If you like the sea and dream of a sailor's life this is the place to go. Present and past of maritime history packed in educational and magnificent displays.
Located centrally in the main harbor, this museum provides a great insight into life of Auckland and the country.
Excellent museum focusing mainly on New Zealand's involvement in the first and second world wars from a naval prospective. Note it has moved recently (within the last 5 years!) - turn right out of the ferry terminal and walk for ten/15 minutes along the shoreline path until you reach the museum - can't miss it!Also has a pretty good café attached - had a nice chicken burger with bacon and avocado.
Very diverse exhibits and even my wife who was reluctant to attend was very happy she did. Make sure allocate plenty of time in Sir Peter Blake exhibit. Lots of interesting films and information boards. We learned a lot and was good value.
If you are ever to understand why Auckland is named the City of Sails, this is the place to spend a half day enjoying an extraordinary collection of historic and current day exhibits, from documents and videos to full scale boats. Friendly staff is around most hours to answer any questions, and the exhibits are both indoor and out. LOads of food options immediately nearby. Do NOT miss this!
No matter what your understanding of the sea, seafaring, yacht building may be-don't hesitate to enter.You are transported back in time to the most humble of rafts that somehow braved the oceans and seas. Every rope crisscrossed, knotted , stretched to ensure seaworthiness. The utmost care was taken in the assembling of these nupital vessels. And you imagine, who were they, what did they encounter, who made it, and whom was lost attempting to navigate uncertainty. New Zealand has a rich history off shore. Maori canoes and rafts first came, then the European explorers tall masted ships, and whaling vessels, fishing boats and now ferries, sailboats, Cargo container vessels , Oceanliners, kayaks, paddlebords---you name it , they are here. You may find yourself multidaying this place with multiple floors and buildings situated on the harborside wharf. Top attraction !
A very insightful and interesting place to visit . From the historical beginnings of NZ maritime Maori traditions and craft, the immigration over the centuries and then an amazing display of Americas cup -Whitbread sailing and the sport of sailing in general in a display you probably won't find anywhere else . It really is the city of sails .
I came to the museum because I had a couple of hours to kill - I wish I'd have several more. The directional signage could be a little better and at the entrance it's unclear where the museum actually starts and if you have to pay - I walked right past with out paying and then discovered locals get free admission which is why they didn't stop me; so please be proactive about paying if you're a tourist, it's really worth your money and support.The museum is much larger than it appears initially and covers New Zealand's rich maritime history ranging from dug-out canoes to round the world racing yachting and everything in between.In hindsight I'm embarrassed not to know who Sir Peter Blake was, and after seeing how much of the museum was influenced by his life I stumbled upon a small booth showing a documentary called "Blakey" which I watched for about an hour of before running out of time. Having seen that, the museum became a 7 star experience and I wish I'd been able to have a second look around with my newly educated perspective, but the clock was ticking...Definitely worth a morning or afternoon of your time - I'll be back for sure. Just make sure you know who the world's greatest yachtsman was before you get there!
We spent a couple of hours here - feeding fish, making seashore creatures and marvelling at the wonderful models and boats. Lost of interactive stuff for the kids to do while the adults can read the interesting stuff!Well worth a visit.