Lake House Art Centre
Lake House Arts Centre: Where Creativity, Heritage, and the Unexplained Cohabit
Located at 37 Fred Thomas Drive, Takapuna, Auckland, the Lake House Arts Centre is a celebrated heritage building and cultural landmark. Originally constructed in 1896 as a Victorian seaside boarding house, the building was saved from demolition, spectacularly relocated, and carefully restored in the late 1990s. Reopening in 2000 under the Lake House Arts Trust, it has grown into one of the top arts, culture, and heritage centres in Auckland, attracting more than 65,000 visitors every year.
The Lake House Arts Centre Takapuna is home to six versatile art gallery spaces, five creative studios for hire, and a busy calendar of art exhibitions in the Becroft and Ogle galleries. Visitors can immerse themselves in adult and children’s art classes, including pottery, carving, painting, printmaking, and comic workshops. Regular one-off art workshops and creative courses ensure there’s always something new to discover. The on-site Lake House Café adds to the experience, serving a delicious mix of Egyptian, Lebanese, Turkish, and Kiwi flavours—making it a perfect cultural and culinary stop.
Beyond art and heritage, the Lake House has earned a reputation as one of Auckland’s most haunted locations. Actively investigated by Paranormal New Zealand, the building is a recognised paranormal hotspot. During a 2025 overnight investigation, researchers reported chilling phenomena: child-sized shadows moving along staircases, a dark figurecaptured in a photograph, and fleeting apparitions in the corridors. Previous investigations also identified a playful presence known as “Patty,” believed to interact with visitors and occasionally recorded in audio or shadow form.
Today, the Lake House Arts Centre is more than an arts hub—it is a heritage site, art gallery, community space, and paranormal attraction. Whether you’re seeking art exhibitions in Auckland, hands-on workshops, or a chance to explore one of New Zealand’s most intriguing haunted heritage buildings, Lake House Arts offers a truly unforgettable experience.
Located at 37 Fred Thomas Drive, Takapuna, Auckland, the Lake House Arts Centre is a celebrated heritage building and cultural landmark. Originally constructed in 1896 as a Victorian seaside boarding house, the building was saved from demolition, spectacularly relocated, and carefully restored in the late 1990s. Reopening in 2000 under the Lake House Arts Trust, it has grown into one of the top arts, culture, and heritage centres in Auckland, attracting more than 65,000 visitors every year.
The Lake House Arts Centre Takapuna is home to six versatile art gallery spaces, five creative studios for hire, and a busy calendar of art exhibitions in the Becroft and Ogle galleries. Visitors can immerse themselves in adult and children’s art classes, including pottery, carving, painting, printmaking, and comic workshops. Regular one-off art workshops and creative courses ensure there’s always something new to discover. The on-site Lake House Café adds to the experience, serving a delicious mix of Egyptian, Lebanese, Turkish, and Kiwi flavours—making it a perfect cultural and culinary stop.
Beyond art and heritage, the Lake House has earned a reputation as one of Auckland’s most haunted locations. Actively investigated by Paranormal New Zealand, the building is a recognised paranormal hotspot. During a 2025 overnight investigation, researchers reported chilling phenomena: child-sized shadows moving along staircases, a dark figurecaptured in a photograph, and fleeting apparitions in the corridors. Previous investigations also identified a playful presence known as “Patty,” believed to interact with visitors and occasionally recorded in audio or shadow form.
Today, the Lake House Arts Centre is more than an arts hub—it is a heritage site, art gallery, community space, and paranormal attraction. Whether you’re seeking art exhibitions in Auckland, hands-on workshops, or a chance to explore one of New Zealand’s most intriguing haunted heritage buildings, Lake House Arts offers a truly unforgettable experience.