The best New Zealand museums

The best New Zealand museums

List of the best New Zealand museumsNot just when it rains...don't miss some of the most interesting places in the country!

Our list of the best New Zealand museums: regional museums, museums about Maori culture, art museums, churches, Maori meeting houses as well as New Zealand historic sites like old Maori fortifications/pa sites and historical buildings!

Te Hikoi in Riverton

New Zealand is better known for its scenery than for its museums, but the Kiwis have a lot to offer in this respect. Not just an alternative for rainy days, there's a lot to learn and great things to see.

A bit of advance planning is useful because it pays to make some time to include a visit into what is often a packed daily programme.

The ticket prices are usually very low in comparison to overseas and admission to regional museums is often free.

The following museum lists are in no way complete, but we have mentioned only those museums which we hope you will find interesting enough to visit during a short overseas trip - the most interesting museums are written in bold at the top of the lists. Many museums would of course fit into more than one category.

The national museum
Regional museums
Museums about Maori culture
Natural history museums
Other museums with special topics
Art museums / art collections
Historic museums
Open air museums
Accessible historic houses
Churches
Marae / Maori meeting houses
Sites of historical interest
Old Maori fortifications / pa sites
Historic buildings and objects

The national museum

  • Museum of New Zealand - Te Papa Tongarewa, Cable Street, Wellington

National museum Te Papa in Wellington

Regional museums

  • Auckland Museum, Auckland Domain, Auckland
  • Rotorua Museum - Te Whare Taonga O Te Arawa, in the historic Bath House, Government Gardens, Rotorua
  • Puke Ariki Heritage, Knowledge and Information Centre - modern regional museum, Ariki Street, New Plymouth
  • Canterbury Museum, Rolleston Avenue, Christchurch
  • Otago Museum, Great King Street, Dunedin
  • Te Hikoi - Southern Journey, Palmerston Street, Riverton, Southland
  • Southland Museum and Art Gallery - with Tuatara enclosures, Gala Street, Invercargill
  • Far North Regional Museum, South Road, Kaitaia
  • Kiwi North - Whangarei Museum & Kiwi House Heritage Park, State Highway 14, west of Whangarei
  • Dargaville Museum - collection of maritime and regional focus, Mt Wesley Coast Road, Dargaville
  • Warkworth & District Museum and Parry Kauri Park, McKinney Road / Tudor Collins Drive, south of Warkworth
  • Devonport Museum, Vauxhall Road, Devonport, Auckland
  • Mercury Bay Regional Museum, The Esplanade, Whitianga
  • Waikato Museum Te Whare Taonga o Waikato, Grantham Street, Hamilton
  • Raglan and District Museum, Wainui Road, Raglan
  • Te Awamutu Museum, Roche Street, Te Awamutu, Waikato
  • Te Aroha & Districts Museum, in an old bathhouse, Whitaker Street, Te Aroha, near Tauranga
  • Whakatane Museum, Boon Street, Whakatane
  • Tairawhiti Museum, Stout Street, Gisborne
  • Opotiki Museum, Church Street, Opotiki
  • Mokau Museum - State Highway 3, Mokau
  • Aotea Utanganui Museum of South Taranaki, Egmont Street, Patea
  • Taupo Museum, Story Place, Taupo
  • MTG Hawke's Bay - Museum Theatre Gallery, Tennyson Street, Napier
  • Wairoa District Museum, Marine Parade, Wairoa
  • New Zealand regional museums: Puke Ariki in New PlymouthWhanganui Regional Museum, Watt Street, Whanganui
  • Te Manawa Museum of Art, Science and History, Main Street, Palmerston North
  • Museum of Wellington City & Sea, Queens Wharf, Wellington
  • Marlborough Provincial Museum, Arthur Baker Place, Blenheim
  • The Nelson Provincial Museum, Town Acre, Nelson
  • Motueka District Museum, High Street, Motueka
  • Golden Bay Museum & Gallery, Commercial Street, Takaka
  • Hokitika Museum, Tancred Street, Hokitika
  • Lakes District Museum, Buckingham Street, Arrowtown
  • Central Stories Museum & Art Gallery, Centennial Avenue, Alexandra
  • Akaroa Museum Te Whare Taonga & Court House, Rue Lavaud, Akaroa, Banks Peninsula
  • Ashburton Museum, Baring Square East, Ashburton
  • South Canterbury Museum, Perth Street, Timaru
  • North Otago Museum, Thames Street, Oamaru
  • Port Chalmers Museum, Beach Street, Port Chalmers
  • South Otago Museum, Renfrew Street, Balclutha
  • Fiordland Museum, Lake Front Drive, Te Anau
  • Owaka Museum, Catlins Information Centre, Campbell Street, Owaka, Catlins
  • Rakiura Museum, Halfmoon Bay, Stewart Island

 

Museums about Maori culture

  • Okains Bay Maori & Colonial MuseumOkains Bay Maori & Colonial Museum, Main Road, Okains Bay, Banks Peninsula

Most regional museums also include exhibitions of Maori culture, especially interesting are the following: Auckland Museum, Rotorua Museum - Te Whare Taonga O Te Arawa, Puke Ariki New Plymouth, Te Papa Tongarewa Wellington, Canterbury Museum, Otago Museum and Te Hikoi - Southern Journey.

 

Natural history museums

  • Volcanic Activity Centre, Karetoto Road, Wairakei Park, Taupo
  • Kaikoura Marine Centre, Esplanade, New Wharf, Kaikoura
  • Carter Observatory - with a planetarium, Salamanca Road, Wellington Botanic Gardens in Kelburn
  • The Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre, Terrace Road, Aoraki Mount Cook Village
  • The Vanished World Centre - about local geology and fossils, State Highway 83, Duntroon, near Oamaru
 

Other museums with special topics

  • National Clock Museum in WhangareiClapham National Clock Museum, Town Basin, Whangarei
  • Kauri Museum - all about Kauri trees and the Kauri gum industry, Matakohe, Northland
  • Voyager New Zealand Maritime Museum, Viaduct Harbour, Auckland
  • Museum of Transport and Technology - MOTAT, Point Chevalier, Auckland
  • New Zealand Fashion Museum, Herne Bay, Auckland
  • Coromandel School of Mines and Historical Museum, Rings Road, Coromandel
  • East Coast Museum of Technology, Main Road, Makaraka, Gisborne
  • British Car Museum, East Road, Te Awanga, Hawke's Bay
  • National Army Museum, SH1, Waiouru
  • Tawhiti Museum and Traders & Whalers - life size and scale model dioramas, 401 Ohangai Road, Hawera
  • New Zealand Rugby Museum, Main Street, Palmerston North
  • Sports and Vintage Aviation Society Museum, South Belt, Masterton, Wairarapa
  • New Zealand Police Museum, Papakowhai Road, Porirua
  • New Zealand E-Book New Zealand Cricket Museum, Basin Reserve, Wellington
  • The National Tattoo Museum of New Zealand, Vivian Street, Wellington
  • National Library of New Zealand - Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa, Molesworth Street, Wellington
  • The Reserve Bank Of New Zealand Museum, The Terrace, Wellington
  • Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre - with Sir Peter Jackson's 'Knights of the Sky' exhibition, Aerodrome Road, Blenheim
  • National Transport & Toy Museum, State Highway 6 near the airport, Wanaka
  • Warbirds & Wheels, Wanaka Airport
  • Quake City, Cashel Street, Christchurch
  • Air Force Museum of New Zealand, Harvard Avenue, Wigram, Christchurch
  • International Antarctic Centre, Orchard Road, Christchurch Airport
  • Ashburton Aviation Museum, Ashburton Airfield, Seafield Road, Ashburton
  • E. Hayes Motorworks Collection - with the 'World's Fastest Indian', Hammer Hardware, Dee Street, Invercargill
  • Bluff Maritime Museum, Foreshore Road, Bluff

 

Art museums / art collections

  • Auckland Art GalleryAuckland Art Gallery, Wellesley Street, Auckland
  • Sarjeant Gallery - Te Whare o Rehua, Queens Park, Whanganui
  • The Suter Gallery - Te Aratoi O Whakatu, Bridge Street, Nelson
  • Christchurch Art Gallery - Te Puna o Waiwhetu, Montreal Street, Christchurch
  • Dunedin Public Art Gallery, The Octagon, Dunedin
  • Hocken Collections - Uare Taoka o Hākena, Parry Street, Dunedin
  • Whangarei Hundertwasser Museum, Town Basin, Whangarei
  • Whangarei Art Museum Te Manawa Toi, Town Basin, Whangarei
  • Tauranga Art Gallery, Willow Street, Tauranga
  • Govett-Brewster Art Gallery and Len Lye Centre, Queen Street, New Plymouth
  • Hastings City Art Gallery, Eastbourne Street, Hastings
  • Hastings Community Arts Centre, Russell Street South, Hastings
  • City Gallery Wellington, Wakefield Street, Wellington
  • Te Pataka Museum & Art Gallery, Parumoana Street, Porirua
  • Dowse Art Museum, Laings Road, Lower Hutt
  • World of Wearable Art and Classic Cars Museum, Cadillac Way, Nelson
  • Left Bank Art Gallery, Tainui Street, Greymouth
  • Arts Centre of Christchurch, Worcester Boulevard, Christchurch
  • The Physics Room - art discourse, Tuam Street, Christchurch
  • Aigantighe Art Gallery, Wai-iti Road, Timaru
  • Orion Powerhouse Gallery - old power plant with exhibitions, Rue Pompallier, Akaroa, Banks Peninsula
  • The Forrester Art Gallery - in the Bank of New South Wales building from 1884, Thames Street, Oamaru
  • Steampunk HQ, Tyne Street, Oamaru
  • Anderson Park Art Gallery, McIver Road, Invercargill
  • Eastern Southland Gallery, Norfolk Street, Gore

 

Historic museums

  • Treaty House & Whare Runanga, Waitangi Treaty Grounds, Paihia, Bay of Islands
  • Toitū Otago Settlers Museum, Queens Gardens, Dunedin
  • Pompallier Mission and Printery von 1842, first printing press in New Zealand, The Strand, Russell, Bay of Islands

New Zealand museums: Waitangi Treaty Grounds

  • Waipu Museum - the interesting history of Scottish settlers, The Centre, Waipu
  • Royal New Zealand Navy Museum, Torpedo Bay, Devonport, Auckland
  • Thames Historical Museum & Thames School of Mines & Mineralogical Museum, Cochrane Street, Thames, Coromandel
  • Goldfields Historic Railway, Waihi, Coromandel
  • Goldmine Experience, nonprofit goldmine tour, Moanataiari Road in Thames, Coromandel
  • Waikato Coalfields Museum, Harlock Place, Huntly, Waikato
  • Buried Village incorporating the Museum of Te Wairoa - the history of the Tarawera eruption, Tarawera Road, Rotorua
  • Central Hawkes Bay Settlers Museum, High Street, Waipawa, Hawke's Bay
  • Whanganui Riverboat Centre Museum, Taupo Quay, Whanganui
  • Number 12 Wanganui Tram, Moutoa Quay, Whanganui
  • Kawana Flourmill - historic mill from 1854, Wanganui River Road, Matahiwi, Whanganui
  • Tokomaru Steam Engine Museum, State Highway 57, Tokomaru
  • Norsewood Pioneer Cottage Museum, Scandinavian pioneer museum, Coronation Street, Norsewood
  • Flax Stripper Museum, Main Street, Foxton
  • Coach House Museum, South Street, Feilding
  • Aratoi - Wairarapa Museum of Art and History, Dixon Street, Masterton, Wairarapa
  • Cobblestones Wairarapa Regional Settlers Museum, Main Street, Greytown, Wairarapa
  • Fell Locomotive Museum, Lyon Street, Featherston, Wairarapa
  • Martinborough Colonial Museum, accessible library from 1894, The Square, Martinborough, Wairarapa
  • Petone Settlers Museum - Te Whare Whakaaro o Pito-One, The Esplanade, Petone, Lower Hutt
  • Wellington Tramway Museum, Whareroa Road, Queen Elizabeth Park, Paekakariki
  • Archives New Zealand, with exhibitions, Mulgrave Street, Wellington
  • Wellington Cable Car Museum, Upland Road, Wellington
  • Coaltown Museum, in the Westport i-SITE, Palmerston Street, Westport
  • Goldfields Mining Centre, on State Highway 6 towards Queenstown
  • Geraldine Historical Society Museum, Cox Street, Geraldine, Canterbury
  • Methven Heritage Centre - with the New Zealand Alpine & Agriculture Encounter, Main Street, Methven, Canterbury
  • Yaldhurst Museum - heritage collection in a homestead from 1876, Main West Road, Christchurch
  • Kate Sheppard House - the historic home of New Zealand's famous women's rights activist, 83 Clyde Road, Christchurch
  • Lyttelton Historical Museum - still closed - check, Lyttelton
  • Torpedo Boat Museum - torpedo boat from 1882, Magazine Bay, Lyttelton
  • Clyde Historical Museum, Fraser Street, Clyde, Otago
  • Maniototo Early Settlers Museum, Earne Street, Naseby, Otago
  • Gore Historical Museum, Hokonui Drive, Gore, Southland

 

Open air museums

  • Shantytown near GreymouthTauranga Historic Village, original and replica buildings, Seventeenth Avenue, Tauranga
  • Taranaki Pioneer Village - open air museum, State Highway 3, Stratford
  • Founders Heritage Park - open air museum, Atawhai Drive, Nelson
  • South Street - 16 cottages from 1863 to 1867, South Street, Nelson
  • Shantytown - open air museum with railroad and historic buildings, Rutherglen Road, Paroa, Greymouth
  • Homebush Museum - heritage park with garden and tours, 8 km west of Darfield, Homebush
  • Cromwell Town Heritage Precinct, Melmore Terrace, Cromwell
  • Arrowtown Chinese Settlement - with Ah Lum’s store, Arrowtown
  • Ferrymead Heritage Park - historic buildings and trams, Ferrymead Park Drive, Christchurch

 

Accessible historic houses

  • New Zealand historic houses: Stone Store in KerikeriKerikeri Mission Station (1822) and Stone Store (1835), Kerikeri Basin
  • Te Waimate Mission House from 1832, Te Ahu Ahu Road, Waimate North
  • Clendon House, Clendon Esplanade, Rawene
  • Mangungu Mission House from 1828, Motukiore Road, Horeke
  • Kawau Island Mansion House - the house of Sir George Grey, former Governor of New Zealand
  • Highwic - one of New Zealand's' finest homes, Gillies Avenue, Epsom, Auckland
  • Firth Tower Museum, old hhmestead with tower, Tower Road, Matamata
  • Regent Theatre, still-functioning cinema
    from 1932, Te Awamutu
  • The Elms Mission House, mission house from 1838 with old library, Mission Street, Tauranga
  • Brain Watkins House, accessible kauri villa from 1881, Cameron Road, Tauranga
  • Hurworth Cottage - the home of Harry Atkinson, the first Prime Minister of New Zealand, only weekends, Carrington Road, Hurworth
  • Fergusson Cottage - guest house from 1925, the oldest house in the village and now a cafe, Whakapapa
  • Napier Municipal Theatre, Tennyson Street, Napier
  • McDonald’s 'McDeco', one of two Art Deco McDonald's in the world, Gloucester Street, Taradale
  • Hawke’s Bay Opera House, Hastings
  • Methodist Church in the 'Spanish Mission style', Hastings
  • Old Dominion Restaurant, Heretaunga Street, Hastings
  • Duart House von 1862, accessible mansion, Duart Road, Havelock North
  • Regent on Broadway - beautiful theatre from 1929, Broadway Avenue, Palmerston North
  • Caccia Birch House - former Government House from 1895, Te Awe Awe Street, Palmerston North
  • Brancepeth Farmhouse from 1856 with 36 rooms, Fernyhurst Road, östlich von Masterton
  • Parliament House - New Zealand Parliament from 1922 (and a library from 1899), Lambton Quay, Wellington
  • Government Buildings - huge wooden house (2053 m3 of timber used), from 1876 with some accessible rooms, once right on the waterfront, Lambton Quay, Wellington
  • Antrim House - headquarter of the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, Boulcott Street, Wellington
  • Colonial Cottage Museum - family home from 1858, Nairn Street, Wellington
  • Katherine Mansfield Birthplace - from 1888, Tinakori Road, Wellington
  • New Zealand historic houses: Cardrona HotelEmbassy Theatre - renovated first-class cinema from 1926 and still used for world premieres such as Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, Kent Terrace, Wellington
  • The Thistle Inn - New Zealand's oldest tavern from 1840, Mulgrave Street, Thorndon, Wellington
  • Acheron Accommodation House - guest house from 1863, Acheron Road im Molesworth Farm Park
  • Rai Valley Cottage - cottage from 1881, Opouri Road, Rai Valley
  • Isel House - accessible house from 1849, Isel Park, Stoke, Nelson
  • Broadgreen Historic House - accessible house from 1855, Nayland Road, Stoke, Nelson
  • Fyffe House - whaler's cottage from 1842, built on whale bones, Avoca Street, Kaikoura
  • Formerly The Blackball Hilton - well known historic West Coast Pub, Blackball, 22 km von Greymouth
  • Cardrona Hotel - historic hotel from 1863, Cardrona
  • Kinloch Lodge - guest House from 1886, Kinloch Road, Kinloch
  • Alexandra Courthouse from 1879, Centennial Avenue, Alexandra
  • Ophir Post & Telegraph Office - New Zealand's oldest post, Swindon Street, Ophir
  • Kate Sheppard House & Garden - women's suffrage campaigner, born in 1847, Clyde Road, Christchurch
  • Olveston Historic House - elegant household from 1906, House Royal Terrace, Dunedin
  • Provincial Hotel - Dunedin's oldest hotel from 1859, Stafford Street, Dunedin
  • Fletcher House from 1909, Portobello Road, Otago Peninsula
  • Larnach Castle - with 43 rooms, Camp Road, Otago Peninsula
  • Lewis Acker's House - one of New Zealand's oldest houses from 1835, Harrold Bay, Stewart Island

 

Churches

  • New Zealand churches: St Luke's Anglican Church in OamaruSt Patrick's Cathedral, Federal Street, Auckland
  • Old St John's Church von 1854, Te Awamutu, Waikato
  • Hiona-St Stephen’s Church, mission church from 1861, Opotiki, Bay Of Plenty
  • St Joseph’s Convent & Church from 1892 in Jerusalem (Hiruharama), Whanganui River Road, Whanganui
  • Cathedral of the Holy Spirit - neogothic church, Broadway Avenue, Palmerston North
  • Old St Paul's - wooden Gothic cathedral from1865, Mulgrave Street, Thorndon, Wellington
  • St Paul’s Lutheran Church - church from1865 with German roots, Moutere Highway, Upper Moutere, Nelson
  • St. Luke's Anglican Church, Tees Street, Oamaru
  • St. Patrick's Basilica - built between 1893 and 1903, Reed Street, Oamaru
  • First Church of Otago from1875, Moray Place, Dunedin

 

Marae / Maori meeting houses

  • Whare Runanga, accessible carved meeting house in the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, and Te Tii Waitangi Marae on the way there from Paihia, Bay of IslandsNew Zealand Marae: Kawhia
  • Mataatua Marae, accessible 130 Jahre old Maori meeting house, Muriwai Drive, Whakatane
  • Maketu Marae, visible from the harbour walkway in Kawhia, Waikato
  • Te Poho o Rawiri Marae - view of the carved meeting house from the gate, Queens Drive, Gisborne
  • Kauaetangohia Marae in Whangaparaoa Bay, next to State Highway 35, Bay of Plenty
  • Ohinemutu Marae and church, Ohinemutu, Rotorua
  • Onuku Marae & church - carved buildings from1878 (access only to church), end of Onuku Road, Banks Peninsula
  • Otakou Marae - beautiful Marae buildings, Tamatea Road, before Taiaroa Head, Otago Peninsula

Marae are usually off-limits for visitors and only accessible after a spiritual welcome ceremony (see Maori culture). There are well over 1,000 Marae in New Zealand and you will of course discover many more along the roads.

 

Sites of historical interest

  • New Zealand historic sites: Oamaru Quarry

    North Head Devonport,with the war fortifications and tunnels, Devonport, Auckland
  • Monmouth Redoubt - British Fort from1864, The Strand or Monmouth Street, Tauranga
  • Te Aroha Domain - building dating back to 1885, once more touristic than Rotorua, Te Aroha
  • Ship Cove - Captain James Cook spent 170 days here during three expeditions from 1770 to 1777, Marlborough Sounds
  • Denniston Town Walk - walk through an old mining town (40 min return), see also the incredibly steep historical cable car, active between 1880-1960, Denniston Road, Waimangaroa, West Coast
  • Brunner Mine Site Walk (1 h), 11 km east of Greymouth, State Highway 7 (beim Old Tyneside Chimney), West Coast
  • Waiuta Goldmine & Ghost Town - gold mine from1905 with 8 buildings, State Highway 7, halfway between Reefton and Greymouth, West Coast
  • Macetown - ghost town from gold rush times, 16 km from Arrowtown along the Arrow River (preferably with 4WD or mountain bike), bei Queenstown
  • Skippers - various walks and hikes in the Mount Aurum Recreation Reserve at the Shotover River, with buildings and ruins from the 1860's gold rush, Skippers Road, north of Queenstown (caution: road is not suitable for most hire cars), near Queenstown
  • Otago Central Rail Trail - 150 km cycle trail following an old railway line with countless historical sites en route, between Middlemarch and Clyde
  • Molesworth Station - 1850 still located on the main road, the largest New Zealand High Country Station on 180,787 hectares, between Seddon and Hanmer Springs
  • Te Manunui Rock Art Site - Maori rock drawings, including a bird man, Frenchmans Gully Road, Maungati, westlich von Timaru
  • Historic Fort Taiaroa - from the 1880s with retractable gun, Taiaroa Head, Otago Peninsula
  • Harbour & Tyne Historic Precinct, the best preserved district of New Zealand, Oamaru
  • Parkside Stone Quarry - white Oamaru stone quarry, since 1906 (register in the office before visiting), Airedale Road, north of Weston near Oamaru
  • Waimate Historic Walk - typical farming village with buildings dating back to 1854 and a museum, via State Highway 82 or McNamara's Road, Waimate
  • Totara Estate - farm from1850 with New Zealand's first freezing works, State Highway 1, 8 km south of Oamaru
  • Tararua Acre Cemetery - cemetery from the SS Tararua disaster with 131 victims in 1881 (15 min return), Waipapa Point Lighthouse Road

 

Old Maori fortifications / pa sites

  • New Zealand Maori fortifications: One Tree Hill in Auckland

    Ruapekapeka Pa Historic Reserve, where chief Kawiti has survived a long-running British siege from 1845-46, and has subsequently advised the British on the subject of trench warfare, Ruapekapeka Road, south of Kawakawa
  • Kororipo Pa (Hongi Hika's fortress), Kerikeri Basin, Kerikeri
  • One Tree Hill (Maungakiekie) - most extraordinary Maori fortification (pa) of New Zealand with terraces, as can be seen on many other hills in the rest of New Zealand, Auckland
  • Opito Point Pa, Maori fortifications, Opito Bay, end of Black Jack Road, Coromandel
  • Rangiriri Battle Site & Heritage Centre, accessible battlefield from 1863 with exhibition, Rangiriri Road, Te Kauwhata, Waikato
  • Opapaka Pa, Maori fortifications from the 18th century, access from the Waitomo Adventure Centre car park (40 min return), Waikato
  • Koru Pa - up to 1000 year old Maori fortification on Surrey Hill Road, Surf Highway 45 towards Oakura, Taranaki
  • Otatara Pa Historic Reserve, one of the largest Maori fortifications in New Zealand, near Taradale, Napier
  • Kaiapoi Pa - Maori fortification from the early 19th century, Preeces Road, near State Highway 1 south of Waikuku, Canterbury
  • Huriawa Pa - beautiful peninsula with Maori fortification, Huriwa Historic Reserve, Sulisker Street, Karitane, Otago

 

Historic buildings and objects

  • New Zealand historic sites: Clifden Bridge

    Auckland Civic Theatre from 1929, Queen Street, Auckland
  • Auckland Town Hall and concert hall from 1911, Aotea Square, Auckland
  • Auckland Ferry Building from 1912, Quay Street, Auckland
  • Britomart Transport Centre, beautifully restored station, Queen Street, Auckland
  • Tolaga Bay Wharf, Wharf Road, south of Tolaga Bay village, East Cape
  • Dawson Falls Power Station - New Zealand's oldest power plant generator from 1901, near Dawson Falls Visitor Centre, end of Manaia Road, 14 km from Kaponga, Taranaki
  • Stratford Clock Tower with the only Glockenspiel in New Zealand, Taranaki
  • Bridge to Nowhere - neglected bridge from1936, Whanganui
  • De Molen Dutch Windmill, Foxton i-SITE, Manawatu
  • Pencarrow Lighthouse - the first permanent lighthouse in New Zealand from 1859, Pencarrow Head, 8 km from Eastbourne, Lower Hutt
  • Edwin Fox Maritime Centre - 1853 ship with a lot of history, supposedly the '9th oldest ship in the world', Dunbar Wharf, Picton
  • Lake Grassmere Salt Works - New Zealand's most important salt production site since 1943, Kaparu Road, Marlborough
  • TSS Earnslaw - steamship from 1912 auf dem Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown
  • Shaky Bridge - suspension bridge from 1879, Alexandra
  • Cobb & Co Coach - old horse-drawn carriage from 1888, Arthur’s Pass Visitors Centre, Arthur’s Pass
  • Christchurch Tramway - historic trams in the centre of Christchurch
  • Canterbury Provincial Council Buildings - the first protected European house in New Zealand, from 1859, unfortunately earthquake-damaged, Durham Street, Christchurch
  • The Tannery - shopping mall in a renovated Woolston Tanneries building from 1881, Garlands Road, Woolston, Christchurch
  • Lyttelton Timeball Station, Reserve Terrace, Lyttelton
  • Dunedin Railway Station - once New Zealand's busiest railway station from 1906, ANZAC Square, Dunedin
  • University of Otago from 1869, Union Street, Dunedin
  • NZ Clothing Company Limited Building from 1883, then the headquarters of the Hallenstein chain, Dowling Street, Dunedin
  • Taieri Gorge Railway - along a railway line from 1889, trips from the Dunedin Railway Station
  • Tunnel Hill - old railway tunnel from 1891 (20 min return), on the Southern Scenic Route, 5 km north of Owaka
  • Pleasant Point Museum & Railway - with a railway from 1875, Main Road, Pleasant Point, Timaru
  • Homer Tunnel from 1953, Te Anau-Milford Highway
  • Percy Burn Viaduct - 36 m tall from 1936, near Sand Hill Point on the Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track
  • Gunn's Camp, old road builders camp and now campsite, Hollyford Road, Fjordland
  • Clifden Suspension Bridge from 1899, Bates Road, Clifden, north of Tuatapere, Southland
  • Invercargill Water Tower from 1889, Doon Street, Invercargill

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