Entertainment

Taranaki's landscape and the mountain's supposed resemblance to Mount Fuji led it to be selected as the location for The Last Samurai, a motion picture set in 19th-century  and starring Tom Cruise. With Taranaki’s epic surf, spectacular gardens, great events, legendary mountain and countless outdoor and cultural adventures it’s easy to see why the region prides itself on being a destination ‘like no other’. Since 1993 the TSB Bank Festival of Lights has wowed visitors with an awesome mix of events, entertainment and, of course, a spectacular lighting display set against the backdrop of Pukekura Park in New Plymouth. Check out  - www.festivaloflights.co.nz. The history of New Plymouth District and the depth of its cultural diversity are told in a series of sculptures, crafted from wood, stone and metal. These public art works make for a fascinating art trail, with many of them having become iconic features in the district's landscape. In contrast with its outdoors lifestyle, New Plymouth has an arts side—it's home to the acclaimed Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, New Zealand's only contemporary art museum with a permanent collection from modern film maker and kinetic sculptor Len Lye.

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