Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki sits at the corner of Wellesley Street East and Kitchener Street, just below the trees of Albert Park. It was established in 1888 as New Zealand's first permanent art gallery and still occupies its original brick and plaster building of 1887, designed in an early French Renaissance style with a tall clock tower. The building originally also housed the city council and the public library.

The gallery closed in 2007 for a major redevelopment and reopened in September 2011 with a new wing by FJMT and Archimedia. The redevelopment won 17 architectural and six design awards, including World Building of the Year at the World Architecture Festival in 2013. The project added half as much again in exhibition space.

The collection holds more than 18,000 works, from medieval Europe to the present, with particular depth in New Zealand and Pacific art. Gottfried Lindauer's portraits of Māori and works by C.F. Goldie are among the most visited, and Colin McCahon, Frances Hodgkins and Gretchen Albrecht are also strongly represented. Historic European holdings came from bequests such as Sir George Grey's, and the gallery regularly mounts large temporary exhibitions.

General collection exhibitions are free for everyone, while some special exhibitions and events charge. Free collection tours are offered, and children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. The gallery opens every day from 10am to 5pm except Christmas Day, and the main doors are at 1 Kitchener Street. Allow at least two hours to see the main collection floors without rushing.

The café on level 1 opens onto Albert Park and is a pleasant place to break up a visit, though food and drink are not allowed in the galleries. The design store sells New Zealand art prints and locally made objects. There is an accessible bathroom on the mezzanine floor, and the gallery's accessibility page sets out further support.

Getting there is easy. Te Waihorotiu station is less than 10 minutes' walk away, Waitematā station and the downtown ferry terminal about 15 minutes, and the OuterLink bus stops on Wellesley Street East almost outside. The closest public car park is Victoria Street East. Combine a visit with a walk through Albert Park or along nearby Queen Street.