Creativity flows in Taranaki. Discover contemporary art at the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery/Len Lye Centre, or experience Lye’s iconic Wind Wand swaying along the award-winning Coastal Walkway.
See narratives unfold in our vibrant street art, and explore rich history at Tawhiti Museum and Puke Ariki, where the stories of our past come to life. Follow the pulse of creativity on the Coastal Arts Trail, New Zealand’s largest self-drive art experience, and immerse yourself in one of our many art galleries. Car enthusiasts shouldn’t miss the Hillsborough Holden Museum, home to a private collection of Australian Holden cars and memorabilia.
Museums
Take a nostalgic stroll through Pioneer Village with over 40 original buildings and artifacts from the 1850-1950’s era, or step back in time at the award-winning Tawhiti Museum. See life-size exhibits and scale models presenting Taranaki history in a series of engaging displays, and take a thrilling ride on the underground Traders and Whalers boat ride.
Head to Puke Ariki for stories of our people and past, three permanent galleries showcase life in Taranaki, its unique geology, flora and fauna, the museum’s Māori taonga (treasure), as well as a range of changing exhibitions.
Explore the captivating exhibits at Aotea Utanganui Museum of South Taranaki. A purpose-built museum that embodies the spirit and energy of the South Taranaki and home to significant collections including the earliest dated wooden artifacts found in New Zealand.
A must-visit for car lovers is The Hideaway and its famed Hillsborough Holden Museum, home to a private collection of Australian Holden cars and memorabilia. Or check out the Taranaki Aviation Transport and Technology Museum (TATAM) for an interactive array of hands-on exhibits and items from the past, bound to entertain the whole family for hours.
Galleries
The iconic Govett-Brewster Art Gallery/Len Lye Centre is a must-visit, with its iconic façade, home to cutting-edge contemporary art and the internationally acclaimed kinetic displays and film works of Len Lye. Percy Thomson Gallery in Stratford, showcases a rotating collection of inspiring exhibitions from local and national artists.
Visit Fenton Street Arts Collective, for award-winning gin, art, and coffee in the beautifully restored heritage building.
Browse The White Sail Gallery on the waterfront, look out for the vibrant street art entrance at Gover St Gallery, a not-for-profit community art gallery, or check out the Hāwera community art gallery Lysaght Watt Gallery recently moved into the brand new Te Ramanui o Ruaputahanga library and iSITE building.
Coastal Arts Trail
Looking for a unique road trip? Art lovers, creatives, and inspiration seekers will love the Coastal Arts Trail. This self-drive journey follows the pulse of creativity between Taranaki, Whanganui, and Manawatū, with vibrant galleries, open art studios, and must-see creative attractions. The trail offers a glimpse into the lives and inspiration of artists who call these regions home, making for a truly immersive artistic experience. It's also an opportunity to purchase unique and affordable art treasures to take home with you.
Get Hands-On
Get the creativity flowing with an evening (or afternoon) at Pinot and Picasso, where the expert hosts deliver step-by-step instructions with plenty of room left for your inner Picasso to run wild. By the end of the session even the 'non-creatives' of your squad will be taking home their very own artwork.
Learn the art of crafting your own unique pieces with a jewellery-making workshop at Ringcraft Moana, or The Jewel and The Jeweller.
Public Art
The creativity in Taranaki spills onto the streets with colourful street art and public art and sculpture telling our stories. The powerful ‘I Am Hana’ mural by Mr G pays tribute to Hana Te Hemara, a driving force behind the Māori language petition.
Further south, Eltham and Hāwera have transformed blank walls into colourful reflections of community life and heritage. Lottie Hawley’s ‘A Walk Home’ depicting daily life. In Stratford’s King Edward Park, Elyse Lewis’s impressive William Shakespeare mural sits poetically among the town’s theatrical nods to the Bard.
In Pātea, the striking ‘Aotea Waka’ sculpture stands proudly on the main street, while the Pātea Pou nearby offer a visual narrative of life underwater in the South Taranaki bight.
In New Plymouth, visit the Mothers and Daughters sculpture along the Coastal Walkway, then continue to Te Rewa Rewa Bridge. On a cloudless day, you’ll find the perfect photo opportunity - a beautifully framed view of Taranaki Maunga through the bridge’s dramatic white arches that evoke the form of a breaking wave or a whale skeleton.
Creative stores to check out
Who doesn’t love bringing home a keepsake? Pick up a unique artistic treasure at one of our many creative boutiques, such as; Kina NZ Design + Art Space, Percy’s Place, The Collaboration, Peta M, The Emporium, TEMPT Concept Store, Arthaus, Home Love & MetteK, or Bianca Lorenne.