New Plymouth Travel Guide: Len Lye, Coastal Walks, Gardens and the Best Free Things to Do
New Plymouth punches well above its size. It has a world-class art gallery in a shimmering steel building, a 13 km coastal walkway that locals actually use, gardens good enough to plan a trip around, and Taranaki Maunga watching over all of it. It's also the natural base for exploring the region, from Surf Highway 45 to the start of the Forgotten World Highway.
New Plymouth at a glance
Where: on the Taranaki coast, about 4.5 to 5 hours from Auckland or Wellington by road, with flights from both.
Best for: art, gardens, coastal walks, surf beaches and mountain day trips.
Pair with: Surf Highway 45, Stratford and the Forgotten World Highway.
Govett-Brewster Art Gallery and the Len Lye Centre
Start here. The Len Lye Centre's mirrored stainless steel façade is one of the most photographed buildings in the country, and inside it's dedicated to Len Lye, the New Zealand-born kinetic sculptor and filmmaker whose work still feels wildly modern. The Govett-Brewster next door shows contemporary art.
Entry: free for New Plymouth District residents and under-16s. Other visitors pay a general admission fee. Open daily, 10am to 5pm.
Puke Ariki
Puke Ariki combines the regional museum, library and i-SITE on the waterfront. It's the best place to understand Taranaki's story, from the maunga and the sea to Māori history and the region's settler past.
The Coastal Walkway and Te Rewa Rewa Bridge
The New Plymouth Coastal Walkway runs about 13 km along the sea, past beaches, lagoons and parks, and it's flat enough for prams, bikes and long, easy strolls. Two highlights:
The Wind Wand: Len Lye's 45-metre kinetic sculpture, swaying over the waterfront.
Te Rewa Rewa Bridge: a white bridge shaped like a breaking wave or a whale skeleton, which frames Taranaki Maunga perfectly on a clear day.
Mobility scooters can be borrowed free from the Todd Energy Aquatic Centre on the walkway, so everyone can enjoy it.
Pukekura Park and the Festival of Lights
Pukekura Park is New Plymouth's pride: 52 hectares of lakes, gardens, fernery and bush right in the city, with the tea house by the lake and the free Brooklands Zoo next door, home to meerkats, otters and kunekune pigs.
Every summer the park hosts the TSB Festival of Lights, when the trees, lakes and waterfalls glow after dark. It's free, it's magical, and it runs over the summer holidays. Check the dates before you go.
Gardens worth the detour
Taranaki is serious about gardens, and the regional council's three big ones are all free:
Pukeiti: rainforest dells and one of the world's great rhododendron collections, best in spring.
Tūpare: an arts-and-crafts homestead and terraced garden above the Waiwhakaiho River.
Hollard Gardens: near Kaponga, a farm couple's life's work turned into one of the region's gardens of significance.
Visit in late October or early November for the Taranaki Garden Festival, when private gardens open too.
Coast, islands and seals
Just offshore, Ngā Motu, the Sugar Loaf Islands, are the eroded remains of ancient volcanoes and a protected marine area. Kayak or take a boat tour to see fur seals, seabirds and the rocky stacks up close.
On land, Paritūtū, the 156-metre rock above Port Taranaki, is a short, steep climb with a chain to help on the top section. The view over the islands, port and city is worth the effort, but it's not for anyone uneasy with heights.
Compare New Plymouth tours and activities on GetYourGuide.
Meeting of the Waters
Ten minutes from town, Meeting of the Waters Scenic Reserve is where the Waiwhakaiho River splits around an island. Short bush walks of 20 to 45 minutes wind under tawa, rimu and kahikatea, with a swing bridge and a summer swimming hole.
Up the mountain
The maunga is never far away. Drive up to the North Egmont Visitor Centre for short walks and big views, or head round to Dawson Falls and the Goblin Forest from Stratford. The national park is now officially Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki.
Free things to do in New Plymouth
The Coastal Walkway, Wind Wand and Te Rewa Rewa Bridge
Pukekura Park and Brooklands Zoo
Puke Ariki museum
Pukeiti, Tūpare and Hollard Gardens
Meeting of the Waters and the mountain walks
The TSB Festival of Lights in summer
Where to stay
Browse places to stay in New Plymouth on Booking.com.
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Plan your trip
Stay: two to three nights, with one day in town, one on the mountain and one on Surf Highway 45 or the gardens.
Getting around: a car is best for the wider region. The city centre and walkway are easy on foot or by bike.
Check before you go: Festival of Lights dates, Govett-Brewster opening hours, and mountain weather and track updates with DOC.
Keep exploring
FAQs
What is there to do in New Plymouth for free?
Walk the Coastal Walkway to the Wind Wand and Te Rewa Rewa Bridge, explore Pukekura Park and Brooklands Zoo, visit Puke Ariki, and wander Pukeiti, Tūpare and Hollard Gardens. The TSB Festival of Lights in summer is free too.
Is the Len Lye Centre free?
Entry to the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery and Len Lye Centre is free for New Plymouth District residents and under-16s. Other visitors pay a general admission fee. It is open daily from 10am to 5pm.
How long is the New Plymouth Coastal Walkway?
About 13 km, running along the waterfront past beaches, parks and Te Rewa Rewa Bridge. It is flat and suits walkers, cyclists and prams.
How many days do you need in New Plymouth?
Two to three days: one in the city, one on Taranaki Maunga, and one for Surf Highway 45 or the region's gardens.
