Museum & Gallery · Auckland CBD

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

4.66,678 Google reviews

Younger kids (4–8)Older kids (9+)Indoors Free

How muchTe utu: Free
Their siteHe pārongo atu anō: aucklandartgallery.com
Last checkedI tirohia: Last checked 15 Aug 2026

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LocationTe wāhi

Auckland CBD

Directions Website

What it is

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki sits in the heart of the city and opens its doors every day, giving families a reliable anchor for a mid-week wander or a weekend plan. The permanent collection spans New Zealand and international work, and much of it is free to explore at your own pace.

Families with children are well catered for: the Gallery runs free hands-on activities for tamariki and games designed to help whānau move through the exhibitions together rather than just past them. Ticketed exhibitions bring in ambitious international and contemporary shows alongside strong threads of Māori portraiture and Pacific coastline art that give the collection real local grounding.

It suits families who enjoy a slower, more considered kind of outing — the kind where kids end up with an opinion about something on a wall. The mix of free access, structured activities, and a shop stocked with locally made pieces means there is enough to fill a few hours without feeling rushed.

What other parents say

Victor Khoo3 months ago

I was walking around Albert Park enjoying my day when I saw the Art Gallery building. It was an impromptu visit. Glad I visited the gallery. It is not big. But interesting enough to made my visit worthwhile. It wasn’t busy except for a couple of groups of school kids guided tour. Nice to see and watch them learning and listening to their teacher from a young age. It is located in a convenient location next to Albert Park and at the top end of High Street, lined with shops after shops of Asian eating places.

Polina Outkina4 months ago

Really nice and fresh, great atmosphere - a great place to show people around. Good slice of kiwi culture. Nice cafe that we went to a lot. Lovely public. We love the vibe. Simple sleek facilities. Interesting heart opening historical photos of New Zealand life, amazing collection of classical art, there was a Pacifica type exposition that felt a bit lost or barren and kids corner which was busy with multicolored play dough. A little odd but interesting in concept. The favorite for us was the collection of Lindauer’s Māori portraits upstairs. That was the best. And the cafe. Free entry.

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Wei-Wei Chen3 months ago

Visited on Good Friday and it was open, which was lucky for me. Also arrived just in time for the 1:30pm free tour. This was essentially one of my first forays into Māori history and the portrait hall was educational. Appreciated the waterways exhibit.

S K C4 months ago

Wonderful art museum that is FREE with multiple rotating exhibitions on display. In-depth explorations into multiple renowned artists. When we went, we learned about Giacometti and Louis Bourgeois. Incredible Maori portraits are being featured and New Zealand artists work. To top this, the architecture of the building is gorgeous as are the sculptures outside! Great for kids! Book the learning center events in advance. Right now there is an installation by Do Ho Suh which children can contribute to. Check online to see which artists are on display. No tickets needed to access the museum. Easily walkable. You can spend 1.5-2 hours here. There is a cafe and gift shop as well.

Quinn Anderson3 months ago

Excellent gallery with tons of works on display, I spent part of a lovely afternoon here in March and had a great time viewing the latest exhibits. There’s a conveniently located cafe serving drinks and small bites, and the store on the first floor had loads of great gifts and art prints. Would definitely recommend this for those interested in Auckland’s local art, culture, and history!

Reviews from Google.