Waihi Arts Centre & Museum

Our Museum operates as a place for the collection, display and preservation of items of historical interest to the Waihi District, particularly items relating to the underground mining history of the area. Gold was first discovered in Waihi in 1878 and by 1905 Waihi not only possessed the most productive gold mine in New Zealand, but was the largest gold mining town in the country and the third largest inland town in New Zealand. We have several rooms devoted to underground mining history, and displays relating to the social history of the town. Our Art Gallery room has a dual role as a gallery and a theatre. As a gallery it hosts regular exhibitions of local and visiting arts and craft. As a theatre that seats 60, it becomes the setting for school groups to be shown a curriculum based Powerpoint presentation.

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Summer Hours - October 1st to May 31st

Thursday and Friday 10am - 3pm Saturday, Sunday and Monday 12pm - 3pm (Extended hours during January)

Winter Hours - June 1st to  September 30th

Thursday to Monday 12pm - 3 pm. The Gallery and Museum will both be open during these hours.  Free entry to the gallery, gold coin appreciated, and usual admission to the Museum applies.