Whangarei: Hundertwasser Art Tour & Māori Gallery Access

Summary

Walk Hundertwasser’s wild lines, Māori art & rooftop gardens in Whangarei

You’ll walk through rooms bursting with Hundertwasser’s color, climb onto his award-winning afforested roof for 360° views over Whangarei, and step inside the world’s first dedicated Māori public art gallery — all with all-day access included. Whether you self-guide or join an interactive tour, expect sensory surprises and stories that linger after you leave.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing that hit me was the color — honestly, it’s everywhere. We’d barely stepped into the Hundertwasser Art Centre in Whangarei when our guide, Sarah, waved us over to this wild mosaic wall. She told us Hundertwasser hated straight lines and you could feel it in your feet; even the tiles under my shoes felt a bit wavy. I caught a whiff of coffee from somewhere (the café downstairs?), but got distracted by these thick, textured paintings — you want to reach out and touch them, but obviously don’t. Some people were whispering in German near the big window; I guess he still draws folks from all over.

I didn’t expect to spend so long on the roof. The air up there had that salty-sweet thing you get near the Hātea River, and there’s this golden cupola that catches every scrap of sun. Sarah pointed out which trees were planted as part of Hundertwasser’s “living roof” idea — apparently it won awards? You can see pretty much all of Whangarei from up top. It was windy enough to mess my hair up, but I didn’t care. There’s something about standing above a city with art under your feet that just sticks with you.

The Wairau Māori Art Gallery is tucked inside too. The work there isn’t just decoration — some pieces made me stop and read twice because they hit on history I never learned at school. One artist used river stones and thread; another had these bold colors that sort of hummed against Hundertwasser’s stuff next door. Li laughed when I tried to pronounce one of the titles in te reo Māori — probably butchered it, but she said it’s good to try.

You can wander on your own or join a guided tour (ours ran about an hour), which helped me actually understand why Hundertwasser ended up here in New Zealand. There’s a small theater showing documentaries if you need a break — plus a shop full of odd little gifts. I left with a notebook covered in those swirling shapes he loved so much. Even now, sometimes I catch myself doodling spirals and thinking about that view from the roof.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Hundertwasser art and ecology

• Enter Hundertwasser exhibition
• View largest art collection outside Vienna
• Explore ecological practice displays
• Visit Wairau Māori Art Gallery
• Walk on award-winning Afforested Roof
• Enjoy 360 views from golden cupola
• Watch documentaries in film theatre
• Shop at MuseumShop for unique gifts
• Dine at onsite Café-Restaurant
• Optionally join guided tour (Thu-Sun)

Top questions

How long does admission last at the Hundertwasser Art Centre?

Your ticket gives you access for the entire day during opening hours.

Is the Afforested Roof included with general admission?

Yes, rooftop access is part of your all-day entry ticket.

Are guided tours available every day?

Guided tours run Thursday to Sunday and require an extra fee on top of admission.

Is the Wairau Māori Art Gallery part of my ticket?

Yes, entry to the Wairau Māori Art Gallery is included with your main admission.

Is the centre wheelchair accessible?

All areas are wheelchair accessible and suitable for strollers or prams as well.

Can I bring young children or infants?

Yes, infants and small children are welcome and can ride in prams or strollers throughout the centre.

Is there food available onsite?

An onsite café-restaurant overlooks the marina and serves brunch, lunch, and dinner options.

Where is the Hundertwasser Art Centre located?

The centre is in Whangarei city centre beside the Hātea River marina.

What’s included

Your day includes full-day access to all spaces at the Hundertwasser Art Centre: explore exhibitions of original artworks from 1973–2000, stroll through New Zealand’s only afforested rooftop garden with panoramic city views, visit changing shows at Wairau Māori Art Gallery, watch documentaries in a small theater looped throughout the day, browse unique gifts at the museum shop, and enjoy meals at an onsite café overlooking Whangarei marina. Guided tours are available Thursday–Sunday for an additional charge if you want deeper stories behind what you see.