Very friendly owner that runs the gallery. It is a nice experience to spend some minutes here and chat with him.We bought a nice photo, which he wrapped firmly for our trip.
On our recent road trip down the West coast we were in need of some nice Xmas presents for family. As luck would have it we found this gallery and bought a lovely stone door mat and a Manuka table runner. The service was excellent with the friendly husband and wife team spending time wrapping our gifts and even helping us out to our car with our new purchases. Great couple who understand customer service. Thanks to you both and Merry Xmas :)
On our stop in Hokitika, we explored the town and dropped into the Wildness Gallery. What a beautiful store with local artists, photographs, jewelry and more. It was classy and friendly. Don't miss it!
An outstanding gallery of magnificent photography, with block-mounted Giclee prints from $30 to several thousand dollars. Hokitika seems to be quite an artistic centre, with several jade galleries to visit as well, but these photographs are the highlight.
Wonderful gallery of pictures and landscapes by the resident photographers in all manner of sizes and shapes. Photographs of NZ nature are excellent and touching. Proprietor is a very nice man with a good sense of humor and an eye for the right photo subject.More than worth the time to visit.
If you love art, and if you're anywhere near Hokitika, then you owe it to yourself to make the time to visit the Wilderness Gallery; you won't regret it. Other tripsdvisor commentators have all, and with understandably good reason, highlighted the amazing quality of Jurgen's photography. The gallery website gives a fair indication of the range of photographs on display, but it's only when you see his works in their gallery setting that you can truly appreciate the sheer artistry that has gone into their creation. Although Jurgen's photographs are the main attraction, the gallery also showcases a limited range of unique New Zealand art & crafts some of which can only be viewed and bought there. As with Jurgen's photographs these have to be seen (up close) to fully appreciate their aesthetic qualities. And then there's Jurgen himself ... a truly genial and personable host who adds an extra dimension to the gallery; in turns serious yet also light-heartedly entertaining - transforming the experience of browsing - and buying - into something memorably special. Go visit and see / experience it for yourself. It might just end up being one of the highlights of your time in Hokitika / New Zealand.
I wandered into Wilderness Gallery by chance and was immediately struck by the power and excellence of Jurgen's photography and by the warmth of his hospitality. I would stress that these are not cheaply printed, cliched holiday snaps; Jurgen has a remarkable eye and a profound talent for capturing images that convey a deep love of the country and creatures that surround him.Hokitika has many stores selling beautiful greenstone but I would suggest that Jurgen sells even greater treasure. Go and see and I don't think you will be disappointed. He's also more than happy to ship his work so that it arrives home safe and sound.
When my wife and I arrived in Hokitika it was evening and most shops were closed. Walking past Wilderness Gallery we could tell we would stop by the next day. We believe its the best shop in a must visit West Coast town. The owners have shown great care in selecting and displaying items that represent some of the best of New Zealand artistry. And if you want to buy some of Jurgen's photography he's the perfect person to help you assemble a collage of smaller pieces that fit together in a way that the sum is clearly greater than the parts.
Fortunately, we popped into Wildnerness Gallery by coincidence. What a beautiful place! Finally we found really good postcards, stunning photography! We also liked all the other pictures and prints and the collected art of other local artists.We especially liked our chat with Jurgen, the photographer and owner of the gallery. I was looking for something unusual (traditional Maori baskets or 'Kete') and funny enough, Jurgen had a whole bulk of them for something he wanted to make for his gallery and sold us some for a very fair price. We really liked the art and the atmosphere here. Jurgen is such a great person. Don't miss this and see his extraodinary New Zealand photographs!
My wife and I had come across various woodcrafts elsewhere in NZ and were told we'd find one of the best selections in Hokitika. We were particularly interested in the elegant, clean lines of the canoe-shaped cheeseboards from MZ Design, and were thrilled to find a wide range of their products in the Wilderness Gallery!Juergen and Monica are the most friendly and helpful owners you'll find, combing through their catalogues and inventory for the cheeseboard of the perfect size, shape, wood, and even grain! Easily the warmest and most sincere service of our time in New Zealand!We left with our perfect cheeseboard, a lovely pair of earrings, and a beautiful photo postcard taken by Juergen himself! Thanks guys, and hope your little girl did not have to wait too long for her swim :)