Auckland War Memorial Museum

Very elaborate museum where you can easily spend several hours. They also have audio guides that you can listen to at your own pace. There is cafe downstairs. Pretty cold in the museum, so I recommend a jacket. Visited on Weekday Wait time No wait Reservation recommended No … More

Always adventures to be had. Went to the Ancient Greek exhibition $50 for two people felt expensive for what was mostly a pottery collection with a few ancient statutes thrown in. The history and antiquities were amazing - more focused around legends of Nike etc I felt the advertising was a little over cooked for what it actually was. The same with the antiquities gift shop - sadly tacky. They could have done a lot more tasteful memorabilia, pottery and jewellery. For example bright gaudy colours of ancient statues like Venus de Milo. Would have been better in white or cream and more tasteful. Could have had Aprhridities, Zeus,Nike statues here as minutures which would have been great. The rest of the museum was great especially the WW2 memorial Brought me to tears. Allen the volunteer was very kind and helpful in this section.

Amazing place to come for a day trip! We went specifically to see both of the T. Rex. It was lots of fun. We also went to a lecture later on that evening about Stonehenge! Really interesting. Visited on Weekday Wait time No wait Reservation recommended Yes … More

located in the heart of the city, it's easily accessable from anywhere, the bus runs right up to the main entrance. Well maintained and so much to see, the history of the wars and battles are depicted all around on the building Visited on Weekday Wait time No wait Reservation recommended Not sure … More

Went to see the Ancient Greek exhibition. 1000% worthwhile. The museum itself is nice and clean. And has Storage lockers for your suitcase if you're filling in time.

The Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira (or simply the Auckland Museum) is one of New Zealand's most important museums and war memorials. Its collections concentrate on New Zealand history (and especially the history of the Auckland Region), natural history, and military history. The present museum building was constructed in the 1920s in the neo-classicist style, and sits on a grassed plinth (the remains of a dormant volcano) in the Auckland Domain, a large public park close to the Auckland CBD. Auckland Museum's collections and exhibits began in 1852. In 1867 Aucklanders formed a learned society – the Auckland Philosophical Society, later the Auckland Institute. Within a few years the society merged with the museum and Auckland Institute and Museum was the organisation's name until 1996. Auckland War Memorial Museum was the name of the new building opened in 1929, but since 1996 was more commonly used for the institution as well. From 1991 to 2003 the museum's Māori-language name was Te Papa Whakahiku. AK is the index herbariorum code for the Auckland War Memorial Museum. he Museum attracted 708 visitors in its first year. Interest in the museum dwindled over the following decade even as its collection grew, and in 1869 the somewhat neglected and forlorn museum was transferred to the care of the Auckland Institute, a learned society formed two years earlier. An Italianate-style building was constructed for the museum in Princes Street, near Government House and across the road from the Northern Club. It was opened on 5 June 1876 by the Governor of New Zealand, George Phipps, 2nd Marquess of Normanby. These new premises included a large gallery top-lit by a metal framed skylight. This room proved problematic as it was impossible to heat during the winter but overheated during the summer. Canvas awnings used to shield the roof from harsh sunlight made the exhibits difficult to view in the resulting gloom. Several exhibition halls were added to the side of the original building.

Very well laid out. Excellent exhibitions and interactive displays. Something for young children and adults. Excellent café and museum shop. Great views over Auckland. Outstanding war memorabilia and remembrance.

Free entry but we did pay a donation. Great open spaces, lots of parking and a wealth of information and interactive activities. Alot of heritage within the museum and an entire level dedicated to wars of all eras. Highly recommend this place as a must do.

I just LOVE this place. Not only is my Great Grandfather John Jeffree name featured but this iconic destinational place has so many memories for me. Today I had a business Brunch and got to see the incredible Tyrannosaurus Rex. The lunch was a T Rex Beef Rib. Heaven.

Building is so majestic. Had a great visit last week. My favourite is the Maori section, and the natural history/animals.

Lovely museum. Had to look for a bit to park but that was due to a new exhibition on currently. Lots of interesting things for little ones and adults alike. Best time to go would be the afternoons as it tends to be a bit quieter.

Always amazing to visit the Auckland Museum. The kids loved the T rex skeletons, very impressive. Parking is OK. Kid friendly. Sad that they wanted to charge extra to enter the Stonehenge display. ‍♂️ So we just skipped it all together.

Auckland museum is pretty iconic. I’ve been visiting here since I was a kid on family holidays. In turn I’ve visited with my kids over holidays as well. Most recently we visited to see Peter the T-Rex. We arrived in the entrance where the skeleton was housed, so we managed to see him very quickly! But once we had done that we also looked around each floor and I. The various other exhibits. I like that there’s a lot of interactive displays, and things for all of the family. Things that are nostalgic or educational or just really interesting to see in a new light.

Pretty good museum, a wide range of galleries, really enjoyed the volcano simulation and looking at the war memorial section, a good place to come for a day out. Visited on Weekday Wait time No wait Reservation recommended Not sure … More

We only had time to go through the Māori and Polynesian areas, but those displays are fantastic and we learned a lot! The museum doesn’t seem too big, and I get the feeling you could see everything in a half day if you wanted. The entrance lobby is architecturally impressive and has a very nice cafe and gift shop. Free entry for Aucklanders!

Nice museum giving the history of the Maori people in New Zealand, the development and similarities between the various Polynesian islands and languages, the history of Auckland, and more. Very informative and educational. Free to New Zealand residents, ID required. $28 for foreigners. They also have great interactive exhibits such as building your own butterfly online and watching it fly in their virtual forest, a volcano experience to help you better prepare for such an event, and dinosaurs! A place the whole family can enjoy! They have a cafe(did not go to) and a gift shop. Found some nice earrings and postcards there. Overall, it was a great experience. I would give yourself a full day to fully explore all the parts and read the info presented.

I went to see the STONEHENGE Exhibition at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. I HIGHLY Recommend going to this STONEHENGE Exhibition. You will learn something new about Stonehenge. And there are other Exhibition options available for you to choose from and visit at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. A great place for Everyone to visit and enjoy.

Please, promise me you will definitely visit Auckland War Memorial Museum when you are in town! Rich Maori culture and history Varieties of pacific culture and history Vivid war and history display A great introduction of how New Zealand is here today Reminds you to respect people and to love the world Informative and full of education How earthquake is happening, how animals are dying, how you can to do protect the earth.......... Promise me, visit Auckland War Memorial Museum when you are in town.

We had a few hours to kill before we had to head to the airport, and I wish we had more time here! Admission is FREE for Auckland residents and I believe there is a discount for New Zealand residents; international visitors have to pay but I was happy to do so and we got more than got our money's worth! Great place to spend the day and learn more about the history of Aotearoa and its people

Great to visit for the whole family. Lots of different things to look and learn. Cafe food seems to be a bit expensive but you expect it to be. Recommend to take snacks and water if with kids as can easily take couple of hours atleast. Wait time 1 hr+ Reservation recommended No … More

Amazing museum, free if you live in Auckland. You'll learn about the history of the island, the Maori and the civil war. A nice moment !

Great museum with New Zealand history and heritages, positioned in the middle of a lovely park and hilltop, with spectacular views across Auckland.

Awesome to see this place developing. Unleash your kids or your inner nerd at this establishment. The Kai room is very clean and hospitable for large groups. Would recommend on a raininy day. Thank you staff

This place brings you in contact with the past, the present, the future. It was quite crowded and noisy, but I think the school holidays played part! Auckland residents are free... Price quite steep for pensioner visitors! Well worth the visit! Visited on Weekday Wait time No wait Reservation recommended Not sure … More

Very impressive place. We took the Gallery Highlights Tour and it was well worth it. We learned a lot from the tour that we would not have picked up on our own. There is a war memorial museum part dedicated mostly to those who fought in World Wars 1 and 2, very well done and humbling. There is a Spitfire and a Zero on display and lots of photos and stories of individuals. The other portions have a variety about New Zealand history. First settled only about 800 years ago by Polynesians! Lots of interesting exhibits about early settlers, who were later called Maori's by Europeans. Many of the exhibits are full-size, e.g. a war canoe that is 25 meters long and could seat 100 warriors and a Maori meeting room. There is also an exhibit on volcanos. There are a lot of other exhibits at this museum You could easily spend a day here. Very worth visiting.

It's a very interesting place to walk around and read all about different things from New Zealands history to the World wars. With so many interactive parts, The Weird and Wonderful area is great for kids. The dinosaurs are a must see. Visited on Weekday Wait time No wait Reservation recommended No … More

A wonderful museum and war memorial! Particularly enjoy all the amazing Māori and Pacific artifacts. What an amazing collection. I will definitely go back one more time before we leave New Zealand. Visited on Public holiday Wait time No wait Reservation recommended Yes … More

Very interactive. The Maori show is a must! It brought a beautiful spirit. Staff were kind and helpful. Loved the Pacific exhibits on the first floor. Easy to find everything and clear maps. Visited on Weekday Wait time No wait Reservation recommended Not sure … More

We did the roof too tour and it was brilliant up there. Great little tour, laid back, fun, and what we saw of the museum has got as planning in a return trip.

Free for Aucklanders! Great place to make a day of it with the family or visiting friends. Lots of hands on activities for the kids and informative staff. The Maori exhibits are a great introduction to the culture if you're just starting to learn and soon they'll be completing a second T-rex for viewing Visited on Weekday Wait time No wait Reservation recommended No … More

This first post is about walking through the park just to get to the museum..the tree's and the walk is amazing. Breathtaking

Three floors of display, There's something for all age groups. Animals/dinosaurs for the kids and historical/national pieces for adults. A cafeteria can also be found inside near the giftstore. There are elevators for easy access to take a break at any moment. Aucklanders get a free admission so that's a nice added bonus.

As visitors of New Zealand, we adored the Māori galleries. The Hotunui and the assembled artifacts are absolute treasures. We appreciated learning much of the rich history, spending several hours on the ground floor alone. Visited on Weekday Wait time No wait Reservation recommended No … More

Got be one of the best places to take your kids for some fun, history and culture. Hours of fun for them. Though these days I prefer to relax at the Cafe or out side while the older kids explore. That said I do visit the new displays and exhibits. The Greek one was fascinating.

Staff are incredible and very welcoming. The family really enjoyed the displays - although I think we need more dinosaurs ! The displays and antiques were neatly organised. Visited on Weekend Wait time No wait Reservation recommended No … More

Great to be back! Always a great place ! Did not manage to go through all the floors but glad to see the ancient Greek event albeit for a short time only... may drop by if I'm back to nz again !

It's worth visiting! There's a lot you can learn, especially about the Maori culture. There's the part about volcanos and even an earthquake simulation. Cool! The entrance costs 20$ but if you take your water bill or something similar, it's free. Enjoy Visited on Weekday Wait time No wait Reservation recommended No … More

Great place to visit. Really educational and plenty to see inside. Ample free parking . Thoroughly enjoyed the experience and totally worthwhile

Went to see "Ancient Greeks" but found much more and beyond! Fantastic space, versatile and well organized, so many opportunities to refresh knowledge and learn something new. One can feel effort, love, patience and knowledge and good energy as one moves through the museum spaces. Worth visiting and coming back.

Went to see "Ancient Greeks" but found much more and beyond! Fantastic space, versatile and well organized, so many opportunities to refresh knowledge and learn something new. One can feel effort, love, patience and knowledge and good energy as one moves through the museum spaces. Worth visiting and coming back.

We had a wonderful time at the new Greek exhibit which was especially exciting for our older kids having studied (homeschool) Ancient Greece last year. The staff were really friendly and helpful, especially the receptionist. The museum is well set out and has a huge amount of interactive exhibits for the kids. The volcano shack was especially exciting for the little ones!. While mask wearing was encouraged, when I could no longer wear one (pregnant and breathless!) the staff were kind and didn't make a fuss. Thankyou for such a lovely day.

We had a great time here. We spent several hours and still did not make it to the top floor. So much to see and do. Some quite interactive parts. Kids loved it. So many "wow dad look at this" moments.

Absolutely awesome. You can find many levels within the museum, dedicated to Māori culture, to local flora and fauna, exiting and extinct, and the last level is reserved for the war memorial. There is a permanent exhibition that is for free. Tickets are $28 (general) and for the special exhibition $25. The museum normally closes at 5.30 pm. On Tuesdays stays open till 8.30 pm. That day is late function. There’s a restaurant at the back and a cafe at the entrance. I must say the coffee I had in that coffee shop was absolutely delicious, professional barista style!

I thoroughly enjoyed it. Although I didn’t get to do the full rounds at the museum. It should be a whole day thing with family & friends. Visited on Weekday Wait time Up to 10 min … More

So after living in Auckland for 9 years, I decided to go to the museum . And guess what the entrance itself is quite grand and welcoming . I wanted to see the greek exhibition and it is what its been said …..ANCIENT. Its huge and certainly need your time . So if you are running short on it, dont waste money. Three different levels to explore and each level is designed in their own unique way. You certainly learn a lot about Maori heritage and culture. Food and little things like water and coffee are bit pricey . Its good to carry your own . Lot of parking . … DO EXPLORE THIS PLACE WITH KIDS . Thank me later ….

So much has changed and updated in the past 2-3 years, always something new to visit, carpark can be tricky on school holiday in the morning with lots of little children visiting. The building itself is attractive enough for revisiting.

I don't know how, but we got in here for free, went around, looked at stunning exhibitions, bought some souvenirs and left saying what an adventure! That's how interesting a museum has got to be. I also like how the mask mandate poster features Roman Emperor Nero!

I love our museum. It's an exceptional place. We went to look at the T Rex skeleton (black thanks to the mineral deposits on the bones) and hadn't been for such a long time took a wander up to the military floor. Just looking amazing. Nice one Auckland museum.

A place with lot to learn, from Maori history to world wars, from ancient animals to modern animals, volcanos, asian art, and many more. A very informative sections on various different topics. My favourite is the volcano section. Definitely try out the stimulation. There are activities for kids as well. I recommend going in the morning around the time they open, because if you really want to read through information and get to know things, it will take time.

I've visited this museum around 10+ years ago and on my visit today it felt like there was more to see before. Definitely lots of things changed, some exhibitions became computerised, which to me is a bit sad, but inevitable with time and progress. Other things were greatly improved and made the museum look awesome. I'd like to see more on level 1 (the world), things that relate to New Zealand and over all hope that the museum will only get better with time.

Beautiful place to visit located in the heart of Auckland. Its collections concentrate on New Zealand history, natural history, and military history. A great choice for families and friends. Free entry for NZ residents but tourists should pay for entry. Plenty of car parks. Highly recommended.

I really enjoyed this museum. It’s huge so plan to be there for at least a couple of hours. Take time to read the history of the Maori, look at all the exhibits and watch all the shows. It’s very educational. I also enjoyed the Maori haka dance. That was a lot of fun to watch!

I really enjoyed this museum. It’s huge so plan to be there for at least a couple of hours. Take time to read the history of the Maori, look at all the exhibits and watch all the shows. It’s very educational. I also enjoyed the Maori haka dance. That was a lot of fun to watch!