It’s a beautiful park. There are enough things to do to keep you entertained. There’s a cafe you can relax after a nice walk around the park. There’s a buggy you can ride on for $5 per person and a gold coin donation for children, it takes you around the park effortlessly. There’s a fernery where you can see various of plants and flowers, free of entrance! It is a big park, you can definitely get those steps in easily. There’s a public toilet too. You can see different age groups hanging around. You can meet different dog breeds too as they take a stroll on the park with their owner. You can also find ducks waddling around. Parking may be a struggle though. Best to park your car at the park rather than at the entrance of the park! Oh and it’s also wheelchair friendly too!

This beautiful park is always an amazing place to visit no matter how many years you've been away from home, so many fond family memories 💜

A great park to spend some time with. Had a nice walk and lots of fun enjoying looking at the cutie ducklings.

Pukekura Park in New Plymouth is widely considered a jewel in New Zealand's horticultural crown, offering a truly diverse and engaging experience for all ages. Here's a comprehensive review: Overall Impression: Pukekura Park is a sprawling, meticulously maintained urban oasis that seamlessly blends formal gardens, native bush, open lawns, and recreational facilities. It's much more than just a park; it's a living canvas that changes with the seasons, offering something new to discover with every visit. Its beauty, tranquility, and variety make it a beloved spot for locals and a must-see for visitors to New Plymouth. Key Highlights: * Diverse Landscapes: The park boasts an impressive range of landscapes, from formal English-style gardens with vibrant annual bedding displays to dense native bush walks, tranquil fern grottos (the Fernery & Display Houses are a particular highlight), and serene lakes. This variety ensures there's always something visually appealing around every corner. * Iconic Features: * Lakes and Waterfalls: The series of artificial lakes, fed by natural streams, are central to the park's charm. You can rent traditional wooden rowboats (seasonal) for a peaceful paddle, and the picturesque waterfall (which lights up at night during the Festival of Lights) is a popular photo spot. * Poet's Bridge: This charming bridge is another favorite for photographers and adds to the park's romantic ambiance. * Bowl of Brooklands: A world-class natural amphitheater nestled within the park, the Bowl of Brooklands is famous for hosting major concerts, including the WOMAD festival, and is a key venue for the Festival of Lights. Its lakeside setting provides a unique and memorable concert experience. * Fernery & Display Houses: These partially sunken glass-topped grottos are a tropical haven, showcasing an extensive collection of native and exotic ferns and other plants. It's a fantastic place to escape the elements and immerse yourself in lush greenery. * Brooklands Zoo: A free, family-friendly zoo located within the park, home to a variety of animals, including farmyard animals, meerkats, and a walk-through aviary. It's a great bonus for families. * TSB Festival of Lights (Summer): This is arguably Pukekura Park's most famous event. From mid-December to late January, the park transforms into a magical wonderland with hundreds of dazzling light displays, live entertainment, and food vendors. It's a free event and a truly enchanting experience, especially for families. There's also a smaller "Winter Pop-Up" around Matariki. * Accessibility: The park is generally very accessible, with well-maintained paths suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs. There are numerous entrances, allowing easy access from various parts of the city. * Free Entry: Pukekura Park (and Brooklands Zoo) is free to enter and enjoy year-round, making it an incredibly valuable community asset and an affordable attraction for tourists. * Wildlife: The park is home to a variety of birdlife, including ducks, shags, tui, and kereru (New Zealand wood pigeon), adding to the natural experience. Things to Consider: * Crowds during Festival of Lights: While magical, the Festival of Lights attracts large crowds, particularly on weekends and evenings. If you prefer a quieter experience, visit during the day or in the off-season. Tips for Visitors: * Allocate Time: Pukekura Park is expansive (52 hectares), so allow plenty of time to explore its various sections. You could easily spend half a day or more here. * Wear Comfortable Shoes: There are many paths to explore, so comfortable footwear is essential. * Pack a Picnic: The park offers numerous beautiful spots for a picnic. Alternatively, the Tea House on the Lake provides refreshments. * Check Event Listings: If you're visiting in summer, definitely check the dates for the TSB Festival of Lights and any concerts at the Bowl of Brooklands. * Visit the Fernery: Even if you're not a keen gardener, the Fernery is a unique and captivating experience.

Incredible park with everything one can dream of (bridges, tea room, free zoo, fernery).

This park is worth ten stars, not five. It would be a crime not to have a good walk around and explore when visiting New Plymouth. It is outstanding.

Came here after our hike on the mountain and this was a very relaxing environment to be in. Surrounded by the sound of nature and the beauty of that waterfall was calming after a long day.

Went here on a rainy morning. For visitors it’s $15 each which is not bad. The exhibition was about Maori and Polynesian with their weaving and other stories to tell. The two lovely ladies were really accomodating and did a great job with explaining the art and story behind it. They also went beyond just that, expressing their opinions and views and really striking a conversation. I guess this is what art is about, it’s more than just the visuals. The place is spacious and well managed.

Small but mighty art gallery, very chill and feels great to be there, easily spend an hour or more. great place to visit especially on a rainy day. Located right in the centre of the town, next to the white hart hotel and a short walk from the centre city mall. Great interactive art work and craft areas for both the young and not so young. None New Plymouth residence will be charged a $15 admission. Super friendly staff, always keen to walk you through the art work, tell you about the artists, and discuss observations. Great experience, highly recommend.

2024: My gosh, that is one shiny building. One of the more striking buildings I've seen in NZ, which steals the spotlight from the exhibitions, as they pale in comparison. Most of the interior was rather empty, I guess with the focus on negative space..? The main art is the architecture.

The exhibition was of island weaving and print's, there was another exhibition too. It was very interesting to see up close these natural beautiful mats, hangings and the detailing. 7 ladies , took 7 months to create one hanging 😍

I do very much like the design of this building, it's very impressive. Staff are friendly and helpful. There are a few intresting galleries but not a huge amount and it doesn't take long to go through them ☺️

A good Gallery to take some photos of both the Gallery itself And the exhibitions. A center to experience some very modern artifacts. Some of the areas were closed when I visited.so it seems quite small.

The building itself is very distinctive and well designed. There is a 15$ entry fee. The staffs are very friendly and helpful. The displays/ arts works of Len Lye are interesting and look unique. The staff will initiate the movement of the art pieces in certain time so you can fully understand the arts works. It is not for everyone and you can appreciate the futuristic arts of Len Lye. There is a small souvenir shop. Overall pleasant trip. P.s - there is no car park at the gallery and needs to park on the street parkings.

There was a lot of information on the surrounding area especially around the Mt, the eruptions and how the land was formed, and the different soils/ rocks that now make up the area. Another section was about the old days, what this area is known for and famous things and people from here. It was very informative and interesting

Superb service in research section. Prepare questions ahead to get what you want. Parking $3 an hour under the wind wand.

Kudos to the Government of New Zealand for keeping this landmark institution updated . One has ample time to learn and discover the hard work by the New Zealanders striving for excellence at all times . A must visit ! Especially the younger generation can learn its history of scientific efforts to conserve and preserve nature and learn from it . There is an old saying Nature doesn’t need us we need it so watch and be conscious what you are doing !

Amazing museum this is a great place for all ages and on a rainy day. Free admission for everyone. The front entrance is not in use, you will need to enter from the side entrance which is not all that obvious. Located right near the beach/sea. Walking distance from the centre city mall in town. Kids are welcome to do the scavenger hunt and get cute stamps.

Puke Ariki is an incredibly informative and engaging museum that's a delight to explore. Inside, you'll find Te Takapou Whariki o Taranaki, an exhibit showcasing Māori culture—though photography isn’t allowed, it's a deeply enriching experience. The museum also features Taranaki Life, an insightful exhibit about the region's heritage. During our visit, there was an intriguing exhibition about the moon, which added to the experience. There’s also an i-SITE within the museum, making it a convenient stop for travel information. A must-visit for anyone exploring Taranaki!

Interesting museum covering marine life and Maori culture and displays worth a visit

We had so much fun in Puke Ariki. Small but very informative about the history of New Plymouth and lives of new migrants. Also fun facts about brown Kiwi and reefs project are very interesting. This is the Free entry. Overall, great place for family to visit - as indoors activity.

A decent climb, nice to see spots like this where you actually need to climb. Steps with railing 2/3 of the way up, rocky climb with guide chain to top. A little sketchy coming back down if you're not that confident

333 steps took me as far as I was happy to climb. I avoided the challenge of the remaining strenuous steep cliff face climb to the summit. Clinging to a chain "rope" Spectacular views

Good place to do a bit climbing. Bit steep, top section has chain only no stairs. The top has fantastic view to city, ocean, beach and Mt Taranaki, well worth the effort

BEAUTIFUL place to catch the sunset or even walk the beach. Tons of spots to park and sit

Besides Pukekura Park and the Coastal Walkway which are the best spots in New Plymouth, this place is also a must see. It is situated about a 10 minute drive outside the CBD and provides views of New Plymouth, Mount Taranaki and the Tasman Sea. If you feel like exercising, visitors can climb the rock though it does get quite dangerous after a certain point so only go as far you are comfortable with. This is just a neat attraction with views and a good workout.

Great view of New Plymouth and the port. We saw Mount Taranaki backward on a fine day and small islands ahead! We enjoyed the front black sand beach without going all the way up to the top. There are a lot of seagulls. Don't be scared. I enjoyed sitting on the edge of a large lawn with my kids and feeding a beautiful flying seagull. Take your time and enjoy the scenery!

It’s a short, steep hike with the top half pretty much a climb up using the provided anchored posts and chains. With reasonable fitness we were able to get there in under 15 mins, and less time down. Great views of the whole New Plymouth region, both of the coastal and Mountain View.

One of the most beautiful and quirky walks we've done at New Years. The coast views, happy campers, little cafe nooks every km it seems, and the gorgeous bridge at the end. Outstanding!

New Plymouth Coastal Walkway. The sea, a boundless expanse of deep sapphire, stretched to the horizon, its surface a constant, rhythmic conversation with the shore. The salty tang of the ocean air invigorated the senses, a stark contrast to the gentle sweetness of the lake. The path, a ribbon of concrete, led us to the iconic Te Rewa Rewa Bridge, a structure of breathtaking, skeletal grace. It stood against the sky like the fossilized spine of a mythical creature, its white arches a stunning counterpoint to the wild green landscape and the deep blue sea. Walking across it felt like stepping into a work of art, a bridge between the natural world and human ingenuity.

The award-winning Coastal Walkway is a 13.2km path that forms an expansive sea-edge promenade stretching from Pioneer Park at Port Taranaki all the way to the eastern side of Bell Block Beach. Distance: The Coastal Walkway is 13.2km from Port Taranaki to the eastern end side of Bell Block Beach. Sections of the Walkway Port to the Wind Wand: 3.4km Wind Wand to Te Rewa Rewa Bridge: 4.5km Te Rewa Rewa Bridge to Tiromoana Cresent, Bell Block: 4.8km Grade: Easy. The walkway is paved, with some gentle slopes. It is excellent for walking, running, cycling, skateboarding, skating and scooting. Most people would be able to walk 4-6km/hr on the Coastal Walkway. Access points: There are numerous access points along the Walkway with car parking available in several places. Use the Coastal Walkway map to find entrances to the walkway, available car parking and other facilities.

Nice wide walk way for bike riders and walkers water fountains along the way and benches good sea views

A nice early afternoon walk on the Coastal Walkway to the iconic Te Rewa Rewa Bridge, nice and easy to enjoy the walk with families and friends.

Amazing, we cycled this 22+ km flat ride and it was fantastic. The white bridge is a great photo opportunity on many levels Loved the whole experience.

A Sensational Day by the Sea After walking today along New Plymouth's Coastal Walkway, you likely feel invigorated and refreshed. The rhythmic sound of the ocean waves, the panoramic views of the endless horizon, and the sensation of the wind and seaspray on your face create a memorable experience. The Coastal Walkway, with its well-paved path and gentle slopes, offers an easy and enjoyable journey, perfect for walking, running, cycling, or even skateboarding. The picturesque Te Rewa Rewa Bridge adds a distinctive charm to the 13.2-kilometer route, connecting Port Taranaki to Bell Block Beach. The easy accessibility and available parking make it convenient for anyone to explore this award-winning sea-edge promenade, leaving you with a sense of tranquility and connection to nature.

Absolutely loved our experience at Social Kitchen! The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and the staff were friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. Every dish was a standout — the pork belly was perfectly soft and rich, the beetroot salad was fresh and vibrant, and the fish was cooked beautifully. You can really tell there's care in both the food and the service. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a memorable dining experience in New Plymouth

Waited far too long for the food coming. That why I gave three stars!! The food itself was superb, everything was delicious. But the service was slow. Recommended!!

Great atmosphere, vibrate and buzzing place. Food was amazing! We love all the dishes and the service was friendly and welcoming 🙂

Great venue, dim lighting inside with a modern steak house ambiance. Food was great compared to other venues in New Plymouth, great service too. Nice starters, chicken firecracker 🔥 was great, beef carpaccio too and the chicken liver. Good scotch fillet steak and sides were tasty, yummy potatoes. All meant to be shared so nice if you are a couple or a big group. I'd go there for the beef again.

Highly recommend! Amazing vibe, excellent friendly professional service, sexy cocktails, and incredibly tasty food. A truly world-class modern dining experience in regional NZ. Don’t miss it if you’re in New Plymouth.

We went with a group of 4! The food was amazing! The staff were attentive, lively and advised on the best selection for our table. Thankfully was the perfect amount for us. Very happy and will definitely be visiting again.

An absolute must if you are anywhere near New Plymouth. Staff, food, ambience all outstanding. Attentive service by a great team who work well together. Dishes are all sharing but maybe have your own lemon cheese cake 😜. Reasonable prices.

Great looking decor as a brewery, very welcoming Team of friendly staff. Food was out quick and very tasty. Pork belly was not the traditional style yet was still well cooked and tender. Grilled salmon was accompanied with a very refreshing salad. Will definitely return to try something different.

Went here to celebrate my partner's birthday. Superb choice!! Beated my high expectations. Welcoming and attentive staff sharing genuinely their professionalism (bravi!!), fantastic selection of beer tasting, food....wow!! Appealing presentation. Flavours..10/10 (snapper, carrots, asparagus, with delicious sauces which added nicely value and rewarded our palates..). Ice cream to finish dying and fully satisfied. Highly reccommended. We will definetely come back. Thank you!

I chose Shining Peak Brewing to celebrate my husband’s birthday this January, and the entire experience was absolutely amazing! The food was nothing short of perfection – truly a chef’s kiss! Our server, Annie, was the real star of the show. She was incredibly kind, warm, and welcoming, making us feel right at home. A special touch that made the evening even more memorable was when she brought out our drinks with a birthday candle attached to my husband’s drink – it was the cutest and sweetest gesture! I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting New Plymouth. It’s definitely a place worth celebrating at!

Great experience! Guy knew and was passionate about the person he was serving,encouraging me to rewd about the historic story of each. I have a paddle n enjoyed them all especially the Good Nurse Burton Ale. The food was a higher level than most, not just a normal pub meal and it was excellent. Can't wait to go back next visit

Wow this place blew my mind, I wish I could have stayed longer. Great service, great food and drink suggestions.. Can't wait to go back, thank you to the amazing team

We were visiting from Wales as my daughter got married in New Plymouth. The food was excellent and the service terrific. There were 12 of us in the wedding party and the beer and food were excellent.

Yet another brilliant interaction with the friendly staff.. Such consistent and Great service.. awesome food.. awesome Staff... a d a great place. Enjoying my time here.. Staff friendly, whom remember your name if you come here and/or book a table after the 3rd booking.. awesomeness 👌 The fried Chicken bites are awesome.. also the Petite Pegasus Session Hazy (4.2%) Great bunch of people here

Sadly the kitchen closes around 8pm so we couldn't order desert. Food was . Very generous portions arrived quite promptly. Our cocktails were a disaster. You're better off with beers and wines. The place has a cozy ambience. Parking is not quite marked or designated so note that if you're going for lunch.

It says "the best restaurant in New Plymouth" as their advertising when you Google it. By looking at the menu, majority Italian style. I must say they have the biggest mussels I ever saw in any restaurants in NZ. Nicely flavoured and cooked. Caesar salad with chicken and the pizza are just okay. Portion is big so it surely can feed your hungry stomach. We were there during Easter so an additional 15% is applied, still the price is acceptable.

We waited over an hour four two salads today. The restaurant was not full. The Caesar salad was so fatty swimming in dressing, Vietnamese salad tasted as if it had sat in the fridge for several days

A big thank you to our waiter Pulkin You took great care of our family celebrating my parents 81st birthday dinner . The food was delicious & service very attentive. Such a lovely setting too.

Great location, well served meals and very tasty, great service!

1st experience under new ownership, the restaurant was buzzing and busy. The staff seemed a little stressed trying to re-set tables and get people seated; but were friendly and attentive. Food did not take long to arrive at the table given how busy they were and the Chicken Burger in a bowl and tandoori chicken pizza were Devine. The lamb Moroccan pizza was delicious but could have done with a touch more lamb. Overall it was a great experience at a busy time and will definitely be back to try again.

Really great atmosphere for dining with soothing lighting and music. Would recommend booking in advance because it can get quite busy! Would probably suggest they downsize the portions of the risotto because they were a bit overwhelming and very salty. The tiramisu also tasted pre frozen and was quite flavourless. But other than that the food was delicious, particularly the gurnard! Best bit was definitely the staff, we were looked after incredibly well and they all seemed to take the busy night in they’re stride.

My partner and I have been struggling to find a resturant in New Plymouth where the food and the service is of a high standard. Well we have found it at Fork & Knife.......food to die for...service excellent.....a little more focus on the interior would perhaps help .......the food deserves some additional adornments......an observation and not a criticism

What a beautiful evening at Fork n Knife with friends. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, the food and the service were absolutely flawless. Four of us shared entrees, chose a main meal each, sides and shared a desserts. Thanks Fork n Knife team, yummy food and a great time. Compliments to the chef. We'll be back!

Amazing food. Cannot rate highly enough. We will definitely be coming back!!

First time eating here and I am blown away with how good it was. A small restaurant but felt roomy, the food was amazing and out very quickly. I’m going back soon!! The staff were happy, personable.

Fork and Knife catered at my wedding and there is not enough words to describe how amazing they were. For starters the food was cooked to absolute perfection, every guest ate their fingers off. The staff were so nice and so helpful in every way. I would recommend to anyone having a wedding and if you are reading this to stop the search and ask these fantastic people to make your day unforgettable.

Fork n Knife catered our wedding day, and they exceeded all expectations! From the moment we reached out to them, they were attentive and so accommodating to all of our requests and they worked closely with us to create a menu that would suit our preferences. On the day, every dish was so delicious and beautifully presented, and the staff were so friendly ensuring everyone was taken care of! Thanks Britt and Jeremy!

Just amazing. Scallop entree was just incredible. Everything was just fantastic from the food to the wine to the service. Can't wait to go again.

My partner & I had an amazing time at The Hour Glass. The food was 10/10 absolutely stunning, we literally couldn’t stop talking about how delicious everything was! Our cocktails were so tasty we couldn’t help ourselves but have a few! The atmosphere is beautiful we loved the vibe, the service the staff gave was perfect and made us feel so comfortable! We really had a great night and will definitely be back again! Thanks The Hour Glass! 🫶

My partner and I dined here on Saturday night and had a great experience- excellent selection of tapas and what we choose were well presented on the plate and delicious flavours, we had excellent service and our water glasses were topped up regularly, very large wine selection to choose from. My only complaint was where we were sitting the tables were quite close together. We would recommend this place to others for a great night out .

The first time in a long time that I’ve been to The Hour Glass, and I certainly won’t leave it as long again! It’s the perfect spot to catch up with friends, enjoy a dinner for two, or simply relax with a meal on your own. The ambience is amazing, the timing between courses was spot on, and the food was absolutely beautiful. Add to that an extensive wine and drinks list… and this may just be my new favourite place in town!

This was not my first time visiting The Hour Glass and it certainly will not be my last. We attended at charity evening and shared a platter of goodies with table accompanied by a gorgeous glass of bubbles. Love, love, live this tiny hole In the wall. Its a must of your visiting New Plymouth or a local. You will never be disappointed with "The Hour Glass" as a whole.

Such a wonderful evening - atmosphere was warm and cozy, fantastic wine list and willing to let us taste before we ordered, food was superb, freshly cooked and great to share. Well done - 👏 The young wait staff were so lovely and absolutely did their best. Can't wait to go back.

Ambiance was great but felt bit crowded. Went with friends and it was a great place to hang out. They had the really amazing drink menu which had wide range of Wine and cocktails, which was really impressive. They had good range of food to as the menu is based on sharing basis. If you are in small groups, would definitely suggest this place. Bookings recommended.

Went out for dinner to the Hourglass for the second time in a week. Absolutely amazing. The food was delicious and the service impeccable. Jenna is a great host and really knowledgeable about wine. We enjoyed tasting her selections she chose for us. Will definitely be returning again soon. Thanks Jenna & Co.