Hidden gems in Auckland Region

Exceptional Hidden Gems

This collection features the Muriwai Gannet Colony and several monumental sculptures within the Gibbs Farm open-air gallery. Located north of Auckland along the Kaipara Harbour, these sites showcase large-scale installations by international artists like Anish Kapoor and Neil Dawson. The Gannet Colony provides viewing platforms to observe thousands of nesting pairs on rugged coastal cliffs, particularly active between August and March.

Francesco Veronesi / CC BY-SA 2.0

Gannet colony

Coastal nesting site for thousands of Australasian gannets. Viewing platforms provide close proximity to the birds during the breeding season from August to March.

Nita / CC BY-SA 2.0

Horizons

A 15-meter tall welded steel sculpture by Neil Dawson. It sits on a high ridge, designed to resemble a giant sheet of corrugated iron blowing in the wind.

Andym5855 / CC BY-SA 2.0

Red Cloud Confrontation in Landscape

Installation by Leon van den Eijkel featuring 25 concrete cubes painted in primary colors, exploring the relationship between geometric shapes and the rolling green landscape.

Nita / CC BY-SA 2.0

88.5° ARC x 8

Eight weathering steel arcs by Bernar Venet. Each arc is 27 meters long, leaning at various angles to create a sense of movement across the hillside.

Marijke de Goey / CC BY 3.0

The Mermaid

A bright blue tubular steel arch by Marijke de Goey. The sculpture spans a pond, creating a geometric reflection on the water's surface.

Andym5855 / CC BY-SA 2.0

Dismemberment, Site 1

A massive 85-meter long red PVC membrane by Anish Kapoor. The structure is stretched between two giant steel ellipses, cutting through a natural gully.