Panoramic New Plymouth & the Len Lye Centre
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port
New Plymouth, New Zealand
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activityLevel
Moderate Activity
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excursionType
City Tour,12
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wheelchairAccessible
No
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startingAtPrice
$79
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minimumAge
Information Not Currently Available
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duration
Approximately 2½ Hours
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mealsIncluded
Meals not included
A panoramic drive from Port Taranaki brings you to a lookout point. The uninterrupted 360-degree views include New Plymouth and, weather permitting, the mighty Mt Taranaki looming over the eponymous province. Note the Sugar Loaf Islands Marine Sanctuary offshore, and Paritutu Rock along the coast.
You will head towards the interesting Te Rewa Rewa Bridge -- a metaphor for the spirits of the dead buried around the Rewa Rewa Pa (Maori village) site.
In the city center, look for the rather unusual Wind Wand -- a 158-foot kinetic sculpture which includes a tube of red fiberglass. Perhaps not surprisingly, this sculpture was conceived by one of New Zealand's most famous artists. Len Lye was a truly avant-garde 20th-century character -- a man well ahead of his artistic peers.
Finally, you'll head to the Len Lye Centre. Lye was a pioneer, filmmaker, sculptor, painter and poet. His legacy is an unusual body of work with a singular take on Modernism. The building itself, although small, is absolutely extraordinary. It is a synthesis of metallic waves arranged so that they rise vertically from the sidewalk, reflecting the streetscapes of New Plymouth in a warpy, wonderful way.
Please note: Wear comfortable walking shoes.