Waipā Creative Trail

Waipā Creative Trail Explore creativity across Waipā. Open studios, exhibitions & local artists. A weekend of discovery and inspiration
🗓️23 & 24 May 2026

01/06/2026

Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete the Waipā Creative Trail visitor survey.

We really appreciate your feedback and enjoyed hearing about your experience. Your comments help us understand what worked well and where we can make improvements for future events.

A few themes stood out in the feedback.

Many visitors loved meeting artists and creatives in person, discovering new places across Waipā, and experiencing the wide variety of creativity on display.

We also received suggestions for future Trails, including ideas to make the experience even easier and more engaging for visitors.

Everyone who completed the survey and provided their name went into the draw to win a beautiful Mystery Creek vase valued at $130.

Congratulations to our winner...
🎉 Anna Holmes 🎉

We'll be in touch to arrange delivery of your prize.

Thank you again for helping make the 2026 Waipā Creative Trail such a success. We appreciate your support, your feedback, and your enthusiasm for celebrating creativity in our community.

- Alex & Tracey

The Trail Bingo Card winner has been drawn!Firstly, thank you to everyone who joined us for the Waipā Creative Trail. We...
01/06/2026

The Trail Bingo Card winner has been drawn!

Firstly, thank you to everyone who joined us for the Waipā Creative Trail. We loved seeing your enthusiasm for collecting stamps along the way.

With 11 creative trail stops and 3 café stops, there were 14 locations in total. Wow, you embraced the Trail and visited a number of stops!

Shout out to the three people who visited 13 stops... Gary, Laurie and Carol👏

What an incredible effort.

And now, the winner of the $50 Gordon Harris voucher is...

🎉 Jane McNamara 🎉

Congratulations, Jane! We'll be in touch to arrange getting your voucher to you.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Bingo, explored the trail, supported local creatives, and helped make the 2026 Waipā Creative Trail such a success. We loved seeing people out discovering creativity across the district.

- Alex & Tracey

Last chance.The 2026 Waipā Creative Trail survey closes today.If you visited the Trail, we'd love to know what worked, w...
30/05/2026

Last chance.

The 2026 Waipā Creative Trail survey closes today.

If you visited the Trail, we'd love to know what worked, what stood out, and what you'd like to see in future years.

Your feedback helps shape the future of the Trail and the experience we create for artists, creatives, visitors, and the wider community.

Complete the survey today, and you'll also go in the draw to win a stunning Mystery Creek Ceramics vase valued at $130.

The survey link is in the comments.

T&Cs: This giveaway is not associated with or endorsed by Facebook or Instagram. The prize is not transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash. The winner will be drawn and announced on 1 June 2026.

Just a few more days to share your feedback on the 2026 Waipā Creative Trail.We’d really love to hear what you enjoyed, ...
29/05/2026

Just a few more days to share your feedback on the 2026 Waipā Creative Trail.

We’d really love to hear what you enjoyed, what stood out to you, and anything you think we could improve for future Trails.

Your feedback helps us continue to grow and create an even better experience for our artists, creatives, visitors, and the community.

Scan the QR code to complete the survey (or click the link in the comments).

Complete the survey and include your name and address by 31 May to go in the draw to win a stunning Mystery Creek Ceramics vase valued at $130.

Thank you again for being part of this year’s Trail. We appreciate your support, encouragement, and feedback.

T&Cs: This giveaway is not associated with or endorsed by Facebook or Instagram. The prize is not transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash. The winner will be drawn and announced on 1 June 2026.

How good were those café stops while you were out exploring open studios across Waipā last weekend?A big shout-out and t...
28/05/2026

How good were those café stops while you were out exploring open studios across Waipā last weekend?

A big shout-out and thank you to Jess at Cirque Eatery, Ryan & Alex at RedKitchen Cafe & Store, and Michelle at Mountain Folk Cafe Retreat for getting behind the Waipā Creative Trail and supporting the event.

We’ve been hearing how much visitors appreciated having café recommendations along the way because honestly, there’s nothing worse than trying to figure out where to stop when you’re new to an area.

Events like the Waipā Creative Trail take a village to create, and the café teams were definitely part of helping make the weekend such a great experience.

We’re also very impressed that some of you made it to two of the three cafés while out on the Trail. Did anyone manage all three?

So much happens behind the scenes before and during the Trail, and we want to acknowledge and thank the many helpers and...
25/05/2026

So much happens behind the scenes before and during the Trail, and we want to acknowledge and thank the many helpers and supporters who contributed.

When you visited studios and creative spaces over the weekend, you probably met some of them.

The people helping with parking.
The friendly faces answering questions and welcoming visitors.
The ones who stepped in when the creative was losing their voice from talking so much.
The helpers making cuppas, providing words of encouragement, and solving problems throughout the weekend.

If you were one of those helpers, thank you so much.

We also want to acknowledge the partners, children, parents, family, and friends supporting the artists and creatives in the lead-up to the weekend.

Thank you for listening to concerns and worries, celebrating progress, picking up extra jobs around the house, helping with the life admin, and all the other ways you contributed.

Your support is invaluable.

Thank you.

P.S. Who met Auto at The Floral Shed? Such a friendly welcome and fab to chat to. When we (Alex and Tracey) called in, he was zesting kaffir limes and shared suggestions for using them.

We’d really value your feedback about the 2026 Waipā Creative Trail.Tell us what you loved, what stood out to you, and a...
24/05/2026

We’d really value your feedback about the 2026 Waipā Creative Trail.

Tell us what you loved, what stood out to you, and anything you think we could improve for future Trails.

Scan the QR code to go to the survey.
(or click the link in the comments)

If you complete it and add your name and address by 31 May, you'll go in the draw to win a stunning Mystery Creek Ceramics vase, valued at $130.

Thank you for being part of this year’s Trail and helping us continue to grow and improve the experience. We appreciate you!

T&Cs: This giveaway is not associated with or endorsed by Facebook or Instagram. The prize is not transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash. The winner will be drawn and announced on 1 June 2026.

The studios close at 3.30pm today, marking the end of the 2026 Waipā Creative Trail.What a weekend it’s been!The support...
24/05/2026

The studios close at 3.30pm today, marking the end of the 2026 Waipā Creative Trail.

What a weekend it’s been!

The support, enthusiasm, conversations, encouragement, and genuine interest you’ve shown our artists and creatives has meant so much. You’ve helped make this year’s Trail something really special.

And we hope the experience has inspired you, too. From the conversations we’ve had, you’ve loved not only seeing the artwork but also hearing the stories behind it, meeting the artists and creatives, and experiencing the incredible creativity throughout Waipā.

There’s still time to visit a few more stops, revisit a favourite studio, or take home a piece that caught your eye.

And if there’s an artist or creative you’d like to stay connected with after the Trail, let us know. We’re happy to point you towards their website, social media, or preferred contact details.

Thank you for being part of this year’s Trail!

We’d love to know how your creative trail day is going!Let us know in the comments and you’re welcome to tag us in to an...
24/05/2026

We’d love to know how your creative trail day is going!

Let us know in the comments and you’re welcome to tag us in to any photos you share on Facebook or Instagram.

Use these details:



Excited to hear how it’s going and see your photos 📸

P.S. This is Nita from The Floral Shed and her helper Mary. You'll find them at Stop 4 on the Trail.

And the doors are open!Welcome to day 2 of the Waipā Creative Trail.Take your time exploring the studios across the dist...
23/05/2026

And the doors are open!

Welcome to day 2 of the Waipā Creative Trail.

Take your time exploring the studios across the district. Chat with the artists and creatives, experience their spaces, and if there’s an interactive art activity available, jump in and give it a go.

Need a copy of the Trail Guide?

You can download it here:
https://waipacreativetrail.com/trail-guide/

P.S. We’re loving this photo of (left to right) Eve, Dee and Ali at Stop 2 — Dee Wilson.

View Dee’s paintings, step inside her studio and workshop space, and discover Ali’s pottery creations for inside and outside the home, alongside Eve’s handcrafted wooden piko (vases).

Dee Wilson - Artist | Ali's Pottery Creations

Address

Te Awamutu

Opening Hours

Tuesday 12pm - 6pm
Wednesday 12pm - 6pm
Thursday 12pm - 6pm
Friday 12pm - 6pm
Saturday 10am - 1pm

Website

https://forms.gle/ymaQ5vfauV9v3BfH6

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