At the base of Mt Taranaki is the Shakespeare-themed town of Stratford.
The Romeo and Juliet clocktower on the main street plays at 10am, 1pm, 3pm and 7pm.
While you’re waiting for the doomed lovers to state their lines, there’s plenty to see and do in the town … or hamlet!
Exceptional coffee, gin, food and art are on offer at the Fenton St Arts Collective (page 55), housed in a striking black heritage building.
From 2 Feb – 24 March you can wander through the Gathered Voices exhibition at the Percy Thomson Gallery at Prospero Place (right across the road from the clocktower). Drawn from a range of time periods and reflecting differing perspectives, a few works express ideas that may be viewed today as misguided, even offensive. Yet they retain value, as embodiments of ancestors, or as markers of a complex past with lasting effects (page 53).
Check out the great suggestions from the team at the Stratford District Council on page 54. Their newly opened bike park is worth a visit with the kids, as is the Wai-o-rua Aquatic Centre with a 25m long main pool, a 32 degree learners’ pool and toddlers pool, plus a fun splash pad.
Bookend the day exploring one of the many walking tracks on Mt Taranaki – Wilkies Pools and Dawson Falls are popular options.