Art & Culture
For an understanding of Māori culture, the best place to visit is Rotorua. Head to Te Puia for arts & crafts, food and a cultural experience. A visit to Waitangi Treaty Grounds in the Bay of Islands is also highly recommended.
Art galleries
You’ll find excellent art galleries throughout the country, with exhibitions by local artists and sometimes with travelling international exhibitions.
In particular, the Auckland Art Gallery, Te Papa in Wellington, and the Christchurch Art Gallery are worthy of your time. The Len Lye Centre in New Plymouth is also good.
Smaller centres also boast excellent galleries, often attached to museums, such as the Lakes District Museum & Gallery in Arrowtown, near Queenstown.
Top quirky piece of art: the Cardrona Bra Fence near Wanaka.