The Coromandel is a creative haven for many, so we suggest you take the time to wander into an Aladdin's cave of creativity at one of the local art galleries across the region. With time and without crowds, discover what truly moves you. Enjoy painting, sculpture and other artworks created by the region’s talented artists and craftspeople. Take in a craft fair or a homegrown arts festival, or be delighted by one of many performing arts events happening throughout The Coromandel.
Visual Art
The Little Gallery showcases fine art, jewellery and sculpture from established Coromandel artists. The gallery showcases artworks by leading and award-winning Coromandel and New Zealand artists at two premises located in Tairua and Whangamata.
Heading north on your Coromandel arts trail, stop in at Topadahil Studio in Opoutere, Hot Waves Cafe and Moko Artspace at Hot Water Beach, the Lawnmower's Son in Hahei and Alan Rhodes Pottery just before Coroglen. Visit Driving Creek Pottery to view the gallery or hop on the wheel for creative wheel-throwing pottery classes, before heading off to visit The Oaks Gallery and Hauraki House Gallery in Coromandel Town. Run by the Coromandel Community Arts Council, Hauraki House features exhibitions by artists and craftspeople from The Coromandel and New Zealand.
A trip along the Thames Coast will get you to the Thames Art Gallery before arriving in Thames to view Jenny McLeod's Glass Gallery.
Make sure you make time to view the locally crafted work at The Laughing Pottery or throw some more pottery on the wheels, in Waihi, before stopping off in Paeroa at Mikkelsen Gallery.
Trails & Fairs
What better time than winter to take in the Coromandel Art and Craft Fair in Whitianga held annually in July. The one-day fair hosted by Mercury Bay Art Escape showcases quality handmade Arts and Crafts produced in The Coromandel. It offers an excellent opportunity to meet with local artisans and artists. To make a weekend of it, take yourself on a self-guided art tour and visit local artists at work in their Coromandel studios.
Another wonderful winter weekend opportunity for Fibre Art fans is the September Fibre Frolic in Whangamata. Run by the Whangamata Spinners and Weavers club members who exhibit, demonstrate and share their skills and passion for fibre arts and crafts. Discover many ways to weave, view needle felting, paper making, giant knitting, painting on silk, flax weaving, crochet, wool blending and colouring and more.
The Coromandel Arts Tour takes place over the first two weekends in October when nearly 40 artists from in and around Coromandel Town, open their studios for you to visit. A great first stop is the Arts Tour Exhibition at the Hauraki House Gallery in Coromandel town centre. Here you can see work from each artist, pick up a guide and plan your studio tour.
Festivals and Performing Arts
For live theatre, music and stage shows, expect to be entertained in towns all over the region during the winter months, with local drama groups such as the Tairua Troubadours, Coromandel Players and Offbeat Theatre Co (Whitianga) performing shows and musicals.
Workshops and Classes
If you like to take advantage of winter to visit The Coromandel and learn a new creative skill, there are ample opportunities to do so. Seek out Photography Workshops in Kūaotunu, Flax Weaving Workshops in Whenuakite and Pottery Classes at Driving Creek and Laughing Pottery.
Visit www.creativecoromandel.co.nz for all the arts events and activities happening throughout The Coromandel.
