FAQs

Following the Government’s announcement of the complete removal of the traffic light system on Monday 12 September, it is not mandatory to wear face masks in our Gallery spaces.

We are open 10am – 5pm. 

We recommend approximately an hour visit for a thorough experience at the Gallery. Visitors will be asked to begin to make their way back to the entry from 4.45pm with the building closing at 5pm.

The shop on the ground level is open during normal Gallery hours, 10am – 5pm. 

The café on level 1 of the Gallery is open 10am – 4pm. 

Yes – our latest floor map is available to view and download.

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We offer guided tours on request. For more information, including prices and availability, please email us

All galleries and facilities are wheelchair accessible. Wheelchairs are available from the front desk free of charge – please call +64 9 980 5380 to book a wheelchair for your visit.

Free Wi-Fi access is available capped at 1GB of free data per calendar day. To connect:

1. Enable Wi-Fi on your device
2. Select 'Auckland Art Gallery' – a logon page will automatically open
3. Click 'Accept' to get online.

Dogs are not permitted in the Gallery, with the exception of guide dogs and other assistance dogs.

We require visitors to check umbrellas, backpacks, shopping bags and large bags into our free cloakroom. To ensure the safety of artworks, the Gallery does not permit visitors to wear bags on their backs in the galleries. The Gallery reserves the right to refuse other items and is not responsible for items held by the cloakroom.

No food or drink is permitted in the Gallery, so we recommend a visit to our café on level 1. If you have brought your own lunch, a nice spot to eat is in our amphitheatre behind the Gallery or in Albert Park.

Smoking and vaping are not permitted anywhere in the Gallery.

The closest public parking space is Auckland Transport's Victoria Street East car park.

A mobility parking bay is located on Kitchener Street and disabled parking is also available at the car park mentioned above. Visit the Auckland Transport website for more information.

The free City LINK bus stops nearest the Gallery are 7053 or 7054. The Outer LINK bus travels along Wellesley Street past the Gallery – the nearest bus stops are 1094, 7088 and 7089. View the Auckland Transport website for more information.

AT Mobile is a useful app from Auckland Transport that helps plan, save and track journeys across Auckland’s public transport network. Download today via the App Store or Google Play.

Auckland Transport offers half price fares on AT bus, train and ferry fares until 31 January 2023 (terms and conditions apply) and FREE child weekend fares (children aged 5–15 with a registered HOP card). For more information click here. 

Please note: Significant construction works as part of the City Rail Link project will see CBD bus routes and bus stops being diverted. To avoid disruption, please plan your public transport journey in advance here.

International visitor charges have been suspended until further notice. New Zealand residents, Gallery Members and Children 12 & under continue to enjoy free entry in the same way they always have.

International Council of Museums (ICOM) card holders receive free entry to the Gallery, including paid exhibitions. The same privilege applies for International Committee for Museums and Collections of Modern Art (CIMAM) card holders.

Please present a valid membership card at the front desk on the day of your visit. 

Ticket prices contribute to the costs involved in bringing international exhibitions of a high calibre to New Zealand.

Our exhibitions change regularly. Visit What’s on to view current and upcoming exhibitions. 

Due to the large size of the Gallery’s collection, and to enable a programme of regularly changing exhibitions, not all works are permanently on display. However, the entire collection is available to view online through Explore Art & Ideas.

Light is one of the major causes of deterioration in artworks, particularly for works on paper and photographs. By keeping the lighting at a controlled lower level, we ensure these works are preserved for future generations to enjoy.

Visitors are permitted to take photographs with hand-held cameras without attachments in non-restricted areas within Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki for personal use. These images should not be reproduced or displayed on personal websites and must not be sold commercially or displayed publicly in any way that disrespects the subjects in the artworks or causes offence to any individuals or groups. All restricted areas display signage at the entrance of the exhibition or adjacent to specific works.

The use of tripods, selfie sticks, external stabilising devices, flash or additional lighting is not permitted without the permission of the Gallery. A request must be made and granted before such equipment can be used in any gallery spaces.

Look out for the ‘no photography’ icon indicating objects or exhibitions that cannot be filmed or photographed. This restriction may be for cultural reasons, due to copyright law or to protect the objects.

Please ask our Gallery Assistants if you're unsure and refer to our copyright and privacy policy for more information.

Flash photography is prohibited as the light emitted by the camera's flash can damage artworks and be a nuisance to other visitors.

Yes, you are welcome to take photographs for personal use except where a no photography icon is shown. In these instances, the lenders of the works and/or the descendants of those depicted have requested that no photographs be taken.

Māori regard the images of tīpuna (ancestors) as revered taonga (treasured items) because they carry the mana (prestige, esteem) of the person depicted. Many Māori trace direct connection to the individuals in these portraits and, in so doing, have living relationships as descendants which Auckland Art Gallery respects. We ask that you also respect this relationship and are mindful of the images you might take while viewing the exhibition.

You’re encouraged to use images of portraits of Māori as a way of remembering and sharing your experience with others, but the reproduction of portraits as commercial items or the use of the images in a way that would cause offence is strictly prohibited.

We have a variety of events and activities for young people – have a look at our Families section for more information.

We have designed and resourced our holiday workshops for children aged 5–13 to ensure that we provide an entertaining and engaging activity for this age range.

We do not accept children under 5 to these activities because experience has shown us they need more support than we can provide to achieve the same level of enjoyment. 

People who breastfeed are welcome to feed their babies on any of the public seating in the galleries. If you wish for a more private spot, there is an armchair available in the accessible bathroom on Mezzanine level.

Due to restrictions on food and drink around art works, bottle feeding for babies or toddlers can only take place in the seating areas in our North Atrium (mezzanine level) and Foyer (ground level). Likewise, if children need a top-up of food during their visit, please use these two areas only. We can assist in guiding you to the right area, so please ask the nearest Gallery Assistant for help. For all other visitors there is no food and drink permitted in the Gallery.

Children 14 years and over can visit the Gallery unsupervised by an adult.

Baby change facilities can be found in the accessible bathrooms on the Lower Ground, Ground and Mezzanine levels.

Baby strollers are welcome at all times and must be in the control of an adult. Children are not permitted to push strollers in the Gallery.

We're unable to provide you with valuations of artworks or with attributions (identifying the artist responsible for a work) – for these, please contact a reputable dealer or auction house. Within Auckland we can recommend (listed in alphabetical order): Art+Object, Cordy’s, Dunbar Sloane, Gow Langsford Gallery, International Art Centre or Webb’s.

The Gallery offers conservation advice to museums and the public however they no longer offer treatments. For recommendations of available conservators, please visit nzccm.org.nz

For conservation advice, please visit the Conservation Research Centre for more information.

Gifts and bequests are actively encouraged, and we have a process through which we consider the appropriateness of artworks for our collection. Generally, we purchase works from art dealers, established artists or collectors.

If you would like to make an enquiry in regard to the gift, sale or loan of an artwork to the Gallery, please write to:

Assistant Curator
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
PO Box 5449
Auckland 1141

Email: curator@aucklandartgallery.com

Please include:

• name of the artist
• details about the work;
  - date (if dated)
  - medium (e.g. oil paint, watercolour, chalk) 
  - support (e.g. canvas, board, paper) 
  - measurements (height before width)
• a good-quality photograph of the work

Please don’t bring an artwork into the Gallery without making a prior arrangement with us.

The Gallery hires some of its spaces for corporate and private events – you can find more information on our Venue hire page.

Yes, our E H McCormick Research Library Whare Pukapuka Rangahau provides access to extensive research collections on visual art, and in particular, New Zealand art. The library is located on the mezzanine level and is open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 1-5pm. While no appointment is necessary, please feel free to make an appointment by emailing library@aucklandartgallery.com or phoning us on 09 307 7714.

'Toi o Tāmaki' directly translates from Te Reo Māori to English as ‘the art of Auckland’.

If you're interested in joining our team, please visit Auckland Council’s careers page where our current job vacancies are listed.  Positions at the Gallery include curators, conservators, front of house staff and guides, as well as administrative and support staff. Visit Get Involved if you are interested in volunteering your time or would like to know more about internship opportunities.

Yes, for lost property enquiries please contact our information desk in person or by calling +64 9 370 7700. Please provide a full description of the lost item and the date you visited the Gallery, along with your contact details.

If you have left an item in our cloakroom, please bring your cloaking tag (red rubber bracelet) to the Gallery and we will return your property to you. If you have lost your cloaking tag, please contact us as above. All lost property is retained for three months before it is disposed.

Please resist the temptation to touch as the oils and dirt from fingerprints can cause damage over time. We are all responsible for protecting artworks for the enjoyment of future generations and we thank you for your support in this instance.

Our core operational funding is provided by Auckland Council through Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, a Council-controlled organisation (CCO). Government, corporate and private individual support allows us to resource and provide a range of local and international exhibitions that would not otherwise be possible. Revenue is generated through some entry charges, such as those made for special exhibitions, as well as through our shop and our Membership programme. Auckland Art Gallery is a not-for-profit organisation. To show your support for the Gallery and to help us connect art with people, donate today.

You can make a one-off donation to our 'koha' donate boxes when you visit the Gallery, or you can donate online. You can also gift a donation when you sign up, or renew a Gallery Membership. With your generous support we can make art happen. 

We really appreciate donations which will go towards supporting a range of activities, including the restoration and maintenance of our collections, the production of exhibitions and visitor programmes, and the acquisition of new works for the city’s collection.

The Gallery has very limited space for promotional material at the information desk, therefore we only display our partners' and our own material.