Free fun in the ’Naki
Taranaki is ground zero for Brook Sabin and Radha Engling when it comes to no-cost fun.
It’s a four letter word that brings universal delight: free. And we’ve found New Zealand’s epicentre of free things, our ground-zero of nocost fun: Taranaki. Where else in the country can you head to the zoo, museum, pools, or even a light show – without spending a cent?
So, strap yourselves in: We’re taking you on a low-cost tour of New Plymouth and the wider region.
The coastal walkway
This 12.7km walkway hugs the sea edge along the city, punctuated with iconic landmarks like the Wind Wand and Te Rewa Rewa Bridge – designed to look like a breaking wave or whale skeleton. It also perfectly frames the towering cone of Mt Taranaki in the background.
It’ll take you about 21⁄2 hours to walk the entire length, passing inland lagoons, beaches, parks, an inner-city surf beach, and the city’s promenade.
It’s also an ideal bike track – or can pick up a free mobility scooter from the Todd Energy Aquatic Centre to explore the walkway. The scooters are available every day except Christmas.
Brooklands Zoo
There are only a few zoos around the world that are free, and New Plymouth’s inner-city animal park is one of them.
You’ll find everything from meerkats, otters, squirrel monkeys, leopard geckos, the critically endangered cotton-top tamarin, alpacas, and the resident food guzzlers: kunekune pigs.
The zoo is a delight for kids, with a playground and picnic area.
Pukekura Park and Festival of Lights
This vast park is the beating heart of the city, with almost 130 hectares of walkways, lakes and botanic gardens. It’s also right next to the zoo, so you can make a day of both.
The standout highlight of our trip to Taranaki was the TSB Festival of Lights, which I think is one of the best free events in the country. The whole park becomes a treasure hunt of light sculptures: from a rainbow waterfall to a light tunnel, technicolour forest walks, colour fountains, and even giant bells that light up when you pull their ropes.
The event is hugely popular with locals – who discover new light installations each year – as well as an estimated 9600 tourists who travel to the city just for the event.
The festival – which next runs from December
to February – also has around 50 live performances and plenty of daytime activities for the kids.
Climb Paritutu Rock
This ancient volcano, sitting very close to town, looms over the city. It’s a gnarly climb – with
100 metres of near vertical ascent, complete with a chain to help you up.
After 15 minutes of pain getting to the summit, you’ll be greeted with views over the Sugar Loaf Islands, the city, and out towards Mt Taranaki.
This scenic stretch of road from Ha¯ wera to
New Plymouth will put a smile on any surfer’s face: there are countless spots to stop for a barrel – including O¯ a¯ kura, which has a legendary reputation among wave riders.
But, make no mistake – this isn’t all about surfing. With plenty of scenic driving, coffee shops, Cape Egmont Lighthouse, and even a lavender farm – there are plenty of land-based breaks on this drive, too.
Len Lye Centre
For those of us from outside Taranaki, you’ll know this as ‘‘the big shiny wavy building’’ – it’s the first museum in New Zealand dedicated to a single artist.
Len Lye was a pioneering film-maker and artist, particularly interested in kinetic, or moving, sculptures.
The Wind Wand in New Plymouth and the Water Whirler in Wellington (the waterfront pole that oscillates to create water patterns) were both his designs, and posthumously built from his plans.
The Len Lye building was designed to challenge the eye. Depending on your angle, the reflection