Waikato Museum of Art and History Tours and Activities

With its diverse collection, the Waikato Museum tells the story of ancient Hamilton and the rich cultural history of the surrounding area. Marvel the giant Māori waka taua (war canoe) in the Te Winika Gallery which overlooks the Waikato River, and learn about the people who travelled here from far away islands on similar vessels. The Tangata Whenua collection holds over 30,000 objects, each representing a specific part of history in the Hamilton area. Even more artefacts can be found on the upper of the five levels in the museum. Separate galleries host a range of exhibits that change at frequent intervals and are divided into four diverse themes: social history, visual arts, science and the Tangata Whenua. Head towards the social history section for an insight into the lives of New Zealand’s first European settlers. Dozens of letters and personal items tell the story of the many that made the challenging journey across miles of ocean. The story transports visitors from the development of early industry and ends with the pop art and modern hobbies section. The Never a Dull Moment exhibition follows the history of the Hamilton area and includes a variety of interactive mediums. Visitors can listen in on town gossip or watch the documentaries about the city’s earliest residents in the museum’s cinema. The Visual arts collection is bursting with local works by the indigenous iwi (Māori) artists. For the kids, the interactive displays in the Exscite science centre are an entertaining way to learn about natural sciences. One of the permanent exhibits includes the fossilised remains of a giant penguin that was found in Kawhia.The Waikato Museum is located on Grantham Street on the banks of the river. The city shuttle buses pass just in front of the museum gates and run approximately every 10 minutes. The museum is open daily and incurs a small entrance fee. All signs are in English and Māori.