Local Attractions
BIG WAVE CAFE
Big Wave is a fantastic cafe, it is a must to visit when in New Plymouth. A great selection of food and drinks for all ages. A perfect setting, relax on a lounge chair and enjoy the sea views. Mike and Michelle are wonderful hosts.
Location:
East End Beach Reserve
New Plymouth
Phone: 0273057035 or 0211243742
Open Mon – Sun: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
BROOKLANDS ZOO
Brooklands Zoo is a free, family focused zoo which is home to farmyard animals, oriental small-clawed otters, ring-tailed lemurs and both capuchin and cotton-top tamarin monkeys, as well as a selection of colourful birds housed inside a walk-through free-flight aviary.
Location: Brooklands Drive, New Plymouth or walk from the city centre through Pukekura Park.
Hours: Open 9am to 5pm seven days a week, except Christmas Day.
Facilities: Wheelchair and pushchair access, playground, sun shade, toilets and picnic tables.
EAST END RESERVE
Nobs Line and Buller Street
Another great park right beside Fitzroy beach. Explore the river and rocks and walk across the bridge.
FERNERY AND DISPLAY HOUSES
Pukekura Park’s Fernery consists of three glass-topped caverns excavated into a hillside. Being below normal ground level, they create a temperate environment suited to display a wide variety of indoor and outdoor plants from around the world.
FITZROY BEACH
Located off Beach Street, Fitzroy
A great surf and swim beach. Surf life savers present during summer. Toilets and shower facilities. A great place for a day at the beach or for an evening stroll. It joins into East End Beach.
FITZROY FREE POOLS
Located off Beach Street, Fitzroy
Open December school holidays until the end of February. Closed Christmas Day. Two outdoor swimming pools with a small playground next door.
ROW BOATS AT PUKEKURA PARK
A very popular way to relax in New Plymouths Pukekura Park is by hiring a row boat on the main lake. The clinker boats hark back to a bygone era, and are a charming way to explore the lakes environs and get close to the ducks and the occasional cormorant that call the lake home. Rowers can glide beneath the iconic Poets Bridge, a wooden red span that is almost as famous for its origins as it is for its much photographed design.
The row boats are available for hire throughout the TSB Bank Festival of Lights (mid-December to early February) and nominated weekends in March.
STEAM TRAIN RIDES
Corner Liardet and Gilbert Streets
Operates Sundays and Public Holidays, 2 – 4pm (Weather dependant).
SUMMER CONCERTS AT TSB BOWL OF BROOKLANDS
The TSB Bowl of Brooklands is a unique venue comprising an impressive outdoor sound stage and a large grass amphitheatre set against the backdrop of New Plymouths Pukekura Park. The bowl is a spectacular venue for summer concerts and when night comes, visitors and performers are spellbound as the lighting on the stage and surrounding trees takes effect. The bowl has seen performances by Sir Elton John, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Michael Crawford, R.E.M., Crowded House and Santana, and is also the New Zealand home of WOMAD (World of Music, Arts and Dance) in March every year.
TE HENUI WALKWAY
The Te Henui is one of the most beautiful walkways in New Plymouth and yet, incredibly, it originates from a sewage pipe route!
Grade: Medium
Distance: 5.9km (two hours circular).
There are many possible variations to the route which follows Te Henui Stream from East End Reserve to Cumberland Street. The route is circular with a number of different access points. You will pass historic places while walking through bush and forest reserves and across open pastures – all with the city only a stone’s throw away!
Visit www.newplymouthnz.com for more details
TE KAINGA MARIRE GARDEN
Te Kainga Marire – Maori for the peaceful encampment – is a skilfully designed inner-city native garden that mimics – and even improves – New Zealand’s natural environment.
Situated in a once weedy New Plymouth valley, Te Kainga Marire is now considered to be one of few private gardens of international significance by the prestigious RNZIH New Zealand Gardens Trust.
The garden wraps around the Poletti-Clarkson family home, snuggles up to a coastal swamp forest remnant and pa site and spills on to the neighbouring river reserve and Te Henui walkway leading to the city and sea.
This is a harmonious garden that weaves subtle textures and colours with quirky forms. Lush ferns, wetland plants, alpine treasures and native trees here make up a microcosm of the New Zealand landscape – a gem of Middle Earth.
WIND WANDERER BIKES
Wind Wanderers – A fun way to enjoy the coastal Walkway. Wind Wanderers are four-seater, pedal-powered bikes (or buggies). Great for families, friends, couples and kids to enjoy the breathtaking ocean views of New Plymouths coastal walkway in a relaxed, fun and safe manner. Wind Wanderers operate from either the wind wand or by the mouth of the Te Henui river during summer weekend days and early evenings. They also operate every day through the Christmas and Easter school holidays (weather dependent). We would love to see you down here to enjoy this Taranaki favourite.