Museums in New Zealand
Museums are an unmissable part of New Zealand if you wish to learn more about the country’s diverse social fabric. Some of the best museums in New Zealand go beyond artefact collections and bring stories of the past to life with interactive exhibits. Most of the country’s museums focus on unique narratives based on local history and culture, which means every attraction has something new on offer.
The must-visit museums on your itinerary include the natural history hubs of The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa and Otago Museum. For a mix of science, history, and cultures of Maori and the Pacific, your best bets are the Canterbury Museum and Otago Museum. If you are looking for museums centred around city histories, you must try the Wellington Museum. On the other hand, those looking for unique experiences can visit the Kauri Museum and the Omaka Aviation Centre with friends and family.
Here is the list of best museum in New Zealand:
1. Wellington Museum: Wellington Museum ranks among the best museums in New Zealand and is a great place to learn about the history of Wellington. The museum lies within a stunning heritage structure overlooking a waterfront, offering beautiful views of the surroundings. As you explore the museum, you can see artefacts telling stories of the city’s past along with interactive displays in the galleries. Popular segments of the museum display include Maori accounts of migration to the city and holographic installations showing developments in Wellington over the years. You can also go on a self-guided tour through the museum for a relaxed and fun experience.
Location: 3 Jervois Quay, Queens Wharf, Wellington Central, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
Timings: 10 AM to 5 PM on all days.
Entry Fee: No entry fee.
2. Canterbury Museum: If you are up for a glimpse into the past of Canterbury and Antarctica, head to the iconic Canterbury Museum of New Zealand. The attraction dates to the 1860s, when it was first opened as a public museum of geological and human artefacts. Canterbury Museum is among the best museums in New Zealand and is known for unique artefacts from discovery missions to Antarctica over the years. A recent addition is the canvas sack used by Sir Edmund Hillary when he became the first person who conquer Mount Everest.
Location: 66 Gloucester Street, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand
Timings: April to September - 9 AM to 5 PM on all days; October to March – 9 AM to 5:30 PM on all days. Currently closed for redevelopment.
Entry Fee: No entry fee.
3. Auckland Museum: Learn about the history of New Zealand, its people, and its place in the Pacific at one of the Southern Hemisphere’s most popular museums. The Auckland Museum is a war memorial that houses stunning Maori and Pacific collections rarely found anywhere else. See thousands of exhibits related to the country’s natural and military history at one of the best museums in New Zealand.
Location: Auckland Domain, Parnell, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Timings: Mondays to Fridays (except Tuesdays) – 10 AM to 5 PM; Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays - 9 AM to 5 PM; Tuesdays – 10 AM to 8:30 PM.
Entry Fee: Adults – NZD 28 (INR 1,380 approx.); Children aged 5-13 years – NZD 14 (INR 690 approx.); Auckland residents and children up to 4 years – Entry free.
4. Otago Museum: Explore one of the best museums in New Zealand as you head to Dunedin’s Otago Museum which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors. The museum is among the city’s major attractions and has more than 1.5 million artefacts that cover different topics like nature, science, and culture across the globe. The seven galleries here focus on natural history collections like moa skeletons, early Maori treasures, and local historical artefacts.
Location: 419 Great King Street, Dunedin North, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
Timings: 10 AM to 5 PM on all days
Entry Fee: No entry fee.
5. The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa: When looking to visit the best museums in New Zealand, you must include The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington. It is the country’s national museum that was opened in 1998 after combining the old National Museum and National Art Gallery. The museum has five major collections that focus on History, Arts, Taonga Maori, Pacific Cultures, and Natural History. An unmissable highlight of the collection is the world’s biggest sample of the rare squid, which you can see on display in the gallery.
Location: 55 Cable Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
Timings: 10 AM to 6 PM on all days. Closed on 25 December.
Entry Fee: No entry fee.
6. Kauri Museum: Kauri Museum is among the unique and best museums in New Zealand due to its singular focus on forest conservation. The museum, as the name suggests, gives a glimpse into the fascinating role played by Kauri trees in the country’s history. The displays also draw attention to the rapid devastation of these heritage forests due to deforestation and ecological ailments. See the world’s biggest fossilised Kauri tree and explore interactive exhibits during your tour here.
Location: 5 Church Road, Matakohe 0593, Northland, New Zealand
Timings: 9 AM to 5 PM on all days
Entry Fee: Adults – NZD 21-25 (INR 1,040 to INR 1,240 approx.); Children from 5-15 years – NZD 6-8 (INR 300 to INR 400 approx.); Children under 5 years – Entry free.
7. Omaka Aviation Centre: Omaka Aviation Centre is among the best museums in New Zealand for war history enthusiasts and aeroplane lovers. This fun attraction is home to numerous planes from the two World Wars, military outfits and vehicles, and unique war memorabilia. The centre hosts two exhibitions that narrate stories of aviation development during the 20th century, especially during WWI and WWII. Explore both exhibitions together as you can learn about these two wars on a deeper level.
Location: 14 Rosina Corlett Lane, via Aerodrome Road, Omaka, Blenheim 7272, New Zealand.
Timings: 9 AM to 4 PM on all days
Entry Fee: Adult – NZD 25-50 (INR 1,240 to INR 2,475 approx.); Children aged 5-14 years – NZD 10-16 (INR 495 to INR 790 approx.); Children under 5 years – Entry free.
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- Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa: Explore the Te Papa museum to learn more about the diverse flora and fauna and wild areas surrounding the country. In this New Zealand museum, you can see rare colossal squid that weigh 495 kg and are very hard to find. Apart from this, the museum also has 250,000 dried specimens of fossils, wetlands, and Maori culture. One can also learn more about the dresses and jewellery that date back to the sixteenth century.
Location: 55 Cable Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
Timings: 10 am to 6 pm - Auckland War Memorial Museum: You can visit this New Zealand museum to learn more about the exotic collections of war memorials and the stories associated with it. Walk along the museum's aisles to study documents, manuscripts, historic paintings, maps, and fossil specimens. The major attraction of the museum is its architecture, which is inspired by the neoclassical style. The museum has gained popularity due to the wall memorials that have been built for those who lost their lives during WWI and WWII.
Location: Parnell, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Timings: 10 am to 5 pm - Canterbury Museum: The major attraction of the Canterbury Museum of New Zealand is its interior, depicting the Gothic Revival which has been designed by Benjamin Mountfor. Explore the museum to study the Maori artefacts and 1,000 plus paua shells. Tourists often visit the museum to learn about the reason why the museum suffered no harm during the earthquakes between 1987 and 1995.
Location: 11 Rolleston Avenue, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand
Timings: 9 am to 5 pm - New Zealand Maritime Museum: One can explore this museum to learn more about modern commercial shipping, lifeboat, coastguard services, marine surveying, and lighthouses in New Zealand. The museum is home to some of the world's most significant art collections, such as the Edminston and Fraser. The ships and boats that are docked in front of the museum are the biggest attraction for visitors.
Location: Corner of Quay and Hobson Street, Auckland 1140, New Zealand
Timings: 10 am to 5 pm - Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre: The Omaka aviation heritage centre can be explored to study more about the ancient aircraft that were used by the royal air force of New Zealand. You can explore the centre to learn about the war memorials and artefacts. The collection of the New Zealand Museum has Caproni Ca.22 Original, Curtiss MF, Fokker Dr.I triplane, Nieuport 27 replica, Pfalz D.III and Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a which makes it a perfect choice for aviation history lovers.
Location: 79 Aerodrome Road, Omaka, Blenheim 7272, New Zealand
Timings: 9 am to 5 pm - Otago Museum: Otago museum is one of the largest museums in New Zealand and is governed by the Otago Museum Trust Board. The museum has a very good collection of specimens of insects, mainly spiders. The Otago museum is also famous for its vast collection of ancient coins, glassware, clocks, and furniture. The interactive science centre inside the museum offers a bird's-eye view of the immersive tropical butterfly rainforest environment.
Location: 419 Great King Street North, Dunedin North, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
Timings: 10 am to 5 pm - Wellington Museum: The Wellington Museum has been voted one of the best fifty New Zealand museums. The architecture of the museum celebrates the ancient maritime history of the country. One can explore the museum to learn about the evolution of marine life in New Zealand. The Wellington museum is also home to the Bond Store, Maritime Gallery, and Wahine Theatre.
Location: Wellington Harbour Board Head Office and Bond Store,3
Timings: 10 am to 5 pm - The Kauri Museum:The Kauri Museum is located west of the Waipoua Forest and is known to have the highest collection of Kauri gums in the world. The museum has a lot of fascinating things, like a replica of a 1900 Kauri house, a Pioneer School, the old Matakohe Post Office, and a model of a steam sawmill. While exploring, you can also look at the large collection of photos and other items from the early days.
Location: 5 Church Road, Matakohe 0593, New Zealand
Timings: 9 am to 5 pm - Toitu Otago Settlers Museum: The Toitu Otago Settlers Museum is one of the oldest museums in the country. The museum currently has research centres dedicated to European pioneers, which makes it an excellent choice for history lovers. In this museum, you will be astonished to witness the oldest steam engine that has ever been used in New Zealand. The major attraction of this museum is the Chinese garden, whose landscape is designed in accordance with the city of Shanghai.
Location: 31 Queens Gardens, Central Dunedin, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
Timings: 10 am to 5 pm - Air Force Museum of New Zealand: Visit the Air Force Museum of New Zealand to get up close and personal with the museum's ancient collection, which consists primarily of artefacts from ancient times. The major attraction of this museum is the separate room that owns the artefact pieces that were damaged during the 2011 earthquake. Fans of aviation travel will be excited to witness the museum's collection of enemy aircraft, massive items, and aircraft engines.
Location: 45 Harvard Avenue, Wigram, Christchurch 8042, New Zealand
Timings: 09.30 am to 04.30 pm - Edwin Fox Museum: Check out this New Zealand museum to learn about the oldest merchant still alive, the last deck that carried Australian convicts, and how the ship was mostly used to transport goods and people. Maintained by the Edwin Fox Society, the museum is helpful to know about real marine life and examine the preserved art pieces. Go through the museum's deck to study its world-class heritage, architecture, and interactive displays.
Location: Dunbar Wharf, Picton 7281, New Zealand
Timings: 9 am to 5 pm - Auckland Art Gallery Toi o T?maki: Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki is the most important museum in New Zealand, where you can look at works of art that are relevant both in New Zealand and around the world. One can also visit the museum to explore four floors of history exhibitions and seven centuries of art. The museum's ceilings look like canopies with geometric patterns that are based on Australian architecture. Make a trip to the museum to gain an understanding of the many histories of Auckland.
Location: Wellesley Street East, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Timings: 10 am to 5 pm - MTG Hawke's Bay: You can visit the MTG Hawke’s Bay to study its fine arts collection, which includes works by eminent personalities like Jenny Campbell, Avis Higgs, Frank Carpay, Rita Angus, Roland Hipkins, Joan Trollope, and Walter Bowring. This museum can be visited to examine species, social history artefacts, Taonga Mori items, and textiles. One can also learn about what happened to the museum after the terrible earthquake in 1931 and how it was fixed.
Location: 1 Tennyson Street, Napier South, Napier 4110, New Zealand
Timings: 9.30 am to 5 pm - Southward Car Museum: Because the Southward Car Museum is the only establishment of its sort in the country, people come from all over the world to view its collection of 470 classic automobiles. The Benz Velo, a Stutz, and a Bugatti Type 57C are just a few of the iconic automobiles at this exhibit , which makes it an absolute must-see for all automobile lovers.
Location: Otaihanga Road, Otaihanga, Paraparaumu 5036, New Zealand
Timings: 9 am to 04.30 pm - Tairawhiti Museum: The Tairawhiti Museum was built so that people can learn about the culture of the Tairawhiti people. Because of the museum's groundbreaking design, it is often considered to be among the most innovative regional museums in New Zealand. One can visit the museum to learn about the regional history and cultural diversity of New Zealand. The museum is also a hub for a lot of locally made handicrafts and artistic things related to the Tairawhiti people.
Location: 10 Stout Street, Whataupoko, Gisborne 4010, New Zealand
Timings: 10 am to 4 pm
Which are the best museums to visit in Auckland?
- NZ Warbirds visitor centre - Take a stroll along this museum to get a complete idea of the operational and static life of the aviation industry. Visitors can check Tr.9 -McDonnell Douglas, North American T-6, and Proctor -Aermacchi MB339C -Royal Aircraft Factory to study the rich aviation and get up close and personal with the working ex-military aircraft.
- Mangere Mountain Education Centre - This New Zealand museum displays the details surrounding the ancient volcano. This place is best for those who wish to study the history of marine cultural heritage, archaeology, history, geology and mythology.
- Goat Island Marine Discovery Centre - The primary idea of setting up this museum was to educate the common people about life on a deck. It also has a lot of interactive and attractive displays that talk deeply about marine species.
- Torpedo Bay Navy Museum - This museum in New Zealand is the official art gallery of the Royal Navy. You can visit the museum to admire the artefacts that date back to the Flagstaff war and World War II.
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