New Plymouth

We drove the long (scenic) way around the coast to New Plymouth rather than taking the direct route through Stratford.  Mount Taranaki sits on your right throughout, but cloud blocked our view almost all the way.  We tried without success to make out Fantham's Peak, the secondary peak on the south of Mount Taranaki, which we have walked up in the past.

Opunake was our lunch stop, the main town on the road, where we also had a look at the wild Tasman Sea from the cliffs.

The lookout platform on the Northern Headland at Opunake.

The sea did not look very inviting.

The Opunake beach is in the bay to the left.  This seemed to be a rather rugged boat ramp!

Mount Taranaki, from just before New Plymouth.

The cloud on the mountain finally cleared after lunch, as we approached New Plymouth.  It's a great view across the rolling countryside, very pretty.

We stayed three nights in New Plymouth, time enough for a good look around.  The city seems quite lively, and they have developed the waterfront with the huge wind-wand, sculptures, and kilometres of boardwalk for walkers and cyclists.

New Plymouth has big shiny waterfront sculptures too.

Not really a swimming beach - they are further west.

the wind wand is verrrry tall.

The undulating reflective wall of the Len Lye Centre (Govett-Brewster art gallery)

Nice cafe across the road, where we ate a few times.

Embroidered thingies in the gallery.

Sequinned gourds?

Apparently the gallery is in a re-purposed cinema building.

The coastal walkway / cycleway extends for several kilometres, and hundreds of people were using it.

The dramatic Te Rewa Rewa bridge has become quite famous.

Pohutokawa - or something else?

At least the kite surfers love the wind.  There were about thirty out.

Looking along the Fitzroy beach to the west of the city we saw a couple of dozen kite surfers frolicing in the wind and waves.  Apparently wind-surfing is no longer popular.

Late that night we joined thousands of others wandering around Pukekura Park and gardens admiring the Festival of Lights.

The giant illuminated peacock.  His tail slowly folded and unfurled.

The colourful changing waterfall.

Large glowing kiwi, with slightly creepy eyes.

Colourful birds on a chandelier.

Moving, colour-changing spotlights and dry ice on the footbridge.