There is something rewarding about seeing a familiar place through a different lens. A weekend in Whanganui, a few days exploring Nelson, or a journey south to Dunedin can be enjoyable in their own right. But step inside the studios of the artists who live there, spend time with people immersed in the local arts community, and discover galleries and collections you might otherwise walk straight past, and the experience of a place begins to change.
That is the idea behind Art Travel, a New Zealand company specialising in small-group art and cultural tours.
Established in 2007, Art Travel has now taken more than 1,000 guests on journeys through Auckland, around New Zealand, and overseas. Its itineraries are designed for people who are curious about art and culture, but importantly, guests do not need to be collectors or experts to take part. The emphasis is on making art engaging, accessible, and enjoyable.
More than a gallery visit
The difference between an Art Travel itinerary and simply visiting a destination's major gallery is access.
Tours can include public galleries and museums, but also artist studios, private collections, dealer galleries, sculpture parks, and conversations with artists, curators, collectors, and other people connected with the local arts community.
It is this human element that sits at the heart of the experience. Rather than simply looking at a work and moving on, guests have an opportunity to understand more about the person who made it, the environment in which they work and the stories that surround it.
The groups themselves are deliberately small. Depending on the itinerary, New Zealand tours typically involve around eight to 12 guests, creating an experience that feels considerably more personal than conventional group touring.
Expert company along the way
Art Travel was founded by Glen Armstrong, whose background includes a BA in Art History from the University of Auckland and a longstanding interest in both art and travel.
He is joined by specialist guides including art historian, writer and curator Sue Gardiner, co-director of the Chartwell Collection of New Zealand and Australian contemporary art, and Claire Chamberlain, an art historian and educator who has been closely involved with New Zealand's presence at the Venice Biennale.
Their role goes well beyond getting a group from one destination to the next. The value of travelling with an expert is having someone provide the context that can turn an interesting object, building or exhibition into a much richer story.
Exploring New Zealand through its artists
Art Travel's upcoming New Zealand programme demonstrates how varied these experiences can be.
In March 2027, a four-day visit to Whanganui coincides with the city's Artist Open Studios. Guests will spend two days on curated studio visits, alongside private visits outside the public programme, and time at Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery, Whanganui Regional Museum and Rick Rudd's Quartz Museum of Studio Ceramics.
In May, an exploration of Nelson, Mapua and Moutere takes guests from The Suter Art Gallery to the studios and workshops of the region's glass artists, potters, painters and jewellers. Private studio visits are again part of the itinerary, providing access that can be difficult for an independent traveller to arrange.
Further south, Art Travel's Dunedin Art Explorer combines the Dunedin Public Art Gallery and local galleries with private studio visits, a behind-the-scenes experience at the Hocken Library and some distinctly Otago additions, including the Royal Albatross colony and Otago Farmers Market.
There are also shorter ways to experience the concept. In Auckland, Art Travel offers guided walking and day tours exploring the city's galleries, museums, public art, sculpture parks, artist studios and neighbourhoods.
Travel for the culturally curious
Perhaps the most appealing aspect of this style of travel is that it removes much of the work involved in finding the interesting parts of a destination.
Anyone can search for a city's major museum. It is considerably harder to know which small gallery is worth seeking out, whose studio door might be opened to visitors, which local collection deserves attention or who can explain why a particular artist or movement matters.
There is also plenty to recommend the small-group format for travellers who enjoy company without wanting the regimented feel of a large organised tour. Accommodation, local transport and scheduled visits are arranged, while itineraries retain the intimacy of travelling with a relatively small group of people who share an interest in culture and discovery.
An art-focused journey offers an appealing alternative to the conventional weekend away. It is less about ticking off attractions and more about slowing down, looking carefully and meeting some of the people who give a place its character.
And, as Art Travel has discovered over nearly two decades, you do not have to know a great deal about art before you go. Curiosity is a very good place to start.
More information and upcoming itineraries are available from Art Travel.