Sculptureum
Art GalleriesWineries & VineyardsGardens
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
The Sculptureum Experience is made up of three sculpture gardens and six art galleries spanning over 1.4km of flat paths. The private collection includes over 800 works of art by local and international artists. From live rabbits to the grand Chihuly glass chandelier and everything in between, you are guaranteed to find inspiration around every corner during your visit to this immaculately kept attraction. The 14 acre award-winning vineyard overlooks the sculpture gardens with views out to Little Barrier Island. Sculptureum wines are best enjoyed with a meal at Rothko Restaurant, or savour the experience and take a bottle home.
Suggested duration
2-3 hours
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  • Nina G
    Auckland Central, New Zealand7 contributions
    Art that speaks to your heart
    Sculptures set amongst an impressive variety of exotic palms and other flora. Well maintained pathways catering for all abilities. Great experience for adults and children alike. Stunning indoor art gallery. Excellent coffee, food and wine. Friendly and knowledgeable support team.
    Thankyou for your five star review and comments. So glad you enjoyed the overall Sculptureum experience. We look forward to seeing you again.
    Written December 13, 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited December 2022
    Traveled with friends
    Written December 1, 2022
  • RusnitaUS
    Beverly, Massachusetts491 contributions
    Sculptures in Nature
    If you have the time so take a drive out to visit this place. It’s a novel concept to have art intertwined with beautifully manicured lawns, trees and shrubs. The reason it loss 1* was because it is quite pricey $45NZ per adult. You can do the whole place in 2 hours and then drive on to the Tawharanui Resetve to see the gorgeous beach and bird sanctuary.
    Thankyou for your comments and feedback. It is important to us and knowing that you enjoyed your visit is appreciated. There is an alternative to pricing - whereby tickets can be purchased via our website. Also on our website under the 'whats on' section our guests are informed of any upcoming events and specials.
    Written December 23, 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited December 2022
    Traveled as a couple
    Written December 22, 2022
  • AlfredDTerre
    3 contributions
    World class art in 'lil ole NZ
    Easily our most delightful cultural discovery of 2022 in NZ. Tastefully and playfully curated, catering for all ages, spanning cultures and continents, indoor and outdoor. We spent 3 hours and it could have stayed even longer. Go and be delighted, and wonder how on earth this could happen in NZ?! The answer: passionate and dedicated collectors and entrepreneurs. Support them and have a great family day.
    Amazing. Thankyou for your five star review and wonderful comments Alfred. Much appreciated
    Written January 11, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited September 2022
    Traveled with family
    Written January 7, 2023
  • Mary
    Wellington, New Zealand1 contribution
    Don't miss this!
    We visited on a wet miserable summer day but were delighted we had persisted. The place is stunning and because of the careful planning for the exhibits and the way everything is ordered and executed there was little need to be concerned about the weather. This place has been extraordinarily masterminded - quite apart from rhe quality of the exhibits.
    Thankyou for your five star review and wonderful comments. It is great knowing you enjoyed your visit with us and you are right - even on a wet day - the site remains outstandingly beautiful .
    Written January 15, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited January 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written January 12, 2023
  • trsmlover1
    New Zealand22 contributions
    A sight to be seen.
    Wow, this place is amazing. So so many arts of work to see. The place is so well thought out. The gallery has some wonderful glass art to see. If you also like a cheeky glass of wine they have a great range to purchase that is grown within their own vineyard. Robert who was on the front desk when we arrived was a great fella. Full of information and life story that we could sit and listen to for hours.
    Wow that's great feedback and comment. Thankyou
    Written January 20, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited January 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written January 19, 2023
  • Jane D
    Tadcaster, United Kingdom30 contributions
    An absolutely wonderful experience
    I’m not a lover of art galleries and such and generally go under sufferance, but the Sculptureum is in a league of its own and I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. The sculptures are so many and varied, naturally occurring and man made, boldly out in the open and tucked away amongst the planting which celebrates native plants and trees of New Zealand. The pink snails have very little to tell visitors about the true nature of this artistic paradise where art and imagination are displayed and discussed. The art gallery is home to an amazing collection of multi-disciplinary pieces, so many of which have stories to tell. It was an absolute privilege to visit this wonderful collection and to share the beauty for a short while. It was, for me, a significant and emotional experience, which I would urge anybody to share.
    Thankyou Jane for your wonderful and encouraging review. It is very much appreciated by us.
    Written January 25, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited January 2023
    Written January 24, 2023
  • Keitha S
    Auckland, New Zealand117 contributions
    Impressive place
    This is the sort of outing we enjoy (art, gardens, the great outdoors, coffee) and so when the rare opportunity for a day out occurred, this was the next on the visit list. Apart from a general awareness of the place, we had not done a lot of research beforehand and so were surprised at how big it was, how much intense work must have been undertaken to make it and how nicely it is kept up. One of gardens has a lot of statuary (rather than those sort of interesting sculptures that keep the brain guessing!), some perhaps not super noteworthy, but everything is laid out in immaculate gardens and all clearly signposted. In that respect, be warned that if you are after an organic experience this is definitely a highly curated exhibition - but there's definitely something for everyone. Oh, and if you're thinking of going to the restaurant during your visit, definitely book in advance. We couldn't get in.
    Thankyou Keitha for your review and encouraging comments. We look forward to seeing you again
    Written January 30, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited January 2023
    Written January 29, 2023
  • AmandaW
    10 contributions
    Great family day out
    Truly something for everyone one here. Both indoor and outdoor sculptures and all immaculately maintained and curated with information boards explaining not only what you were looking at but describing different types of gardens and their purpose in our lives. We spent just over 2 hours here and enjoyed the variety of art displayed and novel materials used (yellow buckets to make the dandelion!) - ‘so much more interesting than pictures!’ as my 10 yr old commented. Highly recommend this attraction, really world class and I felt proud showing our overseas visitors that this sort of place exists in rural NZ!
    Thankyou for your five star review and for sharing your comments. It makes us proud too knowing how enjoyable your visit was for yourselves and your overseas guests
    Written January 31, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited January 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written January 31, 2023
  • suewilliams0
    1 contribution
    Great day out
    I went with 3 of my friends. The Sculptureum was lovely and we had a beautiful meal at the restaurant afterwards. Would suggest you book for the restaurant as they are really busy. We had beautiful snapper and the chips were the best I’ve ever had. Yum 😁
    Thankyou Sue for your five star review and comments. Great to hear you and your friends enjoyed the Sculptureum experience with us. We look forward to seeing you again.
    Written February 6, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited February 2023
    Written February 6, 2023
  • Julie181252
    Whangarei, New Zealand1 contribution
    Day trip from Whangarei
    Beautifully laid out sculpture gardens with lots of shady nooks to shelter from the February sun. Fascinating studio sculptures. Everything is well-labelled to add to the experience. The 1.4 km walk went unnoticed because of the level of interest. Cafe served light food options which were a bit pricy. Our afternoon hot chocolate drinks were served barely lukewarm and the cakes were somewhat dry (probably from poor storage). Service was impeccable, though. The signage from the main road from Matakana is non-existent, so beware if you are travelling without a Sat-nav (as we were).
    Hi Julie Thankyou for your positive review and comments. We look forward to seeing you again
    Written February 12, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited February 2023
    Written February 9, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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Barbara
Auckland, New Zealand2 contributions
Oct 2020 • Family
8 family members booked in advance for 2.15 lunch on 26/10 for 21st celebration. Attempt made in the morning to confirm the booking but phone as not answered. No table for us when we arrived and rudely told to go to the back of the queue of customers waiting to pay
Three choices on limited menu not available. Beer ordered not availale
Forced to order fish and chips. Chips so over salted (we suspect purposely) real thirst experienced. To cap it all no toilet facilities were available. This was finally resolved within an hour. When the meal was served I was sitting next to my daughter and the waitress tossed the meal down in front of her saying "there u r".

Clearly the staff resented us and their arrogant attitude bore this out. We were not asked if we wanted to order further drinks and our water glasses were never refilled.. The owner was seen wafting about playing the big man but making no attempt to relate to the diners or endeavouring to deal with the problems.

My daughter and family have a beach house at Omaha have patronised Rothko on several occasions but due to the dreadful service and arrogance experienced on 26/10/20 none of us will ever return. I wonder how Rothko himself wld gave felt to have his name being attached to such a sub-standard establishnent.
Written October 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking time to provide your feedback. We are sorry to hear that your recent experience at Rothko was not as per the high standards we pride ourselves on for exceptional food and service. It is an uncommon instance and we will do better. We have just started our busy season and have been hiring more staff to meet high demand and to exceed expectations in both our restaurant service and food quality. Please feel free to email our front of house Manager, tessa@sculptureum.net with any further comments, concerns or suggestions you wish to share. We would love the opportunity to make things right if you give us another chance.
Written October 30, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

booksnfood
1 contribution
Apr 2022
If you like art and know anything about it, this is not the place for you. We didn't realise that Sculptureum is a private collection, and not necessarily a good one at that. Most of the art pieces, particularly in the garden bit, looked like they had been bought at a touristy art market overseas or from the local garden centre (I wish I was exaggerating). There are plenty of poorly worded signs around (including bizarrely an entire section worth of Steve Jobs inspo quotes) but no descriptions of the work or the artists that made them. The garden is technically lovely and well maintained but it's incredibly cramped if you have more than one person on the path at a time. We went on a busy day when it was noisy and claustrophobic, making it impossible to enjoy the garden as a nice bit of nature. Not all the pathways are accessible to wheelchair users or prams either.

The art inside the galleries and the pink snail garden are better but only because they've bought art from actual artists, not unnamed creators (I counted only one credited artist in the other garden). So, keep this in mind if you do decide to spend the whopping $45 per adult it currently costs to enter (you get 25% off if you book online).

Maybe if we hadn't gone on Easter weekend on a day when Rothko was fully booked out and Freddie's was understaffed and therefore had a smaller menu (overpriced) and long wait times, we might have enjoyed ourselves a bit more, but overall we wouldn't recommend Sculptureum to anyone unless you're bored and have cash and a half day to burn. Things could easily be improved if guest numbers were managed better, signage was rewritten with more detail, and if the owners were given advice on what sculpture/artists to invest in. We're all for artists receiving financial support for their work and for the public to have access to private collections, but Sculptureum is a hodgepodge of works with no curation, making the experience very surface level and ultimately disappointing.
Written April 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Booksnfood, thank you for taking the time to write your review. We are always looking for ways to improve our customers' experiences and the team are keen to take learnings from the feedback that we receive. Should you wish to discuss your visit further, please email info@sculptureum.net with your contact details and one of the management team will get back to you as soon as possible
Written April 25, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Linda H
Auckland Central, New Zealand10 contributions
Dec 2020 • Couples
Wow, we thoroughly enjoyed walking through the gardens & looking at all the different art, the gallery also had amazing pieces of art, where we were fortunate to meet the owner.
Highly recommend visiting,book lunch at the restaurant before you visit to save disappointment, it was fully booked when we visited. Great day out for all age groups.
Written December 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Paul.
Auckland, New Zealand67 contributions
Jan 2020
An amazing place with a selection of over 700 interesting sculptures and items of natural and created beauty. Certainly a very unique private collection of large and small pieces collected from throughout the world over the past 45+ years.

The self guided tour through the beautiful, shady and tranquil gardens finds a new sculpture around each corner of the well shaped pathway that winds throughout the area. The selection is quite breath-taking.with plenty of ooohs and arrrs throughout.

Well worth the $39 entrance fee Even better on the $39 for two special available on 'Grab one' or the $29 superannuant entry charge.
Written January 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sandra D
Wellington, New Zealand1,830 contributions
Oct 2020 • Friends
What a great place to visit for a couple of hours $39 adult $29 senior it was very well done from artist from all over the world . There are 2 parts . Sculptures outside and inside . Best to do outside first then inside and then you go through a door to the outside again for more art . The restaurant is great if you wanting a full meal but it’s not cafe food plus wine which you can buy from the bottle next door to the restaurant. There are beautiful birds in cages as well . Kids would enjoy this experience as well . It is very well done
Written October 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Claire and Bill H
Whangarei, New Zealand10 contributions
Oct 2020 • Friends
My brother and I visited on a warm spring day last week.
I have never been so blown away ...
In our 70s and have travelled the world visited many many beautiful gardens , museums (and some) art galleries .
Every step through the galleries and gardens at Sculptureum reveals another delight. For anyone who loves beautiful things , gardens, animals and artful things this is a must see. We spent 5 hours ( which included an hour for a superb lunch at Rothcos the Restaurant in tne middle of the gardens)
A days visit is best value for money you will get anywhere in the world.
For those that dont think art and sculptures are "your thing" Don't let this stop you going. It would be a sad person who doesnt find something to appeal and delight and bring you happiness through art.
An international collection that delights amazes and makes you grateful you had the chance to see it.
Advice... give yourself a good 4 hours plus just to see the galleries and gardens. It is not strenous and full of such beautiful, quirky, stunning, peices, with simple descriptions, .
Mr. Grant I cant thankyou you and your team who have created this, enough.
And its on our doorstep kiwis!!
You can travel to the far corners of the world ( if we still can, covid and all that). visit where ever and i dont think you will find a place that will give you more pleasure than a fews hours absorbing the delights these galleries, and gardens offer.
Claire Hurst

Written October 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Claire, thank you for your review - we are delighted you enjoyed your visit with us. Your review has been shared with our entire team and we really appreciate you taking the time to post such wonderful feedback.
Written October 5, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Relax67430458480
1 contribution
Jun 2022 • Family
Our first major outing since lockdown, the family were excited to visit Sculptureum for the first time. We made the 1.5 hour drive from Auckland, just in time for an early lunch.

Unfortunately the restaurant was fully booked, so our only option was the outdoor kitchen (also on at the entrance) despite the website claiming: "you’re welcome to stop for lunch at one of our dining options during your self-guided tour."

Arriving before the lunch rush, we were told a 15-20 minute wait. During this time the staff seemed overwhelmed and confused as one staff member matched up food to a fistful of receipts in what appeared to be a random order, eventually running back to the restaurant leaving food waiting at the kitchen being dripped on by water that had collected on the Container roof. At this point there were three staff taking orders at the bar, while nobody delivered the food waiting from the kitchen.

At 50 minutes, we had still not received our lunch, and had two very upset children who were being told to sit and be patient (as the sign said to do due to staff shortages). I finally asked a new waitress what was going on, and she could not even identify what our order even was and showed me a receipt with our number, but a mismatching order from earlier in the day.

We were then told we could accept the cold (dripped on) food, reorder and wait another 10-15 mins or get a refund, but as their were no other lunch options, we had no choice but to wait. We continued to wait after seeing people who arrived 60 mins after us getting food before us. 25 mins later, 1 hour 15 mins after we arrived, we got our food. But this set us all in a foul mood for the rest of the day, as we had lost so much time and the kids were upset and irritated.

After prompting, I was able to get a 50% refund on my bill. But even to get this I had to wait yet another 10 mins while the one waitress could get a free moment to confirm the saga to the bar staff.

In summary beautiful gardens, but maybe pack a lunch.
Written June 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello, we sincerely apologise that we did not deliver the standard of service that we strive to and that your experience with us was not an enjoyable one. We would love to discuss your experience further, if you are open to this. Could you please send your contact details to our Food and Beverage Manager tessa@sculptureum.net and we will contact you as soon as possible.
Written June 8, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

feliciousness
Auckland, New Zealand67 contributions
Dec 2020
I had been wanting to visit this place for ages, and finally got the chance on a lovely summery day. To say I was blown away by the experience is not even an exaggeration. The massive range of art works and the way they are displayed within beautiful gardens and gallery spaces is just sensational.

This is a privately owned collection, shared with the public. Yes, you pay for the experience, but the fact that they have created this place to share art that you wouldn't see elsewhere is pretty awesome. They also own the vineyard next door and you can buy the wine. There is a destination level restaurant on site too, but we didn't go this time - I would be keen to give it a go though!

I took a heap of photos while there, and really struggled to reduce the number down to an acceptable level to share on facebook with friends, that is how many stunning works there are. There is the added bonus of excellent information around as well. From the origin of stones and woods used in the creation of the fixtures in the garden, the types of plants and thinking behind the use of them, the obvious information on the artists who have created the work to little tidbits of information about why they chose the work, or even what art actually is. You can get through the site in under 2 hours, but why rush? 2 - 3 hours would be a comfortable length of time, more if you want to take advantage of the many seating opportunities that allow you to contemplate the art around you. Lots of shady spots too.

Beyond impressed at the entire experience and will return.
Written December 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

j9rs
Whangarei, New Zealand15 contributions
Mar 2020
Exceeded our expectations - this was a great afternoon. We aren't art lovers but couldn't get enough of this - there's something here for everyone. The owner is extremely passionate - walking around and sharing his thoughts with the guests. And the gardens and surroundings are amazing. Highly recommended
Written March 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ant_n_eva
Auckland, New Zealand7 contributions
Apr 2021 • Family
I had high hopes for an interesting art experience but unfortunately this was not to be. Further research reveals that this is a private collection and as such lacked variety and depth for me. If your taste skews to whimsical and wacky pieces you might enjoy this. I understand the aim is to take the snobbery and elitism out of art, which is a fair call, however I found the collection so one dimensional that the novelty factor of these pieces wore off pretty quickly. Ultimately, I think I was misled. Sculptureum is a pleasant stroll through some nicely maintained grounds with some fun things to look at. My 10 year old enjoyed it. Just don't go expecting to be challenged by the art. I would also add this is probably the most I've paid for an art exhibition (anywhere in the world) ever. The only placed to eat appeared to be an upmarket restaurant packed with well-heeled boomers. Visitors are instructed not bring food or drink so more food options are needed, especially considering the out of the way location.
Written April 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sorry we did not meet your expectations this time. Happy to hear your 10 year old enjoyed it though. We are trying to encourage more children! There are many options to pre-purchase tickets and people are able to get good deals online. We are working on more food offerings to be open in the future, but Rothko serves an amazing menu in the meantime. If you do come back, we would love to have you here. If you have anything else you would like to discuss, please feel free to email info@sculptureum.net
Written May 5, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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