Te Kaihau-o-Kupe / Castlecliff Sculpture Park

Public / Private collection of art in and around a publically accessible, privately owned park on the corner of Rangiora and Karaka Streets in Te Kaihau-o-Kupe / Castlecliff.

Open whenever Castlecliff Library and Community Hub or Chico Barbershop open (generally 10:00-4:30 Tuesday to Sunday)

The collection includes...

A bespoke perimeter enclosure fence replicating the Raupō flowers in the nearby Waiwherowhero wetland.

"Cliffy" our Mokonui (Triceratops) born of Castlecliff driftwood by local Castlecliff artist Jack Marsden-Meyer ("Drifty"). Jack/Drifty is also the artist behind the iconic "Castlecliff Beach" driftwood sign (corner Rangiora and Cornfoot Street) https://www.fb.com/Animaldriftwoodsculptures  

"Galactic Invasion" and Koru (corten steel sculptures) and "Awa" and "Castlecliff Waves" (wrought iron gates) by Graeme Kiff of Castlecliff's "Simply Wrought Iron"  https://www.fb.com/Simplywroughtiron

Murals by artist Dan Mills

"The Bone People" and "Sea Here" (on Castlecliff Dairy) by Dan Mills  https://coastalartstrail.nz/gallery/mural-by-dan-mills-2018-2/

"Science Fiction" also by Dan Mills (on Southern sides of Castlecliff Library it is inspired by the 1889 writings of NZ's Premier Sir Jules Vogel the first New Zealander to write a science-fiction novel: Anno Domini 2000, or, Woman's Destiny. It anticipated a utopian world where women held many positions of authority. enthusiastic-turnout-for-opening-of-castlecliff-library-and-community-hub

"Free Whales"  and "Community Heart" (On Northern sides of the Library it is imagines the whale skeletons suspended in the foyer of the Whanganui Regional Museum free and swimming off the Castlecliff coast as well as referencing the public AED (Heart Defibrillator) on the building (one of three Community crowdfunded AED's in the suburb)

Coming in 2025 will be a cartological and interactive mural

Further down Rangiora Street nearer the beach Dan's work also features in the 3 Dimensional pedestrian crossing castlecliff-whanganuis-new-3d-pedestrian-crossing-on-rangiora-street-to-rival-londons-abbey-road-made-famous-by-the-beatles/

the Tram Stop coastalartstrail.nz/gallery/tram-bus-stop-by-dan-mills-2018/ (Aucklanders may recognise the number 100 steam tram that still takes you around MoTaT and Western Springs collection.motat.nz/objects/28717/tram-no100-steam

and the substation mural artist-completes-another-mural-boost-for-castlecliff/

Also in the area...

The Vostinar Gallery coastalartstrail.nz/gallery/vostinar-gallery/

Numerous artists - many open for Artists Open Studios https://openstudios.co.nz/

ZK-CIF - perhaps the biggest object to be upcycled into art (or at least an art studio) https://www.facebook.com/zkcif https://www.facebook.com/events/326617106563096/326617123229761/

Whanganui's biggest public artwork on the Castlecliff Basketball Court - inspired by designs from Castlecliff school children and designed/executed by Mike Marsh artist in 2023 https://photos.app.goo.gl/NCvJRrCRB5CXWGsb9 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Havk-oY90K0

"Lalique's Dream" 2020 a bespoke engraved glass bus shelter comprising over 10m2 of hand-etched glass by Claire Ellen Bell was decommissioned in December 2024

Mural by Simon Ormerod (otherwise known as Cracked Ink), on the Rangiora Street toilets.

Last but not least the art of good coffee & food from the Citadel Cafe right next door (consistently Tripadvisor #1 rated in Whanganui). The Citadel usually has a featured artist exhibiting work in the cafe. https://www.facebook.com/thecitadel.castlecliff

Catch Te Ngaru (the Tide) bus out from town (Glassworks Drews Ave, Churchill Square) every 20 minutes in both directions. Monday - Friday: 7am - 7pm plus hourly to 11pm Friday only  Saturday: 9am - 3pm