Top Things to do in Taupo District
What to do and see in Taupo District, North Island: The Best Museums
Discover the best top things to do in Taupo District, New Zealand including Tukairangi Gallery, Taupo Museum, L'Arte, Taupo Art Gallery, Lava Glass, Volcanic Activity Centre, Pihanga Art Gallery.
Restaurants in Taupo District
1. Tukairangi Gallery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 5 reviews
Tukairangi Gallery is the studio home of master potter Ross Palmer and his wife Annie. Set in idyllic rural valley surrounds, close to town and the lake, it is a working pottery where visitors can see the process in action, meet with the artists, and view an exciting range of original work for sale, all featuring our distinctive and brilliantly colourful glazes.
Reviewed By NewZealand20202020
We visited Annie & Ross recently on our way through Taupo. Their Gallery is situated in the valley behind Acacia Bay. Ross & Annie greeted us warmly, sharing some of their expert knowledge on pottery making and the stories behind each unique pottery piece with us. The brilliance of colour and colour combinations of their glazes as well as the classical shapes of their objects of art are astounding. There is a fresh, modern and light feeling to in their highly finished products. Whether you are looking for a present or a great piece of pottery for your own enjoyment, there is something there for everyone.
2. Taupo Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 227 reviews
Reviewed By DonaldC106 - Braemar, United Kingdom
A quirky little museum with excellent exhibits giving a really good insight into the history of Taupo. I use the word quirky as one of the exhibits is a 1960’s vintage 2 berth caravan kitted out with period fixtures and fittings. The traditional Maori meeting house with wonderful carvings is the main exhibit and first thing you see on entering the building and the award winning Chelsea Flower Show garden exhibit from, I think, 2004 was an unexpected surprise. The lady on reception was charming and helpful
3. L'Arte
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 240 reviews
Reviewed By PGNZ - Waipukurau, New Zealand
Still a great place to visit. Great for Coffee and Food and fun to wander around the arts and crafts. Almost always buy something for the Garden
4. Taupo Art Gallery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3 reviews
Taupo art gallery is a small art gallery in Heu Heu street (CBD). Graham Moeller is a full time landscape artist that paints LIVE in the gallery every day (except TUESDAYS) painting scenes from all around New Zealand in his preferred medium of oils. The exhibition always has at least 50 paintings on show. Now Graham has got paintings in private collections in 18 different countries world wide
5. Lava Glass
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 883 reviews
Lava Glass is an art glass gallery, glassblowing studio & glass sculpture garden by world-renowned New Zealand master glassblower Lynden Over. The complex offers a unique and fascinating window into the world of glassblowing. You can watch the spectacular art of glassblowing, browse through the adjoining gallery of New Zealand inspired glass art and take a stroll through our beautiful glass sculpture garden. The garden features more than 600 glass sculptures and has been endorsed as 'A Garden of Significance'. Entry glassblowing studio: $7.50 per person/ $30 per family* Entry sculpture garden: $10 per person/ $40 per family* Combination ticket studio & garden: $15 per person/ $50 per family* *up to 6 individuals. Following your visit, part of your entry fee will be deducted from any glass purchase from the gallery. Lava Glass pieces are also available in our online shop. We offer insured worldwide shipping.
Reviewed By penina638 - Wellington, New Zealand
We loved visiting the glassblwoing studio and hearing about and seeing glassblowing in action, and then walking around the BEAUTIFUL glass sculpture garden! Staff were very knowledgeable, warm and friendly. We were so taken by the stunning art pieces, we had to buy a special signature piece by Lyndon Over. A visit here is compulsory when visiting Taupo/Wairakei!
6. Volcanic Activity Centre
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 16 reviews
Turangi’s Volcanic Activity Centre in the Taupo Volcanic Zone is a hands-on interactive educational tourist visitor centre that aims to explain the fascinating world of volcanoes, earthquakes and geothermal activity through a wide range of exhibits which include visual, electronic media and interactive displays that makes learning about all matters volcanic easy, interesting and fun for all ages. Many spectacular natural volcanic and geothermal features in this area are attributed to the Taupo Volcanic Zone and at the Volcanic Activity Centre we explain in an entertaining and interesting way how all this comes about. Explore how the epic forces within the earth shape our world! Free Wi-Fi Language Translations Available
Reviewed By HillsontourNZ
A fantastic, highly educational centre with so much interesting information. Both of our kids were fascinated with the various exhibits and especially loved the earthquake simulator. Lots of cool hands on displays from getting to light up all of the key volcanic locations in the area on the large central map, to being able to feel of all the different types of rocks. Well worth a stop and important to understand the forces that have, and will continue, to shape our wee isles!
7. Pihanga Art Gallery
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 5 reviews
