It’s been quite a few years since I was in New Plymouth, in fact, it was in 2013, when I was at AUT completing my post grad in journalism. As part of the course I was assigned to work at the Taranaki Daily News for a week.
Now 13 years on, I’ve returned to New Plymouth for a night before we head to Stratford to start the Forgotten World Adventure. It’s a two day trip, travelling in motorised golf carts on the old rail tracks, from Stratford to Okahukura, (near Taumarunui).
1. Accommodation -King and Queen Hotel Suites
Having arrived in New Plymouth we headed to our hotel, the King and Queen Hotel Suites. It’s aptly named as it’s on the corner of King and Queen Street, in the heart of New Plymouth. The location is perfect with the museum, art gallery and coastal boardwalk all within a stone’s throw.
With ample parking under the hotel, our accommodation was perfect. Attached to the hotel are eight bars and eateries all co-owned with the hotel owners. It’s a great precinct and we enjoyed a pre-dinner drink in the open, shared courtyard.
2. Dinner- Social Kitchen
I booked dinner at the Social Kitchen, just a two minute-walk from the King and Queen Hotel Suites The shared plates were good, with flamed haloumi, lemon and thyme, fried bread with whipped goats cheese and honey and a superb, fresh, snapper ceviche. The mains were equally as good.
3. Govett- Brewster Art Gallery / Len Lye Centre
This new gallery, with its stainless steel exterior is hard to miss. It opened in 2015, replacing the original Govett- Brewster Art Gallery, a heritage theatre transformed into an art gallery in 1970.
The new gallery’s name now embraces a prominent New Zealand artist, Len Lye. He’s one of the twentieth century’s most original artists, and spent his career pursuing the ‘art of movement’. He wanted his art to affect people physically and emotionally, so art became a full body experience.
Most of his career was spent out of New Zealand, however not long before he died in 1980, Lye established the Len Lye Foundation, choosing the Govett- Brewster Art Gallery to be its home.
Through a Deed of Gift, Lye transferred the ownership of all works owned by him, to the Foundation. It is managed by the New Plymouth City Council, for the benefit of the people of New Zealand.
The new gallery is now called the Govett- Brewster Art Gallery / Len Lye Centre and features exhibitions of Lye’s work.
Kinetic sculptures are key to Lye’s work and we watched four in action in the gallery. They are works of a genius. One of the kinetic sculptures named ‘Roundhead’ comprises of a number of stainless steel rings, with his wife, Ann’s gold wedding ring in the centre. Lye borrowed it for this sculpture and never returned it, giving her a replacement from Woolworths!
4. New Plymouth’s Coastal Boardwalk
New Plymouth’s coastal walkway has brought the ocean to the town.
Stretching the entire length of the city, the coastal walkway is 13km and is now accessible from the port, through the city centre and up to Hickford Park in Bell Block.
The promenade was built for multiple uses including cycling, walking, running, skateboarding, rollerblading and even riding mobility scooters, which are available for hire from the aquatic centre.
As much of the walkway is raised above the sea, it is built without an edge to emphasis the sense of being very close to the ocean. Small finger piers further accentuate this, out over the sea wall.
This bridge spanning the Waiwhakaiho River is the newest addition to the walkway, opening in 2010. Shaped like the rib cage of a whale, this iconic form represents the sacred relationship between the land, sea and wind with the Ngati Tawhirikura tribe.
5. Monica
Looking for a place for breakfast, Monica’s is across the road from the King and Queen Hotel Suites.
Monica’s Eatery has a lovely twist and is dedicated to the life and spirit of Monica Brewster, née Govett; who lived from 1886 to 1973. She was highly respected by the local community, and was progressive for her time.
She was a New Zealand arts patron and women’s rights advocate, and best known as the founding benefactor of the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery.
