Pukekura Park


Pukekura Park is a Garden of National Significance, covering 52ha near the heart of New Plymouth, Taranaki in New Zealand.

History

The 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.

Sports and music

Pukekura Park is a popular events venue.

Cricket

At the north-western end of the park is a cricket ground, established in the late 19th century, which is noted for the beauty of its setting. After the team's visit to play a two-day game against Taranaki in January 1936, the Marylebone Cricket Club captain Errol Holmes wrote:
... when we went to the ground, we were struck with its beauty, and decided that it must be one of the most attractive that could be imagined. On three sides it was surrounded by high banks, giving it the facilities of a natural amphitheatre. The pavilion stood on the fourth side which, in turn, led out on to Pukekura Park, famous for its assortment of trees and banks of hydrangeas almost as big as houses, while, away to the south, rose the peak of Mount Egmont, snow-capped, serene and splendidly aloof.

The ground has hosted first-class cricket since the 1950-51 season, when the Central Districts cricket team was established and began playing some of its matches there. As of 2020, 55 first-class and 77 List A matches had been played there. The ground has hosted a single international match, a One Day International in the 1992 Cricket World Cup when Sri Lanka beat Zimbabwe in a high-scoring match by three wickets with four balls to spare.

Other sports and events

On the eastern side of the park is New Plymouth Raceway, a horse racing course. Between the racetrack and the park is TSB Stadium, a 4,500 seat multi-purpose indoor stadium which is home to the Taranaki Mountainairs basketball team of the New Zealand NBL.
Near the southern end of the park is the Bowl of Brooklands amphitheatre, which commonly hosts music events. The annual WOMAD festival is held at Pukekura Park.

Serenity

Pukekura 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 Park was the winner of the "Mayfair" spot in a nationwide competition for places on Hasbro's New Zealand edition of Monopoly.

International Centuries

Only a single ODI century has been achieved at the ground.
No.ScorePlayerTeamBallsInns.Opposing teamDateResult
1115*Andy Flower 152123 February 1992Lost