• 
• 
• 
• 

With their ukes stringed for the road trip, the yellow polka-dot bikini and yellow parka packed for all weather, and local highlights on the checklist, Claire Cowan and Kiri Schumacher head to Taranaki for WOMAD NZ.

The festival is on from 16-18 March at New Plymouth’s Brooklands Park and TSB Bowl.

* * *

Claire: Guess what Kiri! Only one more sleep and we’re off to Taranaki for three days of WOMADing!

Kiri: Yup! And this is your first WOMAD experience. You don’t even know how much you’ve got to look forward to.

Claire: But there’s only three days, and like, a gazillion bands..!

Kiri: Pick up a schedule at the gate and prepare yourself down for a jolly good peruse. I recommend making immediate use of the tasty meals on offer. And with the delicious aroma of fine festival fare wafting up from your plate, park yourself under a tree and take half-an-hour to map out a game plan. Circle your bands of choice. Pencil chewing can be handy here, there’s a lot to choose from. Luckily most bands play twice so you’ll probably get the chance to see everyone on your wish list. And if you love a band the first time, you can go and see ‘em again another day.

Claire: So much to see, sounds potentially exhausting. I may be needing some disco naps.

Kiri: I’m always surprised at how rested I feel at WOMAD. Remember you’re hanging out in a beautiful park for three days. And there’s a ridiculous range of downtime activities. A healing zone, artists-in-conversation, movie screenings. And if that’s not enough, retreat through the Moon Gate into Kunming Garden….and watch an artist cook up a dish from their homeland.

Claire: Woah, sounds like my dream combo, music, movies, massage.. AND food..

Kiri: Yep, and they’ll let you have a taste for free!

Claire: Ok, I think I will have to pace myself, so as to not hyperventilate from excitement. It seems like all the things that can potentially ruin a music festival are taken care of – ie, there’s heaps of food, shade, space to play in the park, and nice leisurely sleep ins without the worry of missing something cool.

Kiri: Yup, the fun starts at 12 each day. The region has the highest number of parks per capita, so it’s worth taking an adventure beyond the campsite. And there’s great cafes, art galleries, beaches.

Claire: Well I can tell where you grew up! Tell me oh fountain of knowledge, what’s happening in the arts scene in New Plymouth?

Kiri: One of my favourite NZ photographers is showing at the Govett Brewster. Laurence Aberhart. Don’t get me started, it’s such beautiful work. He’s the only photographer who’s ever moved me to tears with the beauty of his photographs.

Claire: Well that’s something to aim for with our blog pics then. Do you reckon we’ll be able to swim while we’re there? I haven’t tried out my new $5 Glassons sale bikini yet.

Kiri: Yep, the weather might be cooling but a morning dip is the perfect way to prep for another day of festival fun. Fitzroy Beach is my pick.

Claire: Maybe I’ll wear a wetsuit on second thoughts. What’s the weather like down there under the mountain? Will I need my possum fur socks?

Kiri: Hmmmm…well usually the Gods are kind. But I do remember the heavens opening up while we danced to Mr Scruff a few years back. It made for great memories, but a raincoat would have been jolly nice at the time. Cover all bases, bring a yellow parka and your yellow polka-dot bikini.

Kiri’s New Plymouth Top Picks:

Best cafe: Petit Paris, 34 Currie St. Tasty morsels abound, this French cafe wins our pick for breakfast and stellar coffee. We recommend going with tea drinkers, for the pleasure of seeing the table fill with delightfully varied French teapots.

Best art gallery: Govett Brewster, 42 Queen St. New Plymouth’s public art gallery has an international reputation for showcasing innovative contemporary art. There’s talk of the recently opened Laurence Aberhart exhibition being the best collection of his work to date. Shot on large format, his images are always exquisite to view first hand. Home to a large body of Len Lye’s work, and with a number of other shows currently on display, the Govett Brewster definitely worth a visit.

Best design store: Kina NZ Design and Artspace, 101 Devon St West. Possibly the best provincial design store in the country, Kina does it well. Set in a beautifully restored historic building on New Plymouth’s main street, Kina delivers sensory and tactile delights. NZ crafted ceramics, glass, jewellery, prints and textiles. Designer cushions to get cosy with, mugs to wrap your hands around, jewellery to adorn. With an award winning sustainability focus, and an NZ-made ethos, Kina is racking up loads of brownie points.

Best stroll: Coastal walkway, 11 fabulous kilometres of sea air. That’s gotta be good for you. If you want to only walk a short while then start at the Strandon carpark and take a right over the bridge. The mobile coffee cart on the other side of the bridge is a favourite with the locals. And if you walk five mins further you’ll reach a kiosk under the Fitzroy Surf Life Savers tower. Sister to the renowned Piccalo Morso bakery, this kiosk offers fine pastries and great coffee. Rumour has it that it’s soon to have an art gallery space too.

Best beach: Fitzroy, Beach St Taranaki beaches are great for good old west coast epic-ness. Black sands don’t come much blacker than this, so you’ll need your jandals for getting as close to the water as possible before hopping elegantly barefoot towards the water. Great surf and fluffy aerated ocean makes for invigorating swimming. Perfect for morning dips before WOMAD kicks off at noon.

So start stretching folks, you’ll need those limbs all limbered up for three days of can’t-resist-another-dance moments. And come prepared. Bring your polka-dot bikini and your possum fur socks.

* * *

Related story: Utes and Ukes

Further information: WOMAD NZ