TSB Festival of Lights
A Magical Night in New Plymouth
Each summer, New Plymouth’s Pukekura Park transforms into a glowing wonderland during the TSB Festival of Lights.
Thousands of lights, sculptures and installations illuminate the park’s lakes, trees and pathways, creating an immersive experience that draws visitors from across the region.
When we visited, the park was filled with families, groups of friends and visitors of all ages enjoying the atmosphere. The scale of the displays and the vibrant colours reflecting across the water made it feel more like stepping into an artwork than simply attending an event.
Light, Colour & Reflection
A Park Transformed
Pukekura Park is already one of New Plymouth’s most beautiful locations, but during the festival it becomes something entirely different. Pathways wind through glowing installations, trees are illuminated with colour, and lakes reflect shifting patterns of light.
Some displays are playful and whimsical, while others feel dramatic and almost surreal. Large sculptural pieces appear across the water, fountains glow with changing colours, and towering light structures rise between the trees.
The reflections across the lake were particularly striking — the colours stretching across the surface of the water and transforming the entire landscape into a living canvas.
A Festival for Everyone
Families, Friends & Community
One of the most impressive things about the evening was the atmosphere. There were thousands of people in the park — families with children, groups of teenagers, couples walking the paths and extended families including elderly visitors enjoying the evening together.
Despite the crowds, the space still felt welcoming and relaxed. People moved slowly through the displays, stopping to take photos, talk and simply enjoy the experience.
The installations engage more than just sight — music, water features and creative lighting combine to create an environment that feels lively and immersive. It’s the kind of event where you can easily spend hours wandering through the park discovering new displays around each corner.
Worth Planning Your Visit Around
An Annual Summer Highlight
The TSB Festival of Lights has become one of New Plymouth’s signature summer events. Held each year in the beautiful setting of Pukekura Park, the festival transforms the gardens, lakes and pathways into a vibrant night-time landscape of colour, light and creativity.
If you’re visiting the region during summer, it’s well worth adding to your itinerary. The displays change each year, so there is always something new to experience, from large illuminated sculptures to colourful reflections across the park’s lakes.
For the latest event dates, performances and installation details, it’s best to check the official Festival of Lights website before planning your visit. If you’re exploring the region, it’s also an easy evening trip from Stratford — a perfect way to experience one of Taranaki’s most memorable summer events.
Experience
More Than a Place to Stay
At Mountain Lake Lodge, the experience goes beyond your room. Wander through the gardens, watch ducks glide across the lake or unwind by the firepit as the stars appear overhead. Here, life moves a little slower, shaped by open skies, mountain views and the simple rhythms of rural Taranaki.
