Taranaki Garden Festival - named New Zealands Favourite Event 2023
Pukeiti is world renowned - 360 hectares boasting more than 10,000 rhododendrons, including 500 of the 800 known species, as well as 1500 hybrids. With a plethora of flowers, including daphnes, hydrangeas, hostas, azaleas, camellias, roses and magnolias, the dozens of public and private gardens in Taranaki have something to share year-round.
Thousands descend upon the region throughout the latter Spring months of October and November, during which many private gardens are opened to the public. An event not to be missed!
WOMAD
World of Music, Arts and Dance - is a world festival held in Ngāmotu - New Plymouth in March of every year. It is three days of music, culture, dance and arts with hundreds of international artists performing across multiple stages in the beautiful Bowl of Brooklands (a stunning natural amphitheatre located next to Pukekura Park). There are also a number of food stalls highlighting international foods, arts and crafts, workshops, cooking demonstrations and so much more!
The Festival of the Lights
Is a festival that occurs every summer in New Plymouth and transforms Pukekura Park, a stunning botanical garden near the CBD, through thousands of multicoloured lights illuminating the 25 hectares of native bush in the park. The festival is a sight not to be missed and attracts more than 100,000 visitors each year.
The Festival starts with 'Christmas at The Bowl' in the beautiful Bowl of Brooklands (a natural amphitheatre that can seat thousands of people), with a concert, Carol singing, culminating with a firework display and the lights being switched on for the first time. The Festival continues throughout the summer until early February. The park stays open every evening to the public, and in addition to the amazing light displays the park hosts free live entertainment from both national and international performers, twilight movies in the park, roving buskers and a brilliant mix of daytime activities for children. The Festival of Lights is an event not to be missed!