Queenstown's Creative Side: Art, Workshops, Galleries and More

There’s something simply perfect about painting outdoors, and given Queenstown is perhaps the most perfect of all places to do so, the good folks at Art Adventures had an idea. Their guided ‘en plein air’ experiences take painters into the great outdoors that encompass the town, tapping into the serenity for pure inspiration. Glacial rivers, native bush, mountain vistas: just about everything the region has to offer is worthy of a canvas.

Through the expert tutelage of Raquel Carter, you can sharpen the senses amongst the flowers and enter a kind of meditative experience, with full-day painting adventures that venture into spots only locals would know. All materials, tuition and a boutique picnic are included, and no experience is necessary; just a willingness to soak it all in and have a go. 

For something more social, Art Adventures also run Paint, Pinot & Pizza evenings at their delightful studio in Country Lane. The Saturday night sessions pair step-by-step painting tuition with wood-fired pizza next door at SUNDAYS. BYO wine, leave with an empty glass and a masterpiece in hand.

This charming precinct in Frankton, a former working farm transformed by fourth-generation caretakers Bruce Grant and Tineke Enright, is now home to a collective of independent businesses and homegrown talent thriving out of relocated heritage buildings. Horses, goats and rabbits roam freely, children play on the grass, and visitors immerse themselves in everything from beekeeping experiences to jewellery workshops.

A lovingly restored 1930s church houses SUNDAYS, one of the best pizzerias around, and the place providing sustenance for your paint and pinot night. Where there was once an altar is now a wood-fired oven, and while the building hosts a different kind of service these days, there’s still plenty of bread and wine to go around.  

The space is designed to foster connections at every point. Pull up a seat at large indoor or outdoor tables (a covered patio with an outdoor fireplace welcomes après-ski moments) and gather over a shared feast. European-inspired sharing plates accompany sourdough pizza bases made in-house, and their famed sangria is an ideal tonic to wash it all down. Alternatively, one of the many local drops on tap or signature cocktails will be the ticket. And all this while soaking in the buzz and listening to live music lift toward the old ceilings.

In classic Queenstown style, a wander along the waterfront will deliver you to the doors of a historic cottage housing an award-winning gallery. Artbay Gallery, established in 2004, showcases vibrant contemporary works of local and international artists against exposed schist walls. But the brilliance doesn’t end there.

The Artbay brand has grown over the years, and a few doors down, Lightworx takes a different approach. Interact with avant-garde light installations, designed by New Zealand artists to shift your mood and perspective. Rounding out the Marine Parade art hop is VIRUT Gallery, a space dedicated to the unconventional portraiture of internationally recognised artist VIRUT. All three are open daily, presenting the perfect opportunity to enjoy a gallery crawl while taking in the scenery.

Over in Arrowtown, tucked in a courtyard just off the main street, is a contemporary gallery with a striking glass façade. Few towns in the world offer a better backdrop for great works, and Astor Bristed, founded by Rosie Bristed in 2020, offers a year-round programme that showcases mainly mid-career talents, with monthly rotations keeping things fresh. Waltz by the stunning wall-to-wall windows that offer an evolving view of the latest exhibition, and be lured inside to discover some of New Zealand’s best works.

Making a morning or afternoon of it in gorgeous Arrowtown (because why on earth not?), take a short walk up the road to the equally inviting Giraffe Art Gallery. Showcasing colourful, playful contemporary works from a diverse array of artists, this delicious space embraces all things creative and abstract, making for an environment that’s quite the antithesis of the clinical modern gallery. A very suitable stop amongst the lush hues of autumnal Arrowtown, or perhaps a splash of colour if visiting during snow-laden wintertime.

Back to Country Lane for another contemporary gem, The Arts Hole brings all things urban and street-art-inclined to the anachronistic village. Bold, modern works from local and internationally recognised artists comprise an offering very much its own flavour amongst the lakeside and courtyard galleries, and a stellar opportunity to take home a showpiece for that one wall you’ve been waiting to make pop.

If you’re less about taking it home and more about taking it all in, the aforementioned Art Adventures offers a studio and gallery tour that visits local artists in their workspaces, while BLACK provides luxury private art tours for discerning travellers seeking intimate access to the region's creative scene.

At Miller Road's cute Beach Street studio, you can try your hand at bottling up a bit of your treasured time in Queenstown. Take one of their public or private two-and-a-half-hour workshops, where you’ll be guided through 60 perfumery materials: rose, jasmine, sandalwood, oud, tobacco, and more, teaching you how to balance notes and construct a composition that's uniquely yours. Leave with a 30ml bottle of eau de parfum in your palm, but don’t head home just yet: conjuring can be thirsty work.

Around the corner is Atlas Beer Cafe on Steamer Wharf, a spot that’s small in size but big on vibes. With 24 taps pouring largely local brews alongside lake views, outdoor fires, and a dog menu (of course), it's the ideal spot to compare signature parfums over a pint, plus some well-executed pub grub.

Te Atamira, meaning ‘platform’ or ‘stage’ in te reo Māori, is Queenstown's arts and cultural hub. Located in Remarkables Park Town Centre, this multi-purpose space hosts a community of multi-talented people and groups. Here, various media are showcased and taught through exhibitions, workshops, performances and community events across 21 purpose-built spaces. Painting studios, dance studios (complete with disco ball), recording studios, theatre spaces, inclusive hangout areas, everything from Latin soul to pottery is on offer at mighty Te Atamira.

Speaking of, why not drop in on the Wakatipu Potters Group, a community pottery club that's been turning since ‘82 and happily welcomes newbies. Or join Queenstown Contemporary for Wednesday evening dance sessions that blend styles and stories from around the world.

Time your visit to perfection, and you could check out the Wakaari gallery space for exhibitions such as Let the Honey Soak Through, a buzzing project inspired by bee networks and their relationship with the environment, or Above, Below, Beyond, a showcase of original works from across the region, and perhaps the perfect exclamation point to your indulgence in everything Queenstown art. Just don’t forget to have a nosy around Te Atamira’s well-curated gift shop before you go.

AuthenticAs are your ticket to this natural wonder in all its nebulous glory, and their private Starry Night Adventures combine stargazing with astrophotography, a particular highlight for those keen to get behind the lens. You’ll be guided by Simon, who runs AuthenticAs alongside Emma, holds an astrophysics degree and knows the southern sky like the old friend it is. 

Come nightfall, venture to serene locations throughout the Whakatipu Basin to witness planets, nebulae, and distant galaxies through professional telescopes, and if conditions align, you might even catch the Aurora Australis. The experience is unhurried and personal, designed for couples, families, or small groups. You'll leave with professional images, wide-field shots of you beneath the stars, and the lingering question of ‘What’s really out there?’.

The Dreamery is an immersive experience designed for exactly that: collecting a memory. Created by photographers, the space invites you to step into environments inspired by the natural world: rainforests, waterfalls, drifting clouds, and beyond into the cosmos. The Dreamery has been designed with content creation in mind, andf you'll leave with photos (and feelings) worth keeping. What’s more, it'll only take 30 to 45 minutes, slotting easily into the end of your itinerary. A fitting final stop before saying goodbye… for now.