New Zealand Maritime Museum
About This Museum
People come to the Auckland waterfront not just for the views, but to dive into the sea stories that forged a nation. The New Zealand Maritime Museum is where those tales come alive, connecting the dots between ancient Polynesian voyagers, European settlers, and today's America's Cup champions. You can almost smell the salt and hear the creak of timber as you move through exhibits filled with beautifully restored vessels and personal accounts of life at sea. It’s an experience that goes beyond static displays, making you feel the profound pull of the ocean that surrounds these islands.
Collection Highlights
Don't miss the majestic Ted Ashby, a replica scow you can actually sail on the harbour. The 'Te Waka' exhibit, featuring a magnificent Māori waka taua (war canoe), is a powerful testament to the world's greatest navigators. Intimate galleries also trace the often-harrowing journeys of immigrants who arrived by ship, their personal effects telling stories of hope and hardship.
Visitor Information
It's right on the water at the corner of Quay and Hobson Street—you can't miss it. For the full experience, book ahead for a harbour sail; it’s a fantastic way to see the city from a new angle.
Architecture & Building
The building itself is a modern, low-slung structure with nautical lines, designed to echo boat sheds and wharf buildings so it feels perfectly at home on its historic waterfront site.
Contact & Location
Address: New Zealand Maritime Museum Hui Te Ananui a Tangaroa, Hobson Wharf Extension, Princes Wharf, City Centre, Waitematā, Auckland, 1001, New Zealand / Aotearoa
Phone: +64 9 373 0800
Website: Visit Website
