Pukekura Park
Pukekura Park
4.8
About
Pukekura Park covers 52ha (128 acres) right in the heart of New Plymouth, Taranaki and is one of New Zealand's premier botanical gardens. The park has an international Green Flag award and is a Garden of National Significance. With a diverse range of landscapes, the park features bush walks, formal gardens, lakes, children's play areas, a sports area and a Tea House. The park includes the Fernery and Display Houses as well as the adjacent garden estate area of Brooklands, home to the acclaimed TSB Bowl of Brooklands and Brooklands Zoo. As a popular destination for locals and visitors alike, Pukekura Park lights up over the summer as the backdrop for the annual TSB Bank Festival of Lights. The park is free to enter and can be accessed from various streets including Liardet Street, Brooklands Road, Fillis Street, Rogan Street, Kaimata Street and List Street.
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4.8
1,841 reviews
Excellent
1,513
Very good
301
Average
22
Poor
5
Terrible
0
Journey61206947452
Otorohanga, New Zealand8 contributions
Feb 2025 • Couples
We had a free morning so wandered up for a stroll. We were not disappointed. The date and ginger beer scones at the tea house are to die for. The fernery is amazing. If you're a garden enthusiast this is a must. I am not, but I loved it. Little glades dotted through. A rhododendron garden, a hosta garden so many more. Sadly the zoo was closed as they are prepping for two large national events but even without going there, it's well worth a visit. There is a kids playground, a waterfall many many spots to sit and just take in thegresh air, the quiet and the views
Written 17 February 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Redlizziem
Devon, UK279 contributions
Feb 2025 • Couples
A huge park, full of interest and diverse landscapes. From wide lakes, to woodland tracks, formal gardens dells and lawns there is something for everyone. With a Tea House that serves more than tea and cake, and a little electric buggy for guided tours everyone can enjoy something here. We especially enjoyed the Fernery which is stuffed full of all sorts of plants and flowers, not just ferns. The linking, hand-dug tunnels between the greenhouses are interesting in themselves. We spent hours in this park and still didnt see everything. If we were locals we would be very regular visitors!
Written 12 February 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NSBiker
Nova Scotia67 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
First-rate Botanical gardens, quiet environment, and a café with anything you want. Spend the day roaming many winding paths through mature forests and ponds and streams. One of many things in New Plymouth that make it stand out as a place to visit. Our visit was not the optimum flowering period but we had not thought that was a negative as the park entices you to meander along well made paths. There is an amphitheatre which I’m sure has some very nice concerts at times, too.
Written 15 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Martin C
Crewe, UK178 contributions
Sept 2024 • Couples
A wonderful asset for the town.
Beautiful setting. Great paths (though some are a little step). Exceptional planting including several very large specimen trees.
The fernery and tropical house are well worth a visit: 52,000 plants, all in pots, and a riot of colour in a lovely setting.
Beautiful setting. Great paths (though some are a little step). Exceptional planting including several very large specimen trees.
The fernery and tropical house are well worth a visit: 52,000 plants, all in pots, and a riot of colour in a lovely setting.
Written 23 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dee B
Great Dunmow, UK125 contributions
Oct 2024 • Solo
Last time I visited here it was lit up with Christmas lights so nice to see in day light. Not far from city centre. Good area broken into different zones including a cricket ground (small amount of parking there but other on other roads). Lovely cafe (tea house) near the biggest lake. The fountain in the smaller lake lovely! Great play ground for kids. Some fun sculptures in the park.
Written 23 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sandra D
Wellington, New Zealand2,194 contributions
Nov 2023 • Family
It was great to go to the festival of the lights at night . It was wow they looks so pretty . The tea house was lovely but some things were expensive like a milk shake was over $9 when in any other cafe $5.50 . The garden and native bush are beautiful
Written 26 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Melanie T
New Plymouth, New Zealand17 contributions
Nov 2023 • Family
The Festival of Lights was great this year, we visited with 5 times over Dec/Jan with friends and family. Loved the free bus and the different entertainment was fantastic this year! When we went on Christmas eve it wasn't busy at all due to the weather, other times we went it was very busy!
Written 14 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Simone M
12 contributions
Dec 2022
Coming back home for Christmas the lights at the park was a must see.
The Good things:
Beautiful light displays as always, the light festival was awesome in these terms but there were a few disappointments also as listed below. I loved the waterfall with its changing colours and the colour changing bulbuls on the fountain lake. Best of all the Pink Flamingo display and the walking bridge that changed colour and patterns to the beat of the music.
Due to my list of disappointments below I had to drop one star and give it a very good instead of an excellent.
The Disappointments were:
1: The music played with the walking bridge like myself, others were finding the music quite irritating sound to listen to. I overheard many people saying what is this music they are using as it is giving me a headache or it is so irritating to listen to.
Disappointment number
2: the very long queues at the kiosk for food/drinks or ice-cream, you lost our business in the end as we went elsewhere afterwards to get food with no queues as waiting in line for 40 mins and still being nowhere near the kiosk window was frustrating and upsetting to the children whom had been patiently waiting for an ice cream. So we took them elsewhere to get an ice cream.
3: Not enough Mobility parking 4 spaces was woefully pitiful especially when I saw many others in wheelchairs. Perhaps someone could put on a shuttle service to the gates from various points around town to make it easier to park and ride. Just a thought.
The Good things:
Beautiful light displays as always, the light festival was awesome in these terms but there were a few disappointments also as listed below. I loved the waterfall with its changing colours and the colour changing bulbuls on the fountain lake. Best of all the Pink Flamingo display and the walking bridge that changed colour and patterns to the beat of the music.
Due to my list of disappointments below I had to drop one star and give it a very good instead of an excellent.
The Disappointments were:
1: The music played with the walking bridge like myself, others were finding the music quite irritating sound to listen to. I overheard many people saying what is this music they are using as it is giving me a headache or it is so irritating to listen to.
Disappointment number
2: the very long queues at the kiosk for food/drinks or ice-cream, you lost our business in the end as we went elsewhere afterwards to get food with no queues as waiting in line for 40 mins and still being nowhere near the kiosk window was frustrating and upsetting to the children whom had been patiently waiting for an ice cream. So we took them elsewhere to get an ice cream.
3: Not enough Mobility parking 4 spaces was woefully pitiful especially when I saw many others in wheelchairs. Perhaps someone could put on a shuttle service to the gates from various points around town to make it easier to park and ride. Just a thought.
Written 4 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tim & Tina_Y
463 contributions
Dec 2019
This must be one of the must see attraction in New Plymouth. The park is situated in the town centre with many parking available. This is a nice place to enjoy a nice relaxing afternoon.
I would highly recommend their tram ride, for a $5/person the driver took us for almost an hour ride, it is a nice way to see the park. The driver was very informative sharing many interesting history of the park, while we really take in the beauty of the park.
We also enjoyed the coffee at their cafe, it has to be the best coffee tried in town.
I would highly recommend their tram ride, for a $5/person the driver took us for almost an hour ride, it is a nice way to see the park. The driver was very informative sharing many interesting history of the park, while we really take in the beauty of the park.
We also enjoyed the coffee at their cafe, it has to be the best coffee tried in town.
Written 21 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark M
Singapore, Singapore207 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
Coming from Singapore, I was very surprised at how good this park was. Very well laid out with easy access for all. We went when it was overcast and drizzly, all of which added to the beauty of the surroundings.
A game of cricket just starting at the entrance was just the icing on the cake.
A great half day out and a must for visitors..
A game of cricket just starting at the entrance was just the icing on the cake.
A great half day out and a must for visitors..
Written 20 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pioneer21789886558
Auckland, New Zealand
Hi what year did the seating around the park looking down at the fountain disappaired ?
Written 7 January 2021
From what I can recall, there was heaps of outdoor seating?
Written 26 January 2021
dstrauss2018
New Plymouth, New Zealand
Can we have a birthday picnic at Pukekura Park and bring in a table for the food and also set up some decorations?
Written 26 September 2018
Check with the council. Is probably the best idea.
Written 18 October 2018
Probably not but they will be will be signs. Remember there is a lot of birdlife take the around the lake.
Written 18 October 2018
Hola, quisiera saber si en esta época del año continúan las luces en el parque. Viajo este fin de semana.
Muchas gracias!
Written 23 July 2018
Hi! My family will be in New Plymouth the first week in March and are looking for things to do. I was wondering if this park will still have lights that come on at night. Does anyone know? Thanks!
Written 12 February 2016
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