum