OUT OF TOWNER? | What else is on in Queenstown’s arts and culture scene?
Heading to the Southern Lakes? From chamber music and visual arts to contemporary theatre and local festivals, Queenstown offers far more than just mountains and adrenaline. This is your insider guide to what to do in Queenstown (and across the Whakatipu Basin) if you’re here for creativity and culture.
Whether you're planning a visit to Queenstown around this year’s At the World’s Edge festival or simply curious about the cultural scene, there’s no shortage of high-quality events in the Southern Lakes region. Here’s what should be on your radar:
Te Atamira – Queenstown
Te Atamira, AWE’s festival hub, is one of Queenstown’s leading spaces for creative expression. Home to galleries, studios, workshops and performances, Te Atamira hosts everything from experimental theatre and film screenings to artist talks and music residencies. If you’re wondering what’s on in Queenstown, this should be your first stop. Check the programme for contemporary dance, Māori art exhibitions, and emerging composers - it’s always evolving.
Sherwood - Queenstown
Perched above Lake Whakatipu, Sherwood has become one of Queenstown’s most distinctive creative venues. With a strong focus on sustainability and local arts, the hotel brings together hospitality and culture through its year-round programme of music, exhibitions, talks and performance. 2025 highlights include a mid-winter performance by genre-defying soul artist Ladi6 as part of her Le Vā album release tour, as well as a solo pop-up exhibition by painter Hannah Brooks, known for her delicate, nature-infused watercolours.
Throughout the season, the Workshop space will also host jewellery installations from Maebel, comedy nights, curated talks on creativity and mindfulness, and intimate acoustic sets. Sherwood’s programming shifts with the seasons, best checked via their website, but it’s one of the most reliably original spaces for low-key, high-quality arts experiences in the region.
LUMA Enchanted - Queenstown
Each winter, LUMA transforms Queenstown into a landscape of light, story, and sensory wonder, and in 2025, the experience has taken on a new life.
Now known as LUMA Enchanted, this winter-long installation offers a more intimate and extended format. Visitors now follow an immersive trail through the forested sanctuary of Kiwi Park that preserves the creative energy LUMA is known for, and delivers a family-friendly experience that’s as thought-provoking as it is magical. All proceeds go toward Kiwi Park’s conservation work in the Whakatipu Basin.
Arrowtown Galleries
Arrowtown’s historic streets are home to a well-established and growing arts scene. With a mix of respected galleries and working studios, the town offers a diverse range of visual art experiences set against a richly preserved heritage backdrop.
Your first stop might be Giraffe Art Gallery, a contemporary space on Buckingham Street that showcases work by emerging and established New Zealand artists, including painter Dalene Meiring. The gallery offers a rotating exhibition programme, making it a perfect introduction to the artistic diversity you’ll find throughout Arrowtown. Nadene Milne Gallery showcases major contemporary artists such as Shane Cotton, Fiona Pardington, and Judy Millar while around the corner, Superpartner Gallery, housed in a beautifully restored 1871 chapel, presents critically engaged work with an upcoming exhibitions from such as Sonya Lacey and Peter Robinson.
Other 2025 highlights include new exhibitions from Holly Zandbergen and Gerda Satunas at Astor Bristed Gallery, immersive portraiture at David John Gallery, and bold historical narratives from Jenny Mehrtens in her upstairs studio space.
From contemporary fine art to experimental installations and heritage curation at the Lakes District Museum, Arrowtown offers a wide-ranging arts experience within a compact, walkable village setting.
For a more in-depth encounter, consider joining a half-day gallery tour with Art Adventures NZ, complete with artist meet-and-greets.
Image: Sonya Lacey exhibition at Superpartner Gallery
What’s on and where?
If you're coming into the region, leaving a little room in your schedule is the best way to catch what’s happening. Many performances, exhibitions, and pop-ups are seasonal or announced at short notice, especially at venues like Sherwood and in Arrowtown’s galleries. It’s worth checking regional listings before and during your visit.
Te Wahi Toi is your go-to for arts and culture happenings in Queenstown and Wānaka. Exhibitions, workshops, concerts and talks are among the events listed in this creative directory, making it your first stop when planning your Queenstown or Wānaka trip.
Download the Queenstown App or grab a copy of the Lakes Weekly Bulletin to stay up to date with what’s on. They’re the best way to keep up with what’s on in the Southern Lakes whether it’s a gallery opening, a live gig, or something newly added to the Queenstown event calendar.