Tawhiti Museum, North Island, New Zealand

5.0 (416 reviews) Saturday: Spent 1-2 hours Ranking #1 in North Island Speciality Museums

Absolutely amazing well worth every cent

Tawhiti MuseumWidely acclaimed as one of the most innovative museums in New Zealand, Tawhiti uses life size exhibits and scale models to capture the past in a series of super-realistic displays. All the displays – including the life size figures created from moulds cast from real people – are designed and built on the premises. Whether the subject is shipping, farming, railways, or just a small corner of a colonial kitchen, the attention given to research and detail is the same. “I hope my enthusiasm for local history comes through the displays. I’m particularly aware of drawing children into our exhibits – they mustn’t feel museums are old buildings, full of old dusty junk. Historical display should be exciting and relevant – I’m always looking for more creative ways of making it just that” Nigel Ogle.
North Island review images

Address

401 Ohangai Road, Hawera 4672 New Zealand

Mobile

+64 6-278 6837

Website

http://www.tawhitimuseum.co.nz

Email

[email protected]

Working hours

Monday :
Tuesday :
Wednesday :
Thursday :
Friday :
Saturday :
Sunday : 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Current local date and time now

Saturday, May 11, 2024, 7:09

User Ratings

5.0 based on (416 reviews)

Excellent

86%

Good

13%

Satisfactory

Poor

Terrible

Reviews

5Aussie_2012 5:00 PM Jan 8, 2023
Incredible museum despite its remote location
How good is this place!!! Awesome. I can't believe that a museum of this quality is virtually in the middle of the farm lands of Taranaki near a simple small town of not so much significance. Perhaps that's part of its lure as it definitely had plenty of people visiting and maybe if it were to be in some large city then it would lose its character. There are several sections of the museum focusing on different ways of life, history and culture. We did the largest of the section being the museum. It was filled with both small but incredibly detailed dioramas right up to life size displays. Sooo much written information you could quite easily spend a whole day there reading everything. The talent behind the man that created this museum is world class and a testament to the hard work that went into creating this wonderful place. There is a well stocked gift shop with items are very reasonable prices and a cafe as well. A must do no just in Taranaki region but in New Zealand.
5josiah f 5:00 PM Jan 26, 2023
Fantastic place
Hard to summarise because there are so many parts to rave about. The dioramas could be studied for literally hours. Don't miss the ones in the cafe! The history of the musket and land wars is extremely well done and drives home what happened in the 19th century. But there is whimsy everywhere, just pay attention! The museum is large: budget for two hours at least, or a second visit (we plan a third). The areas between buildings is very pleasant. New Zealand is full of good museums but this is one of the top three.