On our second day in New Plymouth we got reacquainted with Pukekura Park, Marsden Hill, and a bit of the town center. Pukekura Park is 128 acres which is a combination of beautiful parkland, sports areas, museum, and concert area. There’s also a small zoo on the grounds. We started by walking towards Pukekura Park, but we stopped for a photo when Bob found a big head photo op along the way.
Cuz 2 big heads are better than one?The water wheelThe Japanese HillsideNew flora for the collectionThe Fountain Lake. Bob was bested by a child in getting to turn on the fountain.A look at the Tea House across the Main LakeBob beat the child in turning on the waterfall — the competition was only in Bob’s mindA large, cool-looking treePoet’s Bridge — named for a racehorse not a celebration of bardsKunming Garden near the GablesThe Gables — former hospital now used for art classes and displaysThe chimney saved from the farm in Taranaki where cheese was first madeOne of my favorite flowers yetThe bandshell — on water, very cool!Random photo — cute child’s toy left in restroom at parkOne of the most recognized birds in New Zealand, the pukeko, or purple swamp henArt in the water
More pretty plants
We discovered Marsden Hill on our first visit doing a walk of historic or important sites that we had picked up at the visitor’s center. It contains an observatory, war memorial, and carillon and provides a great view of New Plymouth.
The observatory, home of the New Plymouth Astrological SocietyThe war memorial and carillon
A view of New Plymouth from atop the hill
The town center is lovely, as it lies along the coast but also has a great art museum, public art, and a good selection of retail and dining options.
The Len Lye Art GalleryDowntown clock towerA whale being constructed of plastic bottles to call attention to all the plastic in the oceanMore public art in front of the visitors centerThe Wind Wand kinetic sculpture along the coastal walkway near the town centerAn unexplored bomb that washed ashore in New Plymouth in 1943.The visitor center and library that retained a section of wall from a former building
Peckish Travels 