The concierge recommends: New Plymouth

By COLIN MOORE

New Plymouth's Devon Hotel became so big it had to get smaller again.

The central city hotel began life 36 years ago as a four-unit motel built by the parents of the Devon's owner, Peter Tennent. Over the years it grew to 132 rooms but in the past 12 years it has been extensively renovated.

Now the Devon has 100 first-class rooms, a heated pool and spa, an a la carte restaurant and the tourism award-winning Marbles buffet.

But the Devon, under Tennent and his wife Rosemary, is still very much a family affair.

When it comes to selecting the best free attraction in New Plymouth, the hotelier has no hesitation in picking the city's Pukekura Park, a grand mix of native bush, lakes and arguably the most pleasant cricket oval in the country. From mid-December until February the park hosts a Festival of Lights. The paths and more than 150 mature trees glow with colour.



For the best paid attraction Tennent is hard pressed to choose between Happy Chaddy's Charters to the seal colony at the Sugar Loaf Islands, or a visit to the Pukeiti Gardens. The 20ha gardens contain one of the largest collections in the world of azaleas and rhododendrons.

For best restaurant he chooses the Devon's own - and graciously adds Andre's in downtown New Plymouth.