Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

About

Toi o Tāmaki holds the country's largest art collection, and the building is a pleasure in itself. The original 1887 French Renaissance structure was joined in 2011 by a glass and kauri canopy extension that took World Building of the Year, and the two halves work better together than that description suggests. The collection runs from historic New Zealand and Māori portraiture through to contemporary international work, with the Chartwell Collection giving it real depth in modern art. Exhibitions rotate often enough that it rewards returning. General entry is free for New Zealand residents, with charges on some ticketed exhibitions. It sits on the edge of Albert Park, so it pairs naturally with a walk, and it's one of the better wet-weather options in the central city. Ninety minutes is comfortable; longer if a major show is on.