Discover original artworks by local and national artists and learn about Taupo’s history and culture when you explore the Lake Taupo Museum and Art Gallery. Then relax in its geothermal garden surrounded by native flora.
Start your cultural tour in the foyer by studying the Maori meeting house. This impressive wooden structure was carved by Tene Waitere, a renowned Maori carver. Venture further inside the museum to see the tall wooden sculpture of Ruaumoko, the god of volcanoes and earthquakes. The 7.5-foot (2.3-meter) work of art was carved from an ancient kauri tree that had been buried for thousands of years in a peat swamp.
View displays on fishing and living on the water. Hear stories about the timber industry and watch a video about the history of Taupo. Check out the old caravan that is filled with memorabilia from the 1950s and ‘60s. In the Tuwharetoa Gallery, find artifacts that cover the centuries-old history and heritage of the Tuwharetoa, the local Maori tribe.
Browse the temporary exhibitions of original artworks by local and national artists. See painting, fibre arts, weaving and quilting among other media. You can even take an original artwork home with you because many of the pieces are for sale.
One of the most impressive features of the museum is the award-winning Ora Garden of Wellbeing. This is a recreation of a geothermal landscape typical of North Island. Go over to the man-made silica terraces and walk among nearly 1,000 native plants, some of which are endangered. Examine the hand-carved wooden sculptures situated among the ground ferns, shrubs, trees and grasses.
The Lake Taupo Museum and Art Gallery is situated in the center of Taupo on Story Place. It is open every day except Good Friday and Christmas Day. There is an admission charge with a discount for seniors and students. Children get in for free. Periodically, the center hosts cultural performances and lecture series. Visit the museum and art gallery’s website for the calendar of events.