NEW PLYMOUTH OBSERVATORY - New Plymouth
The Observatory was opened in 1920 and is situated on Marsland Hill, Robe Street. The Observatory is of small size and is the home of the New Plymouth Astronomical Society (NPAS).
The Observatory is open to the Public, Tuesday evenings. During Winter the hours are 7.30pm-9.30pm, Summer hours are 8.30pm-10.30pm. Group bookings by arrangement.
Location: Marsland Hill, off Robe St, New Plymouth
Price: adult/child/family $5/3/10
Hours: 7.30pm-9.30pm Tue Mar-Oct, 8.30pm-10.30pm Tue Nov-Feb
photo courtesy of snalk
PUKE ARIKI MUSEUM - New Plymouth
The Museum is home to the i-SITE, a library, a cafe and the Arborio restaurant. Here you'll find an extensive collection of Maori artefacts, as well as colonial and wildlife exhibits. long term exhibits show the history of the province using podlike seats that rumble and glow.
Location: 1 Ariki Street, New Plymouth
Price: free, some exhbits may cost
Hours: Mon, Wed Thur, Fri 9am till 6pm, Wed 9am till 9pm, Sa & Su 9am till 5pm
Web: www.pukeariki.com
photo courtesy of wikimapia
SUGAR LOAF MARINE PARK - New Plymouth
The Sugar Loaf islets were made into a marine park in 1991. The islands, which are eroded volcanic remnants, are a refuge for over 400 fur seals and sea birds. Learn more about the marine park at the Interpretation Centre on the Lee Breakwater promenade.
Location: 1km out from Port Taranaki.
Price: free
Hours: 10am till 6pm
photo courtesy of Frank Leound
REAL TART GALLERY - New Plymouth
Housed in a 100 year old warehouse, the Real Tart Gallery showcases works from local artists with many available for purchase.
Location: 19 Egmont Street, New Plymouth
Price: free, exhibits may cost
Hours: 10am till 5pm, 10am till 3pm weekends. closed mon in winter.
TARANAKI CATHEDRAL - New Plymouth
The Church of St Mary was built in 1846 and is the oldest stone church in New Zealand. It consists of a vaulted timber ceiling and its graveyard has headstones of early settlers and soldiers who died during the Taranaki Land Wars, there are also several Maori chiefs headstones.
Location: 37 Vivian Street, New Plymouth
Price: free
Hours: daily
TSB BANK FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS - New Plymouth
The TSB Bank Festival of Lights begins in Late December and runs for six weeks till the end of January each year in Pukekura Park, New Plymouth.
The festival is a free community event that includes a wonderful array of events, entertainment and a spectacular lighting display set against Pukekura Park.
Admission is free and your bound to enjoy the entertainment available and evening strolls through the park amidst the lighting shows.
Location: Pukekura Park, New Plymouth.
Price: free
Hours: 24
photo courtesy of Shaun Thomason
ARTHOUSE CINEMA - New Plymouth
The Arthouse Cinema is created by local people within the community and is a non profit organisation.
The Cinema is considered a boutique cinema which aims to provide movies that cater to niche markets and the high culture element. The cinema focuses on the social aspects of cinema, a mixture of convivial atmosphere, quality film, food & beverages.
Location: The old Mayfair cinema, 73A Devon Street West, New Plymouth.
Price: varies on the film
Hours: 10am till late
Photo courtesy of Arthouse Cinema
STONEY OAKS WILDLIFE PARK - Inglewood
Stoney Oaks is a unique wildlife park that adopts a hands-on approach with their animals creating a warm environment for the patrons. Animals which you can touch or ride on include cows, pigs, possums, deer, highland calves, sheep, goats, baby rabbits, guinea pigs and you can even row a boat amongst black swans, take a native bush walk, and sight their pet eel, goldfish and rainbow trout.
The Stoney Oaks Wildlife Park is also the home of McGillie, the Highland beast and Taranaki rugby mascot.
Location: 356 Kaimata Road, R. D. 8, Inglewood
Price: $10.00 Adults & Teenagers $5.00 under 12's. By appointment for groups or schools. Bottle feeding $5.00, sorry no eftpos.
Hours: 9am till 5pm
BEACHES & SURFING
There are many countless surf breaks in Taranaki, of which many have become legends over the decades.
To name a few are Stent Road, Kumara Patch, Fitzroy Beach and Arawhata Road which still attract surfers from around the globe after decades of legendary appeal.
Because of the mountain and its effect of wind currents its always off-shore somewhere around the Taranaki coast.
Use the maps link above to go to maps of each beach and detailed information.
photo courtesy of South Taranaki District Council
SHOPPING NEW PLYMOUTH - New Plymouth
Taranaki consists of a main street which contains well-known national stores as well as exclusive boutiques, cafe's and restaurants.
There are many delightful shops down side alleys if your willing to take the time to look.
The City Centre shopping complex on the waterfront has a wide variety of shops and a food court.
Heading away from the centre of town, you'll find deli's and gift shops on Devon Street East in Fitzroy.
photo courtesy of Rob Tucker
PARITUTU HILL/ LOOKOUT - New Plymouth
Paritutu is a steep-sided craggy hill (154m) which translates as ‘Rising Precipice’. From the summit you'll see out to the Sugar Loaf Marine Park, down to the town and out to the mountain. About a 20-minute hike to the top.
Location: Centennial Drive
Price: free
Hours: 24
New Plymouth, Hawera, Patea, Eltham, Opunake, Stratford, Inglewood, Waitara