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Museum of New Zealand (Te Papa Tongarewa), Wellington

4.7

#1 of 5,074 in Things to do in New Zealand

Specialty Museum Museum Must See

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The whole family can get a dynamic and in-depth overview of New Zealand at Museum of New Zealand (Te Papa Tongarewa), one of the nation's main cultural institutions. The museum's native name loosely translates as the "Place of Treasures," an apt description for a building featuring six floors of collections that include everything from Maori artifacts and medieval clothing to animal fossils and local arts. With high-tech galleries designed to engage and educate visitors of all ages, the exhibits narrate the history and development of the Pacific Islands. Be sure to walk through the national art collection, and for a hands-on family-oriented experience, head to one of the themed discovery centers. The easiest way to explore the vast galleries is by guided tour--these leave from the second-level info desk several times a day. Quickly create a custom-made itinerary for Wellington using our trip planner.

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Museum of New Zealand (Te Papa Tongarewa) Reviews

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12,211 reviews

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4.7

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4.7

7,053 likes

• By Port_Anfield

  We visited on a weekday and it was super busy - and understandably so. The Maori section, the exhibit on Gallipoli and the Art gallery were all highlights. A must do whilst in Wellington.  more »

• By Hans T

  Could have spend a whole day here. 2 hours was all we had... not enough. This really is a must when you are in Wellington.  more »

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• By Rineet Subramanian

  Te Papa Tongarewa has to feature among the greatest museums of the world, owing to the sheer variety of exhibits. The museum has been built on reclaimed land. It can take an entire day to cover all the sections of the museum. A portion of the museum is outdoors and overlooks the Wellington waterfront. My favourite displays in this museum were the colossal squid, Gallipoli - The Scale of our war and Awesome Forces. This is a place that will be enjoyed by both children and adults. There is a viewing terrace at the top from where we can get awesome panoramic views of the harbour. Staff were courteous while explaining the rules inside each pavilion. The Foyer level has a cafe and a store. When in Wellington, Te Papa museum is a must-visit.

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• By Tabitha Daw

  The “Scale of our war” exhibit was incredible and moving! And the exhibitions regarding the Maori people was very interesting also. The cafe was reasonably priced. Can’t take your coffee in with you though, which is a bummer first thing in the morning.

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