New Zealand Glassworks
Te Whare Tūhua o Te Ao
New Zealand's national glass art centre, where you can watch artists blowing glass from behind railings and sign up for hands-on classes.
Whanganui has more glass artists than anywhere else in the country and is known as New Zealand's “City of Glass.” The New Zealand Glassworks, a national glass art centre in the historic riverside old town, has an open hot studio where you can watch glassblowing, shaping, and coloring for free. The gallery and shop sell works by local artists. The centre also offers short, bookable taster classes where you can make your own glass paperweight or pendant. A glass art festival is held here every year. It is a two-minute walk from the PS Waimarie wharf.
Opening hours
Approx. 10:00–16:30
Nearby sights
- Whanganui River Traders Market
- PS Waimarie
- Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare o Rehua Whanganui
- Whanganui Regional Museum
- Durie Hill Elevator & War Memorial Tower
- St Paul's Memorial Church, Putiki
- Virginia Lake Reserve
- Bason Botanic Gardens