Visiting the New Zealand Maritime Museum with Children – Auckland for Kids Review
- By: Auckland for Kids
- Published:
Visiting the NZ Maritime Museum with children is a fun family day out. For Aucklander’s entry into the museum is free too. Your family can learn about all things related to the sea, ships and sailing at the Maritime Museum.
There are lots of interesting permanent galleries at the Maritime Museum that tell stories of New Zealand’s seafaring hertitage. The Maritime Museum offers family events in the school holidays for children aged four to 12.
Our family was invited to visit the Maritime Museum. One of our favourite galleries is The Kiwis and The Coast which has a typical 1950’s bach and dairy with an ice cream shop where my kids like to pretend play. Plus there is a fishing boat to steer and a lighthouse to play in.
We enjoyed the Blue Water Black Magic gallery which is a tribute to Sir Peter Blake: New Zealand’s remarkable yachting success and its greatest exponent. You can see the 1995 America’s Cup winning boat the NZL32 and Sir Peter Blake’s famous red socks. There are lots of interactive things to do for the kids, such as working as a team to sail a yacht, learning how to sail using the wind and more.
| |
In the New Beginnings gallery you learn how European settlers braced the ocean to arrive in New Zealand and start a new life. You take a card at the start of the exhibition which tells you which of the first NZ Europeans you are when you emigrate to New Zealand. You see what the ship you would have travelled on is like, where you would have slept and ate. This is not actually a ship, but a room that is made to look like the inside of the ship complete with a rocking motion. At the end, you spin a giant wheel to find out what your fate was and how your life turned out in New Zealand
| |
The Landfalls gallery tells the story of pioneering voyages of discovery, settlement and trade that have shaped New Zealand’s history. There is lots to see and there are puzzles for the kids to play with.
Your family can enjoy dressing up in front of the works with a maritime connection for a selfie #MyMaritimeMoment.
| | |
You can take your family on a Ted Ashby Heritage Sailing on the Waitemata Harbour which departs daily at 11:30am and 1:30pm from Tuesday to Sunday. Our kids really enjoyed this and liked helping hoist the sales and just relaxing and watching the sights in the harbour. Lifejackets are provided and if its a wet day, raincoats are provided too.
The Maritime Museum also has exhibits in the Edminston gallery which regularly change. During our visit the kids played in the Knot Touch exhibition which is currently on until 29 April 2018.
The Maritime Museum offers family events in the school holidays. There are a range of activities for each school holiday for children aged four to 12. There is a small charge of $5 per child for the holiday activities.
When you want a break there is an outdoor area at then end of wharf with space to relax and take in the view with activities to entertain the kids. Or near the Ted Ashy, there is sandpit and a boat for the younger kids to play in. Although the museum does not have a cafe or restaurant there are plenty nearby.
| |
New Zealand Maritime Museum
Website: www.maritimemuseum.co.nz
Address: Corner Quay and Hobson Streets, Viaduct Habour, Auckland map
Admission prices for Auckland region visitors:
* Museum entry: FREE
* Ted Ashby Heritage sailing: $12 for children, $20 for seniors and students, $25 for adults and $50 for a family pass.
Auckland admission prices for visitors from outside Auckland
* Museum entry: Children $10; Adults $20; Family pass $40
* Ted Ashby Heritage sailing: $25 for children, $40 for seniors and students, $50 for adults and $95 for a family pass.
Leave a Reply