Waiheke Island Private Art Tour: Galleries, studios & lunch

Galleries, sculptor studios, an artisan shoemaker, and lunch at an artist's table

A private art tour of Waiheke Island for groups of 2–8 that visits galleries and sculpture parks in Oneroa, meets working artists in their studios, and includes lunch at painter Gabriella Lewenz's home and studio. The guide shapes the route to your interests, and the five-hour day moves at a leisurely pace suitable for all fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Private art tour on Waiheke Island

• Visit Waiheke Community Art Gallery
• Tour Gabriella Lewenz's home and studio
• Lunch at Gabriella Lewenz's studio
• Visit Sue Engels' shoe workshop
• Explore Space Gallery artists collective

The experience

What separates this from a self-guided wander is the guide who knows the artists and the spaces. You'll meet gallery staff and studio makers instead of reading plaques alone. The tour starts in Oneroa at the Waiheke Community Art Gallery, where you see what the island's art scene is actually making right now. From there you move through Space Gallery, an artists' collective where one of the makers is usually on hand to talk about the work on the walls. The pace is unhurried, and the guide interprets both the art and the landscape around it as you go.

The studio visits are the heart of it. You'll see Gabriella Lewenz's paintings and sculptures in her home studio, where lunch happens: a meal at her table overlooking the island, not a packed sandwich on a bench. Sue Engels shows you bespoke shoemaking in her workshop at the bottom of her garden, where every pair is a craft object, not a commodity. You also visit the local sculpture park to understand how outdoor art lives in this landscape. Between stops there's walking, but it's designed to let you absorb what you're seeing instead of rushing through a checklist.

Groups stay small, 2 to 8 people, so the guide can adjust the route and the timing to what actually interests you. If you want to linger with a particular artist or skip a stop that doesn't speak to you, that's how it works. The tour runs in all weather, so bring layers and walking shoes. The island's light and landscape are part of what you're there to see.

What’s included

• Lunch at Gabriella Lewenz's home and studio.
• expert guide leading the full five-hour tour with interpretation of the art and landscape.
• entry to galleries, sculpture park and artist studios.
• personalized route design for your group's interests.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:45

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (16 to 64 years) · Senior (65 to 79 years) · Under 16: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Terra & Tide

Is this one for you?The leisurely five-hour pace and small-group format work well if you want time to talk with artists and absorb what you're seeing instead of moving through a schedule. Bring walking shoes and layers for the island's weather, and come ready to spend an afternoon with people who make things, not just looking at finished work on walls.

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Top questions

What is the Waiheke Community Art Gallery like?

The Waiheke Community Art Gallery showcases exhibitions of New Zealand art and features work by Waiheke artists. It's the first stop on the tour and gives you a sense of what the island's creative community is making.

Will I actually meet the artists during the tour?

Yes. You meet gallery staff and artists in their studios: Gabriella Lewenz in her home studio where lunch happens, Sue Engels in her shoemaking workshop, and one of the artists at Space Gallery collective, who describes the work on display.

How much walking is involved over the five hours?

The tour is done at a leisurely pace with walking between stops, but it's designed to suit a variety of fitness levels. The guide interprets the art and scenery as you move, so the walking is part of the experience, not a test of endurance.

Can I customize the tour if some stops don't interest me?

Yes. The tour is designed to suit your interests and requirements. Groups of 2–8 work with the guide to shape the route, so you can spend more time on what matters to you and skip what doesn't.

Is there a minimum age for this tour?

The tour has a minimum age of 16. Service animals are allowed, and public transportation options are available nearby if you need them to reach the starting point.