Pukekura Park 5.76

Pukekura Park is a Garden of National Significance, covering 52ha near the heart of New Plymouth, Taranaki in New Zealand.HistoryThe park contains a diverse range of native and exotic plants. Various easy walking trails cross the park and meander along the lake sides, taking in the features of the park. Among these are the picturesque Poet's Bridge, which was opened on 11 March 1884. There is also a man-made cascading waterfall and a fountain in the aptly named Fountain Lake. Row boats can be hired for rowing on the main lake.SportsPukekura Park is also a popular events venue, with a cricket oval where Central Districts Stags cricket club play some home matches (and has hosted a single One Day International; Sri Lanka vs. Zimbabwe in the 1992 Cricket World Cup) and the Bowl of Brooklands amphitheatre. The annual WOMAD festival is held at Pukekura Park.SerenityPukekura Park is also home to the popular Tea House on the Lake, which has been situated on the main lake since the 1930s.Pukekura Park is the venue for the annual Festival of Lights, which runs for free every year from mid-December to early February. It has daytime and night time programmes of events for people of all ages, and the festival itself transforms the park into an illuminated wonderland every evening.In 2007, Pukekura was winner of the 'Mayfair Place' spot in a nationwide competition for places on Hasbro's New Zealand edition of monopoly.