Sparkling, shimmering, sun-soaked _{by Alessia Belsito-Riera}

New Plymouth (Summer 2023)

We knew from the minute we arrived on a Saturday afternoon that our weekend in New Plymouth would be wonderful. With the sun beaming down on us, my partner and I felt beyond fortunate pulling into Belt Road. This feeling increased tenfold when our lovely host Peter handed us our keys only to discover our accommodation for the weekend would be a charming, self-contained wooden cabin with uninterrupted views overlooking the sparkling azure Pacific.

We enjoyed a cup of tea on the deck before managing the difficult task of dragging ourselves away from the panorama to enjoy another one: Pukekura Park. We soaked in the last of the day’s rays strolling the interlocking paths, ducking between New Zealand natives and rare varieties of plants from around the world. The afternoon was idyllic with the ducks humming across the lake, the locals chatting under the shade of a silver fern, the kids gleefully hooting at the playground I wish I could have enjoyed as well. We cooled down in the fernery where blooms, florets, blossoms, and flowers of the brightest hues and delicate shades put on all their finery in celebration of summer’s arrival. When we emerged, we were met with a crystalline view of Mount Taranaki, the yellow gleam glistening off her snow-capped peak.

With a spot as special as ours at Belt Road, it felt a shame not to take advantage of its spoils. We ordered takeaway pizza to bring back with us from The Bake Shop on Govett, a family owned and operated business that is perhaps one of New Plymouth’s best-kept secrets, home to some of the best pizza I have tasted in New Zealand… a subject I am qualified to speak on having grown up in Italy! We chatted with the lovely head baker and owner Shawn, and then headed back to Belt Road to tuck into our meal on our deck in the company of pūkeko, the world glowing orange as the sun dipped below the horizon and the twinkling port lights that kiss the sea emerging for their evening tango with the stars.

Waking to another limpid day, we decided to make our way over to Fitzroy Beach before breakfast. Nestled along the Coastal Walkway, just a hop, skip, and a jump from the beach, Fitzroy Beach Holiday Park is the perfect base for spending the long, lazy hours of summer vacation lolling by the seashore, surfing New Plymouth’s legendary waves, or strolling along the ivory sands. A summertime paradise, Fitzroy Beach Holiday Park’s brand-new wheelchair-accessible facility block is fitted with a full kitchen and dining area flooded with natural light, family-sized bathrooms, spacious restrooms complete with roomy showers, and laundry services. We are already planning our next visit to New Plymouth, where we’ll stay at the Fitzroy Beach Holiday Park to enjoy languid summer afternoons and warm night delights.

After a hearty brunch at Deluxe Diner, a 1950s Americana-themed restaurant straight out of Grease and complete with chrome fittings, burgers, booths, and sundaes, we moseyed through the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery/Len Lye Centre – a compulsory stop when in New Plymouth. With its iconic mirrored façade we knew what awaited us inside would be nothing short of remarkable. Len Lye’s kinetic sculpture Storm was the highlight of our visit to the gallery. On display all summer and through to April, this 21st-century reconstruction imitates the sound of an approaching thunderstorm in all its crashing, booming, exhilarating magnificence.

We spent our Sunday afternoon exploring the gems just beyond the city limits. To walk off our delicious brunch, we took a stroll around Lake Mangamahoe, where you can glimpse spectacular views of Mount Taranaki framed by lush native bush and reflected in the crystal waters below. Just a 10-minute drive from the centre of town, this natural paradise is home to a huge variety of waterfowl, including kakīānau black swans. With endless walking, biking, and horseback-riding trails zigzagging through the native bush, you could spend days exploring the surrounding area’s unspoilt wilderness.

Feeling refreshed and invigorated, we continued on to The Hideaway, where we wandered through the Holden Museum, chocka with classic cars, prototypes, memorabilia, and even the factory’s final model. It would have been mad to leave without shooting down the luge at max speed! Once you reach the bottom, you hop on a working Thomas the Tank Engine to return to the top. Complete with mini putt, waterslides and pool, and a lovely café, The Hideaway is the perfect spot for all-day family fun.

With the sun still shining, we chose to spend the last hours of an already wonderful day relaxing on one of Taranaki’s beautiful beaches. Just a 20-minute drive south and an idyllic stroll along a burbling creek, Tapuae Beach sprawls endlessly along the shimmering west coast with driftwood, dunes, and dainty shells dotted along the sand. I read while my boyfriend dozed, the warmth of the rays caressing our skin, the first breath of summer floating in on the breeze.

When dusk began to settle, we followed the Coastal Walkway from Belt Road all the way into town for a tasty pasta meal at Area 41. A 25-minute stroll along the coastline, we opted to saunter home along the walkway as well, slipping into the hot tub at Belt Road for a relaxing evening soak upon our return – a fitting end to a perfect weekend in sun-soaked New Plymouth.