Think art and culture and you may well think silver spoons and snobbery. But think again, because I've gathered a list of the Top 10 Art & Cultural Destinations in New Zealand that are bound to get you bouncing towards the nearest art gallery, theatre production or museum exhibition for an experience that will expand your cultural horizons.

01. Wellington Museums & Tours 02. Bay of Plenty Music & Art 03. Rotorua Maori Art & Culture 04. New Plymouth Sculptures & Walkways 05. Nelson Arts & Crafts

06. Auckland Shopping & Theatre 07. Invercargill Trails & Walks 08. Hawke's Bay Architecture & Wineries 09. Dunedin Theatre & Museums 10. Hamilton Shopping & Cinema

1 - Wellington

Museums & Tours
Wellington boasts over 17 museums ranging from the comprehensive, commercial Te Papa to smaller, specialised museums. You won't be hard pushed to find an art gallery or exhibition in Wellington, with many of our Kiwi artists and musicians hailing from Middle Earth. And if high-brow art doesn't appeal, think about embarking on a food or garden tour, wine trail, or attend a cooking school for a tantalising cultural experience.

2 - Bay of Plenty

Music & Art
The Bay of Plenty is abuzz with beach culture, particularly in the summer months, when there are plenty of waterside cafés and restaurants to enjoy on The Strand in Tauranga and nestled at the bottom of Mauao in Mount Maunganui. Tauranga comes alive during Easter with its annual Jazz Festival, the cornerstone of cultural events in the Bay of Plenty, fast becoming an internationally acclaimed event. Everyone in the Bay gets involved in the festival, from The Historic Village, which is transformed into Jazz Village during the weeklong celebration of music and arts, to the Baycourt Theatre, playing host to the concert series during the festival and various other performing arts acts throughout the year.

3 - Rotorua

Maori Art & Culture
It goes without saying; Rotorua is undeniably the touchstone of Maori culture in New Zealand, with countless tourism operators exhibiting Maori art and crafts, dance, cuisine, tradition and heritage. But the sulphuric city also reflects its European past in its Tudor-style colonial architecture and history. Central in both a geographic and a cultural sense, today, Rotorua stands as a melting pot of cultures, rich in a variety of art and culture. Get involved in the many cultural attractions on offer or simply soak up the vibe of this lively city. The locals invite you to 'Feel the Spirit' of Rotorua, through whatever avenue interests you.

4 - New Plymouth

Sculptures & Walkways
Discover the cultural diversity of New Plymouth through the tangible medium of sculpture. The Taranaki region is home to many famous indoor and outdoor sculptures, including the avant garde Wind Wand, a simple wand structure erected on the Coastal Walkway, a cultural journey of sorts through the art and history of New Plymouth; and the tomokanga (carvings) in the foyer of the Civic Centre, which tell a different story of New Plymouth's history and our indigenous peoples. For all your art and cultural curiosities, Puke Ariki brings together a knowledge centre of library, museum and visitor information facilities that will point you in the right direction of a cultural experience like no other.

5 - Nelson

Arts & Crafts
The birthplace of WOW, the World of Wearable Arts competition, Nelson showcases the history of this successful event in the WOW Museum, which also houses the Classic Car Museum and Reflections Art Gallery. But that's not all; Nelson is renowned for all things cultural, particularly when it comes to handcrafted arts, producing some of the most well-known and successful potters, glass blowers, jewellers, fashion designers and artists, their creations are exhibited in and around the coastal town that lends itself so openly to artistic representation.

6 - Auckland

Shopping & Theatre
Auckland's self-confessed cultural drawcard would have to be the many international acts that come to perform in the City of Sails. From opera to pop stars, symphonies to circuses, Auckland is the premier destination when it comes to shows, events and expos. Combine Auckland's event-friendly location with the shopping meccas of High St, Chancery and Newmarket, and you've got yourself a cultural fiesta of fun and fashion. Who said culture had to be boring?

7 - Invercargill

Trails & Walks
Invercargill has a great line-up of cultural and artistic adventures all ready to discover in the well-established Heritage Trail, which takes you on a journey through galleries, parks, historic buildings, theatres, churches and gardens that create the all-encompassing cultural combo that is Invercargill. Then there's the City Spirit Walk, a pre-planned stroll through time, charting the Celtic and Maori history of New Zealand and Invercargill through various artworks, buildings and landmarks. These trails and walks form a celebration of the urban redevelopment that has taken place to secure the past, present and future of Invercargill's culture and history.

8 - Hawke's Bay

Architecture & Wineries
Nothing like a little vino to strike up the cultural conversation; wine-lovers, connoisseurs and just plain novices will revel in the food and wine culture at large in the Hawke's Bay region. There's no denying the East Coast's international reputation for producing some of the highest quality sauvignons and chardonnays in the world, and if getting involved in viticulture means sampling a range of fine wines, who wouldn't want to? But you mustn't get too tipsy and forget to explore Napier township as well, with plenty of Art Deco architecture and history to engage even the most naïve of critics.

9 - Dunedin

Theatre & Museums
Forget drinking culture, boozy students may well dominate Dunedin during the university semester, but that doesn't stop it from being at the heart of art and culture in New Zealand. In fact, Dunedin's countless museums, art galleries and theatres make it one of the biggest cultural hot spots in the country. Combine those features with the awe-inspiring Scottish, Edwardian and Victorian architecture and you'll soon realise the immense history of the Deep South is not to be missed.

10 - Hamilton

Shopping & Cinema
They call themselves the City of the Future, and avid Hamiltonians will tell you it's the combination of river, farm and city culture that makes their city one of the best. Known for its agricultural industries and racehorse studs, Hamilton has heaps to offer when it comes to getting involved in the strong farming, rowing and horse racing cultures. Take a film tour around the rural landscapes of wider Hamilton, credited with providing the set for various Lord of the Rings scenes, or go to the cinema instead. Alternatively, indulge in a touch of retail therapy in the CBD and convince yourself it's enriching your cultural repertoire (if not your credit card bill).

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