Situated in the heart of New Plymouth, the TSB Festival of Lights transforms the beautiful botanic setting of Pukekura Park into a magical illuminated night-time wonderland of multi-coloured lights gleaming amongst the trees, attracting more than 100,000 visitors each year. Other attractions we will visit during our four day stay in New Plymouth is the Tawhiti Museum in Hawera, and the beautiful Pukeiti Garden.
From $1450 per person share twin
Travel: Thu 19 – Sun 22 Jan 23
Itinerary
Day 1 Thursday 19 January 2023
JOURNEY TO NEW PLYMOUTH (D)
Today we travel to New Plymouth travelling State Highway 3 via Te Kuiti. We travel the Awakino Gorge Road to Mokau and then traverse Mt. Messenger to Uruti. On arrival into New Plymouth, we will visit the stunning Te Rewa Rewa Bridge for a photo stop, before arriving at our hotel to settle in for the next three nights. New Plymouth is the major city of the Taranaki region. The region is renowned for its consistent surf and black sand beaches and of course Mt Taranaki, which is shaped like a perfect cone with its good walking tracks on the mountain slopes. Dinner tonight will be in the hotel restaurant.
Accommodation: Plymouth International, New Plymouth – 3 nights
Day 2 Friday 20 January 2023
NEW PLYMOUTH SIGHTSEEING (BD)
After breakfast this morning we begin our day by travelling south to Stratford. Stratford is located in the heart of Taranaki, and is the gateway to Mt Taranaki / Egmont and Egmont National Park. It is known for its Shakespearean theme and stunning parks and gardens. It is here we view Stratford’s glockenspiel which is unique in New Zealand. The glockenspiel plays a scene from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet four times daily (at 10am, 1pm, 3pm and 7pm) with figures made by the curator of the Tawhiti Museum, Nigel Ogle. The glockenspiel performs for approximately 5 minutes, after the hour chimes are finished. After viewing the glockenspiel, we travel to Hawera to visit the Tawhiti Museum – an impressive visual history of South Taranaki. Tawhiti Museum is a truly unique enterprise. The creation of artist Nigel Ogle, its attention to detail is simply stunning. Widely acclaimed as the best private museum in the country, the museum uses life size exhibits and scale models to present our heritage in a series of super realistic and engaging displays. All these displays are designed and built on the premises in the ‘Body Shop’ and accompanying studio. We then travel back to New Plymouth via Surf Highway 45. We dine in the hotel restaurant tonight.
Day 3 Saturday 21 January 2023
NEW PLYMOUTH SIGHTSEEING (BD)
We’ll enjoy a leisurely start to the day as it will be a late night tonight. There will be time in the morning for those who wish to visit the local shops. Puke Ariki is also worthwhile visiting or just enjoy a walk along the coastal boardwalk to admire the windwand sculpture. We reconvene in the early afternoon to visit Pukeiti Garden. Boasting more than 10,000 rhododendrons and azaleas amongst lush native bush, ferns, mountain streams and a lively bird life, Pukeiti features drifts of primulas, hostas, bluebells and the world renowned vireya collection, to provide year-round interest. Here we will enjoy a guided tour of the garden to learn Pukeiti’s stories and secrets and see it through the eyes of a gardener during the one-hour tour. After dinner tonight, we’ll venture out to see the TSB Bank Festival of Lights, where New Plymouth’s gem, Pukekura Park will be transformed into a wonderland of lights! Fluorescent pebble paths sparkle beneath excited feet, majestic trees and plants glow, and waterfalls and lakes shimmer and shine beneath thousands of lights.
Day 4 Sunday 22 January 2023
JOURNEY FROM NEW PLYMOUTH (B)
This morning we depart New Plymouth for our return journey following State Highway 3, travelling through lush forest and over Mount Messenger and through the Awakino Gorge. Head inland and pass through the King Country towns of Piopio,Te Kuiti and Otorohanga before passing Waitomo and continuing through to Hamilton.
Ask one of our Personal Travel Managers for more details!
Your package includes:
✔ Door to door home collection & drop off service available from select areas
✔ 3 nights accommodation
✔ Touring in modern air conditioned vehicle
✔ 3 breakfasts and 3 dinners
✔ Admission to Tawhiti Museum
✔ Guided tour of Pukeiti Garden
✔ Visit the Festival of Lights at Pukekura Park
Valid for Travel:
19 – Sun 22 Jan 2023
Valid for Sale:
Until sold out