Highway 3 to New Plymouth

Posted on by J&L
Len Lye, Wind Wand, New Plymouth foreshore

The last time we were in New Plymouth, just before the first Covid lockdown, we were entranced by the Len Lye kinetic sculptures at the Govett Brewster Art Gallery. So when we wanted a short week-day getaway in the limbo time of waiting for possession date for our new home, we decided to check out the current Len Lye sculptures on exhibit at the gallery. But what we hadn’t realised (duh — apparently it is a well-known NP landmark) is that there is a 45-metre Wind Wand installed, apparently after much controversy, on the coastal walkway. Its construction was a millenial project, with the light switched on at 12am, January 1, 2000. It looks great against the blue sky (reminds me of a pared-back Joan Miro painting), but I reckon it would be even more spectacular lit up against a night sky. Not sure I’m up to heading out again tonight to see that, but with a couple more days to go, who knows. In the meantime, I’m looking forward to seeing more Len Lye works at the gallery tomorrow. Here’s a photo of an installation when we last visited, entitled Sky Snakes. It was mesmerising — the light and movement in a darkened room — the photo doesn’t do it justice.

Len Lye, Sky Snakes. At the Govett Brewster, New Plymouth, 2020

We started the day with breakfast at the Yellow House in Whanganui, followed by coffee with a friend from way back in teachers’ college days when we all flatted together in Christchurch. It was great to catch up.

It was interesting driving from Whanganui to New Plymouth along SH 3. As far as I remember, this is the first time we’ve driven SH3 in this direction — last time we were heading New Plymouth to Wellington, after driving through the Forgotten World Highway (spectacular). So it was interesting to drive through country that in parts reminded me of the landscape around Waitarere beach — a flat sandy coastal landscape.

We’re on a road trip so I have to include a road shot. You can just make out the windmills in the distance.

Here’s a few more shots of our meanderings this afternoon. Just as I can’t resist photos of fields of buttercups and daisies or roadshots of passing scenery, so neither can I resist a good seascape with its bands of blues and greys and whites.