6 Attractions to See New Plymouth

New Plymouth may be a bit off the beaten path, but if you love nature, this is the place to see some attractions showcasing her glory.
Of course, Mt.Taranaki is in this area. This beautiful and majestic mountain was used as a stand-in for Mt. Fuji in the Tom Cruise movie, The Last Samurai. It’s hard not to get a fantastic photo with her in the background unless it’s a cloudy day.

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If you are travelling around New Zealand, the best way is by car. Not only do you get to see more but you will find more hidden gems that the average traveller doesn’t see.

Need A Car?

If you want to book a car, you can try using one of these car rental websites, EconomyBookings.com, DiscoverCars, Expedia or RentalCars.

Need Accommodation?

Try using these accommodation websites to find a comfortable place to sleep after your day exploring, Booking.com, Agoda and Expedia.

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All prices and times were correct when this was written or updated, but please check the websites when you wish to visit.

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Pukekura Park New Plymouth

Pukekura Park is your number-one destination in New Plymouth. It’s one of the best New Plymouth attractions and should be visited even if you are only here for a few hours.

These tranquil gardens will take you around the lake and through the bush, or you can visit a small zoo or catch a concert.

The Parkland

With 52ha (128 acres), you can explore Pukekura Park by walking on well-maintained trails that take you around the lake, through the bush, over bridges and through Fernery and Display houses.

I used the car park behind the Teahouse and started my ramble, but you could easily walk from the city centre.

On a clear day, you might be lucky to see Mt Taranaki as you look across the lake to Poet’s Bridge from the Teahouse. I wasn’t so lucky with it being a cloudy day.

Features in the parkland included Poet’s Bridge, the Mishima Torii Gate, the Chinese Gardens and the tiered waterfall, plus so much more, including nature itself.

Check out what’s on at the TSB Bowl of Broadlands when you’re in New Plymouth here. Over the summer, you may even be lucky enough to catch an international act.

If you’re after something more soothing, the Festival of Lights may be for you. I just missed seeing this, but you might be luckier if you’re in New Plymouth over December/January.

Lights are switched on from 8.30 pm until 11 pm, giving you plenty of time to wander around the parklands and take it all in.

From 23-26 June 2022, the first-ever winter pop-up is on. They showcase installations in the CBD and along the coastal walkway, and if you’d like to see more on the lights, click here.

Hours

The gates to the main entrance of Pukekura Park and the car park off Fillis Street are open during the below hours. 

Summer: 6 am-8.30 pm (or at the conclusion of any park bookings)

Winter: 6 am-6 pm (or at the conclusion of any park bookings)

The Fernery and Display Houses are open daily from 8.30 am-4 pm except on Christmas day.

The Tea House on the Lake is open from 9 am – 4 pm (hours may differ on Public Holidays – follow this link to Facebook for more information).

Broadlands Zoo Pukekura Park

Broadlands Zoo is very small. As it is in a U-shape, As it is in a U-shape, I can see all sides if I stand in the middle.

Birds, farmyard animals, reptiles, amphibians and small mammals like Meerkats, Otter, Monkeys, Red-rumped Agouti and Capybara call this place home.

Zookeepers give talks twice a day on weekends and during school holidays.

It’s a delightful little zoo, that will keep the kids entertained for hours.

How to Get Here

The Brooklands Zoo is located inside the Pukekura Parklands at 30 Brooklands Park Drive.

Hours

9.30 am – 4 pm Daily. Check their website for any changes.

Prices

Free.

Coastal Walkway

The Coastal Walkway is a 13.2km walk that will take you from Te Rewa Rewa Bridge, past swimming beaches, farmland and along the coastline to New Plymouth city centre.

As you stroll along the walkway, you will find sculptures dotted along the path giving you plenty of photo opportunities.

A great way to end a day is at the Te Rewa Rewa Bridge for sunset.

Te Rewa Rewa Bridge

The bridge was opened on 5 June 2010, and it has been a must-see ever since, especially at sunset. In its first month, it was used by 55,756 pedestrians and cyclists.

When it isn’t covered by clouds, this is one of the best places to see Mt. Taranaki.

It was made with a spiritual connection to the sacred mountain, Mt. Taranaki, and is an area of high significance to the local Maori.

A car park nearby if you’re not game to walk back into the city.

Pick your times well, as seeing Mt. Taranaki is a bit hit and miss with clouds being the issue.

Surf Beaches

Another great walk in New Plymouth is along the black sand beaches of Back Beach.

Here you can watch surfers catch waves while you have all this coastline to explore.

Mt. Puritutu

At the northern end of Back Beach, Mt. Puritutu is what’s left of a volcano that was last active approximately 1.75 million years ago. It is free to enjoy, although you need a reasonable amount of fitness to walk up this 100m near vertical climb. If you make it to the top, the views are well worth the effort, although I wasn’t game to do it this time.

Lake Mangamahoe

If you have missed seeing Mt. Taranaki, maybe this spot you will, and you can’t get a more picturesque photo stop than here.

Only a 15-minute drive from central New Plymouth will find you in this oasis of nature.

Here you can do walks around the lake while taking your surroundings, the native bush and nature.

I hope you have some ideas for your trip to New Zealand. New Plymouth is out of the way but worth the detour to see its attractions.

I hope you’ll be as impressed as I was.

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Links

If you’d like to read more of my blogs on Australia, you can find them on the following links; Queensland, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Camping and Silo Art, or if you’re after New Zealand, the United Kingdom or Photography, you can click on their links.

Travel Resources

• Flights & Accommodation – You can search for the cheapest flights and accommodation using Booking.com, Skyscanner, Tripadvisor and WayAway, which has 5% cashback.
• Car Hire – Take to the open road with great deals from EconomyBookings.com, RentalCars.com and DiscoverCars.
• Train & Bus Tickets UK & Europe – Use Trainline to plan and book your rail and train travel in the UK and Europe.
• Travel Insurance – is your number one thing to pack when you’re travelling. Cover-More Australia, Cover-More New Zealand, EKTA, Travel Insurance Master and Insubuy are invaluable in keeping you insured during your travels.
• Attractions – buy before you leave home with these great sites, Big Bus Tour, Get Your Guide, GoCity and Viator.
• House Sitting – is a great way to save on accommodation and Trusted Housesitters has house sits all around the world for you to try.
• Photo Editing – is a great way to bring your photos to life and you can try Luminar Neo, which I use.
• Visa Applications – apply online for your visa requirements with iVisa.
• Sim cards – Try Airalo is the world’s first eSIM store that solves the pain of high roaming bills by giving travellers access to eSIMs (digital SIM cards).

If you want more tips, try my Travel Links and Resource page.

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