With so much to see, so much to intake and many places to discover, New Zealand is truly the home of wanderers. But what if we tell you that the historical landmarks here are equally inciting? We are talking about the most popular and iconic Auckland War Memorial Museum. With traces of rich history and ancient culture, there are many things to see here. The Museum in the Auckland Domain commemorates the nation’s military history and showcases an extensive collection of Māori and Pacific Island artefacts. Its striking neoclassical architecture and panoramic views of the city make it a must-visit attraction for history buffs and casual visitors alike.
History: The Auckland War Memorial Museum
From entertaining galleries to spectacular ancient artefacts, the Auckland War Memorial Museum has it all. This blog will tell you the most important things to see here so that you can save time, money, and effort exploring the best that the Auckland War Memorial Museum has to offer. Let’s jump in:
1. Sainsbury Horrocks Gallery
Image Credit: Eusebius for Wikimedia Commons
This is an ideal spot to start the tour and step into a different light. The recently opened section depicts the Auckland War Memorial Museum’s Historical perspective differently. Glare through the first Photographs of Aotearoa to learn about the fascinating development of photography in New Zealand throughout the 1800s. Explore the technological advancements that led to photography becoming a commonplace feature by the turn of the century, from its exclusive beginnings for a select few in the mid-1800s. Pose for your own digital Victorian portrait and discover the wonders of this new technology that permanently altered our perception of ourselves while immersing yourself in a 19th-century studio. With priceless original photos from Hocken Collections, Auckland Museum and Alexander Turnbull Library, it provides a rare window into our cultural history.
Where In The Museum: Level 2
Duration: 1 hour
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2. Taumata-A-Iwi
Image Credit: foolfillment for Wikimedia Commons
The story of Pacific People, including Māori, Pakeha, the peoples of Oceania and other arrivals, is told at the ground level. These areas explore the richness of Pacific Island cultures and the breathtaking artistic merit of their creations. The most important highlight is the Taumata-ā-Iwi. The trip starts with Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Paoa and Waikato-Tainui, the three iwi that comprise the Museum’s main gallery on the ground floor of the Auckland War Memorial Museum.
Three lit manu (birds) by artist Mike Crawford stand in for these sections For their personal presentation, each iwi chose a variety of taonga to answer the question “Ko wai tātou?” from guests, meaning “Who are we?”. There are lots of interactive exhibits and activities at this spot. You can immerse in the Tāmaki Herenga Waka Stories of Auckland, including a Victorian-style diorama of the Auckland Regatta. You will also find a haul-a-waka challenge here. For kids, there is a platform to perform the well-known Tiritiri Matangi dawn chorus.
Where In The Museum: Ground Level
Duration: 2-3 hours
3. Living City
Image Credit: Richard Ng for Wikimedia Commons
The Auckland War Memorial Museum features everything from ancient photos to high-tech futuristic displays. The Living City belongs to the latter category. This spot shows that the museum is not just for gazing at historical objects but has much more to offer. So, what is Living City exactly? It is an immersive dark space that offers an immersive audio-visual experience.
Living City is a brilliant exhibition of breathtaking data visualisations. The walls and floor come to life with projections representing who we are as Aucklanders and the places we occupy, resulting from millions of data points being analysed. What’s better is that you can even use the interactive touchscreen to explore a particular area, like your neighbourhood.
Where In The Museum: Ground Level
Duration: 1 hour
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4. Ancient Worlds
Image Credit: Nick-D for Wikimedia Commons
If you want to peek into Auckland War Memorial Museum history, this is the ideal place to explore. Ancient Worlds, drawing from the Auckland Museum’s holdings, highlights how much humanity has in common. The tools used for game butchering, agricultural harvesting, fishing, and working with fibres and wood are displayed here, following the same standards. The exhibits also showcase diverse societies’ artistic inventiveness.
Most of our knowledge of our ancestors’ lives during human history comes from the artwork and artefacts they left behind. Many of these can be seen and admired at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. They originate from basic stone tools discovered in Africa that are 2,500,000 years old. Simple tools on display here were made from chipped stone to produce an efficient cutting edge.
Where In The Museum: First level
Duration: 2- 3 hours
5. World War Memorials
Image Credit: Oren Rozen for Wikimedia Commons
Level 2 Auckland War Memorial Museum galleries chronicle New Zealand’s wartime involvement from the New Zealand Wars to East Timor. Here, you will find the 7297 names of New Zealanders from the Auckland Province who lost their lives in the First World War. Each name is inscribed on the walls of the World War One Hall of Memories. Of these, almost one-third do not have a known grave.
It was decided to enlarge the museum’s war memorial following World War Two to pay tribute to all of the troops from Auckland province. New Halls of Memory to honour the 11,671 men and women who lost their lives in the Second World War can be explored here. Other inclusions at this Auckland War Memorial Museum gallery include the Pou Maumahara Memorial Discovery Centre, The Holocaust Gallery and The Regimental Colours.
Where In The Museum: Level two
Duration: 3-4 hours
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6. Weird And Wonderful Gallery For Kids
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Visiting the Auckland War Memorial Museum is a family affair. If you wonder what your kids will do, the Weird and Wonderful Gallery will cover it for you. Hop on to the Kids Nest area. Kids may read a book, converse with friends, or simply learn how to handle stuff.
Kids can also discover the 16 labels associated with some of the most fascinating collections and displays at Weird & Wonderful. Time flows swiftly as kids explore the gallery, let themselves in, and discover more. There is also a butterfly habitat where one can make his own butterfly and let it soar into the enchanted virtual garden with other companions.
Where In The Museum: Level one
Duration: 5-6 hours
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As evident enough, the Auckland War Memorial Museum is no ordinary site. It is a proper experience that words can’t do justice to. With technological integrations and sleek modern architecture, you can experience the marvels of history and modern science together. So, plan your trip to Auckland, and do not forget to add the museum to your travel itinerary list.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Auckland War Memorial Museum
What are the Auckland War Memorial Museum opening hours?
The Auckland War Memorial Museum Opening hours vary per day. The museum opens at 10 am and closes at 5 pm on Mondays to Fridays. On weekends, the timings are 9 am to 5 pm to mitigate the tourist rush.
What are the Auckland War Memorial Museum entry fees?
The Auckland War Memorial Museum entry fees are free of cost for Auckland residents. However, they may have to pay extra for some galleries or exhibitions. For international visitors, the fee starts from $28 for adults and $14 for children.
What are some of the Auckland War Memorial Museum facts?
There are some quite amazing Auckland War Memorial Museum facts that may surprise you. The Auckland War Memorial Museum is located atop Pukekawa, a hill that the Māori call home. It has been in this location since 1929 when contributions collected by Aucklanders in honour of their war dead allowed for the construction of what is regarded as one of the best heritage structures in New Zealand and many more interesting facts like these
What is the best time of the day to visit the Auckland War Memorial Museum?
The Museum closes at around 5 pm every day. Hence, it is best to enjoy the viewing during the day. Since it's a covered complex, you may not worry about the weather outside. It is better to reach here early in the morning to avoid long lines and visitor rush.
Are there dinosaurs on display at Auckland War Memorial Museum?
Yes, there are. First, Peter and then Barbara joined him in the first-ever display of an adult Tyrannosaurus rex male and female in the world. In April 2022, the Auckland Museum received an exceptionally rare Tyrannosaurus rex named Peter, which marked the beginning of the dinosaur exhibition.
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