Auckland War Memorial Museum

To learn all about New Zealand’s history, geology, and the cultures that make up this multicultural nation, a visit to the Auckland Museum is a good bet. It houses numerous exhibits dedicated to educating the public about New Zealand’s involvement in wars, both at home and abroad. But, the collection is much more extensive than just war memorabilia, so travelers with a wide range of interests, including kids, will still enjoy their tour.

Many travelers visit the Auckland Museum on a wider city excursion that stops at other Auckland attractions. A hop-on hop-off bus tour is a convenient way of visiting the museum, as it allows you to spend as much (or as little) time there as you want and still easily visit other city attractions.

• In addition to general admission tickets, it’s possible to buy a ticket that includes a Maori cultural performance.

• While international visitors must pay admission to the museum, Auckland residents get free entry and other New Zealand residents can enter by donation.

• The museum is in Auckland Domain, a large attractive park. If the weather’s good, take a walk in the Domain while visiting the museum.

• The museum houses both permanent and temporary exhibits, so there’s always something new to see.

• There are a couple of cafes inside the museum.

It’s possible to walk from central Auckland (Queen Street) to Auckland Museum in around 30 minutes. Or, catch green Link buses at various stops in the inner city to the Parnell bus stop, which is a short walk to the museum. There’s plenty of on-site parking for visitors with their own vehicles.

Auckland Museum is open daily year-round, except Christmas Day, from 10am to 5pm. Plan to spend at least a couple of hours there. It’s a popular place for school groups on weekdays, and families visit during weekends.

Auckland Museum is right next to the Parnell neighborhood, an upmarket area with many boutiques, international restaurants, and small independent art galleries. Exploring Parnell before or after a visit to the Auckland Museum is a good way to spend the day.