Sculptureum

This is a unique family outing. The kids enjoyed the quirky art and open spaces, while the gardens provided an interesting backdrop. Some pieces were genuinely thought-provoking. Worth a visit if you're in the vicinity and looking for something different. Do check online for potential ticket discounts beforehand. Overall, a pleasant experience, but not a destination I'd go significantly out of my way for.

Sculptureum Matakana is hands down one of the most captivating art destinations I’ve experienced in New Zealand! This enchanting blend of sculpture gardens, galleries, and lush landscapes offers a feast for the senses, leaving visitors in awe at every turn. The sprawling grounds feature over 300 artworks seamlessly integrated into vibrant tropical gardens. From bold contemporary pieces to whimsical classical sculptures, the diversity is astounding. The mirror and reflection based installations were a standout playing with light and perspective in the most mesmerizing way. One of my favorite spots was the vineyard-facing sculpture area, where gleaming metallic artworks cast dreamy reflections against the greenery. The indoor galleries are equally impressive, showcasing vivid avian sculptures, surreal paintings, and thought-provoking modern art. The staff were incredibly welcoming, offering insights into the stories behind key pieces (like the giant pink snail an unexpected highlight!). Practical tips: ✔ Allow 2–3 hours to fully explore—every corner holds a new surprise. ✔ The onsite café is perfect for a coffee break amid the art. ✔ Photography lovers will adore the interactive installations. The only "downside"? I didn’t want to leave! The ticket price is reasonable for the quality and scale of the exhibits, and the gift shop offers unique artistic souvenirs. Whether you’re an art enthusiast or simply seeking inspiration, Sculptureum delivers magic. Already planning my return!

It was an awesome & very calming experience. Great weather for meandering around the palm groves to admire all the brilliant sculptures. Finally inside to view the art shop & gallery then more fun gardens for both adults and children outside. A delicious Rośe to top it off! Highly recommend

A must do when visiting Matakana! We arrived early and were the first to enter. The first area takes around 45 - 60 mins to wander around. After that, there are some indoor art galleries that were incredibly interesting and different plus the final outdoor garden with the famous snails! Great gift shop too

An amazing experience, even if you've been previously. This is a large place, with many outdoor and some indoor displays of different art and inspirational quotes. Compared to other places, this is a better option for those with mobility restriction or kids as there's a higher density of art pieces and the walk is flat. Many different types of artwork around and you'd easily miss some if you're know paying attention. Personally we wanted more information of some of the art pieces as we enjoy reading about the people who make the art. Staff were very friendly and helpful. Easy parking and easy to find.

Mind-blowing! There are not enough stars or words to give this enough praise. Listed as a "must see" when visiting Auckland region in multiple reviews I went hoping it would be good and a touch skeptical. We spent over 4hours went through 2 camera batteries and phone battery. It is amazing! Incredibly well curated. Every twist and turn delights. I joined the multitude saying it is a must visit!

A lovely visit. We had to come after seeing it on the Traitors. Fortunately the wonderful Karen was on tickets and helped us out throughout our visit with tips and local travel advice. It was worth the admission to talk to her. Some of the indoor galleries with their blown glass were amazing and the trails very inspiring

This was a great place to visit and we really enjoyed our time here. There are lots of unexpected, though provoking, curious and quirky sculptures in the garden areas. Those of animals were especially good, but also the ones of kids being kids. The inside galleries were stunning and worth the visit for these alone. The bird aviaries and other all animals were a bonus treat Everyone should visit, and allow at least one and a half hours

We were driving to Tawharanui Regional Park and noticed the sculptures peeking out from inside a garden and decided we must stop in. We are so glad that we did. We found a lovely art gallery that even includes pieces from Chihuly that led to a couple of beautiful gardens adjacent to the gallery. Beyond this there is yet another larger sculpture garden with meandering paths that sometimes led to aviaries as well as other small animal areas (such as rabbits). They will be having a couple of "native" pigs join the property soon as they just arrived today. We met the owners, Anthony and Sandra Grant as she arrived on property with their new pets. Between our visit to the gallery and the larger sculpture garden, we stopped by for a wine tasting and met Tina who was generous and informative sharing about the wines grown on their estate. The Gallery Syrah and Bordeaux Blend were our favorites. Much appreciation is extended to Tina for her kindness and hospitality! After the sculpture garden, we ventured over to their restaurant, Rothko. Unfortunately for us, the restaurant was fully booked with reservations. Fortunately for us, they had seating at the picnic tables outside and they served wine and small bites. Overall, we had a very pleasant experience and will definitely be back!

Fabulous collection if (mostly) modern art sculptures set in beautifully manicured gardens and chic indoor galleries. One hour from auckland cbd... we were tourists, renting a city hop car (very reasonable and convenient)... 1 hour to get there and 3 hours in the setting, well worth the time and expense!