Where To Get Your Art Fix
Artwork found in the open air can breathe life into otherwise generic places. It can inspire us to ponder the conveyed message, while injecting a pop of colour and creativity into our urban landscapes.
Hit the streets and beaches of The Central South Island to find the region’s coolest masterpieces without having to set foot in a gallery.
There’s no better spot to start than Ōtautahi Christchurch – a global street art capital in its own right.
SALT District, Christchurch
It’s no secret that Ōtautahi Christchurch has earned its reputation as a global street art capital. There’s even a thesis analysing the legendary murals that have emerged around the ever-changing city over the last decade. The SALT District is basically Christchurch’s very own street art capital with more than 50 eye-popping murals at the coolest little neighbourhood in the central city! Deep within the district is the edgy BOXed Quarter - a melting pot of music, hospitality, innovation that hosts the country’s biggest selection of street art.
Kaikōura
As you walk, bike or drive around the streets of Kaikōura, it’s hard to miss the seaside town’s love for the ocean. Its passion for marine life is depicted everywhere you look – on the sides of buildings, under bridges, on caravans and shop fronts. Check out the incredible sperm whale mural at the Pot Belly Café along West End which has been revamped by the original artist after two decades!
Hokitika, West Coast
Hokitika artists are the experts at transforming natural West Coast materials into unique masterpieces. And you haven’t been to Hokitika until you snap a photo of the iconic driftwood sign that spells out the town’s name – just in case you forgot where you were. Unleash your inner artist and craft your own driftwood masterpiece among the others across the windswept Hokitika Beach.
Timaru
Known for its elegant Victorian and Edwardian-era structures, Timaru has quickly made its mark on the street art scene. Wander around the CBD and discover the port town’s heritage that has been painted on its very walls. Completed in just 4 days by internationally renowned artist, Flox, The Shelter mural behind Hectors Black’s Bar on Stafford Street references Timaru’s unique biodiversity against the backdrop of Caroline Bay.
Geraldine
Geraldine is nestled in the heart of a prosperous farming area, but it’s also an art lover’s paradise full of galleries, studios and street art. Most of the murals you’ll feast your eyes on are completed by KORYU, a Japanese artist who’s recently made the town his home. His largest NZ mural, Dream, incorporates the water and sky, covering a 23-metre toilet block in the town’s domain playground.
