About | Auckland War Memorial Museum

Learn more about New Zealand’s rich culture at the Auckland War Memorial Museum, it’s a great introduction to our history. There are Māori and Pacific collections to explore. The museum also serves as a place of remembrance to those that lost their lives at war.

Being inside, this makes the perfect rainy day activity.

The Auckland War Memorial Museum is situated with a tranquil park so come enjoy a wander or picnic as well.

For international visitors, family admission is $60. Otherwise, for Auckland residents, it’s free and for New Zealand visitors a donation is invited. There are also guided tours and a Maori cultural experience available.

Open 10am – 5pm every day of the year, except for Christmas Day.

 

Nearby

Domain Wintergardens

Mount Eden

Sky Tower

 

Location

 

Photos

 

Auckland War Memorial Museum

water feature outside the museum

 

In front of the museum you’ll find a nice water feature and some canyons.

 

kids playing in the water feature

old canyons

 

On the ground level of the museum, we step into the Maori Court which tells the story of the Maori people, showcasing carvings and precious objects they used. The detail in the carvings is really magnificent. The gallery contains more than 1,000 artefacts from New Zealand, some which date all the way back to the arrival and settlement of the Maori. View everyday objects which were once used for living, hunting and fishing. There’s also a full size meeting house which you can walk around in.

 

maori carving at the Auckland War Memorial Museum

marae at the Auckland War Memorial Museum

maori carving display of walking sticks

the last maori great war canoe at the Auckland War Memorial Museum

 

Behind the boys is the last great war canoe that was used in battle, carved from a giant totara tree.

 

maori gallery

kids looking at the galleries at Auckland War Memorial Museum

pacific lifeways gallery

 

Onto the first floor where we explore the Origins gallery, here we learn more about the origins of New Zealand’s animals and plant life.

 

family walking into the origins gallery

origins gallery

 

Scientists only realised 20 years ago that dinosaurs once lived in New Zealand. Here you’ll be able to view lifesized replica skeletons of the cryolophosaurus, malawisaurus and the pteranodon.

 

skeleton

dinosaur bones

fossils in stone

moa skeleton display

family walking around the museum

kiwi display at Auckland War Memorial Museum

museum display

auckland memorial museum

display

 

The kids will especially love the Weird and Wonderful Discovery Centre which can be found on Level 1. It’s aimed for children and helps them learn and discover in a fun and interactive way.

 

the weird and wonderful discovery centre in the Auckland War Memorial Museum

kiwi museum display

spider display

kids zone auckland museum

the Auckland War Memorial Museum kids section

bugs and insects display

come discover the interesting galleries

the weird and wonderful gallery for kids

 

Open up the drawers to see an awesome collection of bugs, insects, butterflies, moths, shells and lots of other cool, interesting and beautiful things.

 

kids looking at the moth display

the auckland museum is family friendly

 

There’s so much to see at the Auckland Museum, see what interests your kids and go at their pace.

 

a display of a tui in a tree

 

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