Activities and Attractions in New Plymouth, Taranaki

Pukekura Park is beautiful all year round. In the summer it is lit up in the evenings during the Festival of Lights, also offering free live entertainment in stunning surroundings. The fernery with connecting earth tunnels, and displays of exotic plants including a colourful begonia house is not to be missed. Children love the spacious playground. The TSB Bowl of Brooklands is a popular venue for local and international entertainers, including the wonderful WOMAD.

The award winning Coastal Walkway is an expansive sea-edge promenade stretching almost the entire length of New Plymouth. Ideal for walking, running, cycling, skating, or simply enjoying the view of the dramatic west coast, the walkway connects popular recreational areas and the city centre to the sea.

A must see in New Plymouth – the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery / Len Lye Centre. New Zealand's first example of destination architecture linked to contemporary art – the curved exterior walls of mirror like stainless steel are a sight to be seen! The Govett Brewster Art Gallery has a permanent collection of contemporary work of artists from New Zealand and abroad, and ever changing exhibitions of international note.

Puke Ariki is a world-class knowledge centre where library, museum and visitor information are combined to tell the stories of Taranaki - past, present and future. Setting an international benchmark in the delivery of information and heritage services, Puke Ariki attracts people of all ages and cultures through changing exhibitions, displays, collections, an award-winning website and interactive technology. Since its opening in 2003 Puke Ariki has won multiple awards for design, delivery, technology, innovation and architecture.

Taranaki has 19 to choose from. Ranked in the top country courses in New Zealand, Ngamotu (New Plymouth Golf Club). Fitzroy Golf Club - A coastal course, close to the city. Hawera Golf Club – A genuine cliff top links course. See the website below for information on each of the courses, including fees.

Take the family to the Todd Energy Aquatic Centre. There is a wave pool for strong swimmers and a tots pool for the littlies.

Taranaki boasts many different walking tracks, for different ages and stages of fitness – our pick is the Meeting of the Waters / Araheke Bush Walk. Pushchair friendly, take a stroll through exotic foliage and towering trees to the swingbridge, turn left for a popular swimming hole, or right to wander some more through some amazing bush.

Take the kids to Bowlarama ten pin bowling centre, a 16 Lane Bowling Centre with the addition 18 hole Black Light Mini Putt Course.

Visitors to the region are spoilt for choice with the quality of our beaches! Whether you are wanting a real surf experience, a gentle swimming beach for younger kiddies, or somewhere to walk your 4 legged companion, Taranaki has plenty to choose from. Fitzroy Beach and Oakura Beach (pictured) are very popular family beaches, which are patrolled by local surf lifesavers during the summer.

The Taranaki Rhododendron and Garden Festival enables you to experience the most stunning range of gardens and garden events in New Zealand – a festival like no other. The hospitality of Taranaki’s garden owners is what makes this event so unique. Every year visitors flock from all over New Zealand and overseas to the festival where they are encouraged to take the time to wander through the beautiful gardens and take part in many of the festival’s events. Festival gardeners show the care and dedication that only those who love growing things can provide.

Since 1993 the TSB Bank Festival of Lights has been wowing hundreds of thousands of visitors each year with an awesome mix of events, entertainment and of course a spectacular lighting display set against the backdrop of Pukekura Park. At night, fluorescent pebble paths sparkle beneath excited feet, majestic trees and plants glow, and waterfalls and lakes shimmer and shine beneath thousands of lighting displays. But it's the features such as the talking giant, fire poi dancers or the parades that captivate the young and the not so young. Structures such as the park's water wheel, fountains and historic band rotunda are flooded with lights, while illuminated wooden rowboats offer a romantic boating opportunity like no other. So if you're looking for fun entertainment in the summer then visit Pukekura Park and immerse yourself in the magical and mystical wonderland of the TSB Bank Festival of Lights.