New Zealand Maritime Museum
New Zealand Maritime Museum
New Zealand Maritime Museum
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Dive deeper into our maritime history and discover the genius of early Pacific navigators, their great voyages of exploration and the discovery Aotearoa New Zealand. Cruise Auckland’s sparkling Waitemata Harbour in one of our heritage vessels - sailing twice daily. Help the crew hoist the sails or sit back and take in the city skyline. Find out what it takes to win the America’s Cup - from backyard boat-builders to teamwork and race-winning technology. Plus, see one of only seven replicas of the America’s Cup. Immerse yourself in early European immigration and test your sea-legs in the replica 1840s rocking cabin. Bang! Watch from the concourse as our replica cannon fires every day at 12pm into the marina. Soak up our stories of the sea with a complimentary guided tour departing from our ticket desk 10.30am Friday - Sunday.
Suggested duration
2-3 hours
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See what other travellers are saying
- ksufan88Wichita, Kansas5,282 contributionsvariety of boats small and largeWe arrived at 10:20AM and decided to take the guided tour at 10:30. Our tour guide, Brian, was nice and told stories about a number of the exhibits . It was difficult to hear during portions of the tour due to videos playing in in the museum and a loud neighboring bar at the waters edge. The tour lasted about 80 minutes, and we covered most all of the museum. At noon, they shoot a small cannon off by the boats in the harbor.Visited December 2019Written 26 January 2020
- Michael F88 contributionsGreat sailingMidweek sailing on Ted Ashby - if the winds are good and the sky is bright, its a marvellous introduction to the city, or a useful and relaxing way to pass a day before the big flights out in the evening. Certified relaxation for jet lag. Crew can be informative, amusing and interestingVisited January 2020Written 10 January 2020
- Rhon GMacksville, Australia69 contributionsExcellent for everyoneThis museum was so much more than we expected. Apart from the real boats and the models, they have cleverly managed to resurrect a bye-gone era, which captures your interest at the start with the video on discovery, and keeps you there all the way through 3 floors of sailing history of early New Zealanders and immigrants to New Zealand. @ hours will pull you up but definitely worth a visit. Next time in better weather we will try a Heritage sail around the harbour as part of the Museum attractions.Visited January 2020Written 13 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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4.5
1,199 reviews
Excellent
653
Very good
448
Average
80
Poor
14
Terrible
4
Teresa_L78
Mentone, Australia29 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
A fantastic journey through New Zealand’s maritime history that captivated my attention from the beginning of my tour to the end.
I’m not a sailing or boating enthusiast but the series of well curated exhibits kept me interested all through my time there.
I’m not a sailing or boating enthusiast but the series of well curated exhibits kept me interested all through my time there.
Written 29 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bellaeleven
Sydney, Australia115 contributions
Jun 2023
Very easy to walk around, spacious levels, really good displays and interesting history of NZ's maritime past and how the first south sea islanders built their kayaks, canoes and arrived in NZ. Also an interesting display on NZ's immigration.
Written 24 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lindynz
Te Awamutu, New Zealand149 contributions
Jun 2023 • Family
An excellent, informative, well laid out museum. Not something I had on my bucket list while in Auckland, but after a recommendation from friends we took our young children for a visit. We found it very child friendly with colouring pencils and pictures. So many different nooks and crannies for them to explore! Definitely recommend if you have the time!
Written 24 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Laura B
Victoria58 contributions
Jun 2023 • Business
With a few hours to kill before heading to airport on way home, I knew the Maritime Museum would have some fabulous exhibits not only on Māori culture but other aspects of life on the sea for this Island nation. There is something here for everyone from boat fans to families. The Americas Cup exhibit was almost as wonderful as the Māori section. Highly recommend
Written 23 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sophie
75 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
Really informative and varied museum that details the history of maritime culture in Aotearoa/New Zealand as well as more recent events such as the americas cup. Well positioned on the harbour as well - defintely worth a visit.
Written 16 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Linda G
Chicago, United States10 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
We were lucky enough to get a guided tour by one of the museum’s docents named Bob. It was scheduled to be an hour, but it wasn’t crowded, and we were so taken by Bob’s knowledge and enthusiasm that we ended up spending THREE hours with him. He apparently liked our interest as well.
We learned about the boats that brought the first human inhabitants to New Zealand about 800 years ago from Polynesia. We saw both replicas and some originals of the sailing vessels (more Like floating homes) that brought them over 1000s of miles of ocean
An excellent section was devoted to the immigrant experience in the replicated hold of a ship where women and children suffered a 3-month journey, sometimes dispatched as prisoners for such heinous crimes as stealing a handkerchief!
Bob showed us and explained the huge, brilliantly designed boats that completed in and often won the America’s Cup. Scores of winning cups from many types of races, including the Kiwi’s America’s cup trophy (replica only) are on display.
Try to get Bob as your guide, and you will become a devotee of boats of all kinds and understand much more about the maritime history that made New Zealand possible as the vibrant, multicultural country it is today. It’s a wonderful place, trust me, and don't fail to visit beautiful New Zealand all around, as well as this engaging museum!
We learned about the boats that brought the first human inhabitants to New Zealand about 800 years ago from Polynesia. We saw both replicas and some originals of the sailing vessels (more Like floating homes) that brought them over 1000s of miles of ocean
An excellent section was devoted to the immigrant experience in the replicated hold of a ship where women and children suffered a 3-month journey, sometimes dispatched as prisoners for such heinous crimes as stealing a handkerchief!
Bob showed us and explained the huge, brilliantly designed boats that completed in and often won the America’s Cup. Scores of winning cups from many types of races, including the Kiwi’s America’s cup trophy (replica only) are on display.
Try to get Bob as your guide, and you will become a devotee of boats of all kinds and understand much more about the maritime history that made New Zealand possible as the vibrant, multicultural country it is today. It’s a wonderful place, trust me, and don't fail to visit beautiful New Zealand all around, as well as this engaging museum!
Written 13 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bunchkin
Courtenay, Canada211 contributions
Mar 2023
Wow, the ticket purchased offered is for 2 days. If you enjoy nautical life you will probably want to do this in 2 days. Wear good walking shoes, my feet were tired for walking on mostly cement floors. History upon the waters in New Zealand was so well done. A lot of sail boats are displayed and their racers as well.
Give yourself lots of time.
Give yourself lots of time.
Written 8 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Summerasalifestyle
Malibu, CA2,791 contributions
Apr 2023 • Solo
Tickets are good for two days. I returned twice as there’s so much to see, read and watch here.
Fantastic that it rightfully starts with the Pacific Islanders and Maori. Follows with Euoros, whalers, etc.
Most fascinating is racing and cruising exhibits.
This is a yes yes yes
Fantastic that it rightfully starts with the Pacific Islanders and Maori. Follows with Euoros, whalers, etc.
Most fascinating is racing and cruising exhibits.
This is a yes yes yes
Written 25 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
goonerjon2
Auckland, New Zealand130 contributions
Apr 2023 • Family
Went here over the Easter holidays with our 8 yr old who enjoyed the museum. The Māori & Pacific exhibits are very good, along with the Americas Cup info, but there was a lot of reading material & not a huge amount pitched at the child level. You get good views of Queens & Princes Wharf and there are areas outside by the water to enjoy on a nice day. It’s not massive and only on 2 floors but quite good value.
Written 16 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PigletWinnieAndRoo
Hampton, UK1,050 contributions
Mar 2023 • Solo
A local recommended the museum as I have an interest in maritime SAR. The museum is on the heritage pier on Auckland Waterfront and seems unprepossessing. But once you get inside, gallery after gallery unfold in front of you. The impressive parts were the NZ America’s Cup winning vessels and the technology involved. Sir Peter Blake has a section commemorating his life.
There are many models of ships with their history. There are Māori vessels which were very impressive and a section showing graphically what immigration the NZ must have been like.
I had not appreciated just how much NZ armed forces played in so many wars.
Would I go again or recommend to others? Yes! Allow 2.5-3 hours.
There are many models of ships with their history. There are Māori vessels which were very impressive and a section showing graphically what immigration the NZ must have been like.
I had not appreciated just how much NZ armed forces played in so many wars.
Would I go again or recommend to others? Yes! Allow 2.5-3 hours.
Written 29 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ヨット 展示艇は何回目の優勝艇ですか???
(’大阪在住NZには2回旅で訪問の関西ジーの質問)
aleon1220
Bogota, Colombia74 contributions
I am not sure what do you mean! There are many boats on display and rich history about sailing and maritime life in New Zealand.
kudamas
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia23 contributions
plan a trip for 2 weeks for a group of 5 adults and 5 children in late November.Intend to visit North and South Islands , please help
Marilyn S
Huntington Beach, CA1,227 contributions
0
Votes
North Island: If you plan to start in Bay of Islands, take the shuttle flight (50 minutes) instead of van transfer (4-5 hours). I stayed in Paihia. Take tour to Cape Reinga (full day). Visit Russell & Kauri Puketi forest. I hired a local taxi for the forest & drive local area through the information center Paihia. You can book the Cape on line. Be sure to visit the Waitangi Treaty Estate. Auckland: Maritime Museum, lots of restaurants around the area. Going South: Waimangu Volcanic Valley, Hobbiton Movie set, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Franz Josef Glacier & stay in Hokitika. lots of Art shops. Pancake Rocks at Dolomite Point. Tour around Christchurch. Wellington: Cable car to the top & walk back through the gardens. Don’t miss the history at the Roxi theatre and National Museum. The Anzac wing is amazing. The whole museum is very well done with lots for everyone in the family. Hope you have a good trip
Mike G
Nelson15 contributions
Looking at your website, I can see your admission prices, but I cannot find a mechanism that allows me to advance purchase tickets online. Can that be done, or do you prefer people to just walk in? We are 4 adults from outside the Auckland region.
NZ Maritime Museum
Auckland Central, New Zealand
Hi Mike, apologies for the delay in our response, we didn't get a notification about this question. At present we don't take online bookings system for general entry for the public, just for harbour sailings as they can sell out. General admission tickets are always available at the front desk up until 4pm each day which is the last entry time for the museum.
younglue
Shanghai, China
Do you provide luggage storage service?
NZ Maritime Museum
Auckland Central, New Zealand
Hi younglue, apologies we missed this question. Yes, we do have on-site luggage storage which is free of charge. Ask at our front desk if you want to make use of this service.
FrederickSin
Shakopee, Minnesota, United States
We intend to visit the Maritime Museum on the 5th of March. How Can I set my GPS to access the museum?
Thank you very much. Can I have any advice for my visit?
NZ Maritime Museum
Auckland Central, New Zealand
Lots of great advice here,but just to add - if you do decide to drive you can actually park in Downtown Carpark opposite the Museum and buy a discounted $4.50 parking voucher from the Museum ticket desk. This will give you four hours of parking which should be plenty of time for your visit!
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Frequently Asked Questions about New Zealand Maritime Museum
- New Zealand Maritime Museum is open:
- Sun - Sat 10:00 - 17:00
- We recommend booking New Zealand Maritime Museum tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 3 New Zealand Maritime Museum tours on Tripadvisor
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