Opening Month Events – Frequently Asked Questions
Below you’ll find all the questions you might have for opening weekend.
Hours
Gallery hours 10am – 6pm until December 8 (10am – 5pm thereafter)
Shop and cafe hours 8.30am – 5.30pm
Open every day, excluding Christmas Day, Good Friday and half day ANZAC Day
Approaching the Gallery
On foot: The Gallery is best approached on foot from Campbell Street and walk past the Whanganui District Library, to the glass foyer entrance. Also you can walk up the Veterans’ Steps from Victoria Avenue and around the heritage building to the glass foyer entrance.
By car: Road access is via Pukenamu Drive which will be one way only from Drews Ave up Pukenamu.
By bus: There are bus stops in both directions on the corner of Cameron Terrace and Campbell Street, and two more on Watt Street by Majestic Square.
On Saturday 9 November Te Ngaru The Tide has extended hours: 7am – 7pm every 20 minutes, and every hour after that until 11pm. Te Ngaru The Tide and ALL bus services in Whanganui are FREE on this day.
Public drop-off point
There is a drop-off point for chartered buses, private cars and taxis on the corner of Cameron Terrace and Pukenamu Drive.
Road closure
Pukenamu Drive will be one-way from Drews Avenue to Cameron Terrace from Saturday 9 November to Monday 11 November morning.
There will be a road closure on part of Pukenamu Drive, between the Davis Library and the Alexander Heritage Library, from 3am on Saturday 9 November to 8am Monday 11 November.
Car parking
Saturday: free car parking in Cameron Terrace, Guyton between Bell and Wicksteed Streets, Drews Avenue, Ridgway Street, the river end of Bell Street, Church Place, Park Place and Bates Street.
Sunday: as usual, parking is free all day
Additional parking is available at the Whanganui War Memorial Centre (off Watt Street)
Opening weekend information and help
Sarjeant Gallery volunteers will be on duty all day and into the evenings.
Maori Wardens will be on site throughout the weekend.
Red Cross medical officers will be on site all weekend.
A marquee will have an information centre and iSite information desk.
Accessibility
There is limited accessible parking outside the Alexander Heritage Library (users must have a mobility sticker)
If you have mobility requirements to access the gallery, please ask staff, wardens or volunteers for assistance.
A shuttle vehicle and car are available to take people from the drop-off point on the corner of Cameron Terrace and Pukenamu Drive to the doors of Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery.
Food & Drink
The Sarjeant Gallery Cafe will be operating during public hours and will provide light refreshments.
There will also be a marquee for hospitality, and a selection of food trucks in Pukenamu Queen’s Park that offer a variety of food offerings over the opening weekend. Food trucks will be situated behind the marquee and Alexander Library.
Water bottles can be filled in the marquee and Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery Cafe.
Gallery Access
It is expected that there will be high demand for access to the Gallery over the opening weekend so there may be delays and lines. Please be patient as we manage access so everyone has an enjoyable experience. If there is a waiting line, why not visit the Whanganui Regional Museum, open Saturday and Sunday, 10am – 4.30pm or one of the many local galleries on the Coastal Arts Trail.
Entrance to the gallery will be through the glass foyer that links the heritage building and the new building. It is ahead of you as you approach the Davis Library from Cameron Terrace and was the rear of the heritage building. For the opening, the exit will be via the terrace on the north side of the gallery.
Please feel welcome to rest outside the marquee, and inside Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery; there will be a variety of seating available to rest on throughout the gallery spaces.