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
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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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  • ksufan88
    Wichita, Kansas5,282 contributions
    variety of boats small and large
    We 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 2019
    Written 26 January 2020
  • Michael F
    88 contributions
    Great sailing
    Midweek 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 interesting
    Visited January 2020
    Written 10 January 2020
  • Rhon G
    Macksville, Australia69 contributions
    Excellent for everyone
    This 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 2020
    Written 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.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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1,199 reviews
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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.
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!
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.
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
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.
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.

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New Zealand Maritime Museum (Auckland Central) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Frequently Asked Questions about New Zealand Maritime Museum

New Zealand Maritime Museum is open:
  • Sun - Sat 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Buy tickets in advance on Tripadvisor. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund.

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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