Arts
Discover street art and sculpture trails, galleries, exhibitions and events celebrating the creative arts in all forms.
The Whangārei Sculpture and Art Trails map and guide contains maps of the Street Prints Manaia Street Art Trail, the Town Basin Sculpture Trail, and art and sculpture to be seen in other areas of Whangārei.
Whangārei Sculpture and Art Trails
Art at the Town Basin
Te Kakano (The Seed) is a fun, stand alone "folly" that was the first step towards building of the Hundertwasser Art Centre with Wairau Māori Art Gallery so local craftspeople could master the techniques required for the project.
Te Kakano and the project
Hundertwasser Art Centre
The Hundertwasser Art Centre is the largest Hundertwasser museum exhibition outside of Vienna with original artworks, architectural models and more.
Hundertwasser Art Centre
Wairau Māori Art Gallery
The Wairau Māori Art Gallery features the contemporary artworks of Toi Iho Māori artists, with up to three changing exhibitions a year. Visitors will also enjoy the unique architecture including an afforested roof, Theatre, Restaurant-Café and MuseumShop.
Wairau Māori Art Gallery
Sculpture Trail
The Sculpture Trail features artworks in a range of media from bronze and limestone to steel, concrete and marble and offer interpretations of the story of Whangārei.
Town Basin Sculpture Trail
Whangārei Sculpture and Art Trails
The Bach Gallery
The Bach gallery offers high quality art and craft from Whangārei and Northland artists.
The Bach
Burning Issues Gallery
Feel the heat of the furnaces while watching glass blowing expert Keith Grinter at Burning Issues Gallery which specialises in NZ glass, ceramics and jewellery.
Burning Issues Gallery
Whangārei Art Museum
Whangārei Art Museum is the permanent home of the city’s art collection, embracing both heritage and contemporary art work to tell the story of the District’s history.
The museum features internally curated and national touring exhibitions.
Whangārei Art Museum
Reyburn House
Historic Reyburn House, built in the 1870s, is the oldest house in Whangārei and a New Zealand Historic Places Trust Category 2 listing.
It is sited next to the children’s playground at the Town Basin and is surrounded by lovely cottage gardens with beautiful heritage roses.
Reyburn House is also home for the Northland Society of Arts which features an impressive permanent collection as well as new monthly exhibitions from talented local artists.
Reyburn House
Hīhīaua Cultural Centre
Hīhīaua Cultural Centre is a vibrant centre of Māori and cross-cultural excellence, a hub for a unified community to gather, be inspired, and build hope for a shared future.
It fulfils aspirations of the past, to revive our Māori culture with integrity and authenticity by showcasing excellence in Māori arts, education and technology, featuring artists whose work is displayed at Te Wairua Art Gallery.
Hīhīaua Cultural Centre
Art in other areas
Street Prints Manaia
In 2019, some of the world’s best street artists took part in the Street Prints Manaia, International Art Festival in Whangārei. 15 large scale art murals based on the theme "Tuia te muka Tāngata" "Weaving the threads of Humanity" were completed and Whangārei and Aotearoa have been gifted with these incredible works of art.
Street Prints Manaia Street Art Trail
Whangārei Sculpture and Art Trails
Quarry Arts Centre
The Quarry Arts Centre is a cooperative of artists set within a serene bush-clad former quarry site. Exhibitions are held regularly and artists' work is available for sale at the onsite Quarry Co-op Shop.
Quarry Arts Centre
Tūtūkākā Gallery
The Tūtūkākā Gallery resident artist Steve Moase collaborates with talented local and New Zealand artists to bring you a beautiful collection of art, sculpture, glass and jewellery.
Tūtūkākā Gallery
Helena Bay Art Gallery
Helena Bay Art Gallery exhibits established and emerging New Zealand artists, many of which are Northland based, and includes contemporary Māori and Pacific artists.
Helena Bay Art Gallery
Hangar Art & Framing
Hangar Art & Framing gallery specialises in showcasing the diverse talents of Northland artists with many interesting and varied group shows.
Hangar Art & Framing
Geoff Wilson Gallery
The Geoff Wilson Gallery at Raumanga is an integral part of the learning experience of art students studying at the NorthTec campus, and features a range of contemporary art including painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture, ceramics, Māori and installation art.
Geoff Wilson Gallery
The Northland Art Guide showcases the wonderful galleries and creative experiences throughout Whangārei and Northland.
Northland Art Guide
Music, drama and dance
Company of Giants
Company of Giants is a Whangārei theatre collective based at OneOneSix, a theatre, arts and community hub in Whangārei, that makes original, vibrant theatre that celebrates, excites and challenges the makers and audience and incorporates our diverse community.
Company of Giants
OneOneSix
Whangarei Repertory Society
The Octagon Theatre is the home of the amateur Whangarei Repertory Society that produces three or four productions each year, a musical/revue along with drama or comedy plays.
The Octagon Theatre
Whangarei Repertory Society
Whangārei Theatre Company
The Whangarei Theatre Company at the Riverbank Centre produces several shows a year and also provides a home to groups focusing on speech and drama as key elements in building confidence and social skills for young people.
Whangarei Theatre Company
Events
Events celebrating art and culture are held throughout the Whangārei District, all year round. Highlights include:
The Artisans Markets
From October to April, frequent The Artisans Markets held at Pūtahi Park, Town Basin, showcase local works of arts and craft; meet and talk with the artisans themselves.
Enjoy a great choice of foods and refreshments along with laid-back entertainment, these are vibrant, family friendly gatherings.
The Artisans Markets
Sculpture Northland
Showcasing the talented sculpture artists that Tai Tokerau has to offer in the subtropical oasis that is the Whangārei Quarry Gardens.
Sculpture Northland
Whangārei Sculpture Symposium
Artists work at the Town Basin to create sculptures that are inspired by local influences. The symposium ends with an auction and one work is purchased for public display on the Sculpture Trail.
Whangārei Sculpture Symposium
Art Beat
With more than 60 stalls featuring art, craft, clothing, jewellery, food and more, ArtBeat is the District's largest interactive art festival. Enjoy continuous entertainment and activities for the kids.
Art Beat
Opera in the Garden
An afternoon of operatic and musical theatre performances in the beautiful Kenneway garden at Glenbervie.
Opera in the Garden
Whangārei Heads Art Trail
Held annually over Easter Weekend, talented artists living on the stunning Whangārei Heads peninsula open their studios to the public.
Whangārei Heads Art Trail
Northland Performing Arts Festival
A celebration of the performing arts; music, dance, performance.
Northland Performing Arts Festival
Puanga Matariki Festival
Whangārei celebrates the Māori New Year with a festival featuring a variety of events, many with a cultural and creative theme.
Puanga Matariki Festival
There’s always a gig or performance on to entertain you and something to get involved in.
Check out what's on in Whangārei right now
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