Reviews of MOTAT Museum of Transport and Technology. (Museum) in Auckland (Auckland).

MOTAT Museum of Transport and Technology

4220 Reviews

369 Comments

Museum

Museum

Event venue

Technology museum

Tourist attraction

805 Great North Road, Western Springs, Auckland 1022, New Zealand

Description

Information of MOTAT Museum of Transport and Technology, Museum in Auckland (Auckland)

Here you can see the location, open hours, popular times, contact, photos and real reviews done by the users.

This place has good reviews, this means that they treat their customers well and you’ll feel great with their services, recommended 100%!

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Open hours of MOTAT Museum of Transport and Technology

Reviews of MOTAT Museum of Transport and Technology

R.

Great for a family day out. Had lots of fun looking at the "old" technology we used to use ! Nice cafe and friendly staff. If the gift shop was better stocked I would have bought something but oh well. Had a great few hours here. Loved the Trams!

n.

Motat was good but due to restrictions most parts are closed. That said it's free for little kids and there is a tram ride so why not. Cafe needs more options but there are no restrictions on taking your own food. Alex takes you on a ride called flick which tours the place and was a hit.

G. G.

The aviation section was being revamped so we could not see anything we went to go and see and activity was toned down else where due to New years day but it is worth a visit Tram rides are great as they are historical..and cool We will go again

P. C. V.

Very cool museum having a range of transport and tech. Unfortunately I missed the aviation display because of construction shutdown, rest of it is very good. Plenty of kids areas for Hands on interaction while the telephone section with a couple of knowledgeable people was very enlightening.

T.

Great spot to bring people, especially kids. Had no idea there was an aviation section and was given no indication that there was when purchasing the ticket. Would have been nice to see that area. Definitely enjoyed the interactivity in the main area though.

J. M.

We really enjoyed the night lights event. MOTAT has a real strength adding fun events to enjoy the great location. We have been each year and there is always something different each time. Thanks for also making it affordable and great value

D. D.

We had a great time as a family. It is a museum, so it isn't the most fun any kids will have. However, there are enough interesting things to do and see that they can have fun regardless. In fact, there were several interactive exhibits, and the team ride alone was worth the trip.

A.

Loved it such a nice way to spend the day and the lovely old gent who picked us up and took us for a spin the kids loved it! Loads to play with & look at we went for a train ride which brought back memories to when I was young. We got fish and chips around the corner and ate under the shade of the trees at western springs, great placement and lots to do all with in walking distance didn't hit the zoo which is in the same vacinity as we arrived late but if you have a full day I'd suggest to do the lot! 😁👌👌👌

M.

Blown Up event is nice but not on a hot day. Fans in place are not adequate and hence won't spend more than 5 minutes inside the dome.

P.

A great place for anyone who has even a slight interest in older technology. My particular interest lies in MOTAT 2, with the World War 2 aviation. But aside from that, there are enough interesting things to easily occupy multiple days between the 2 locations. Even just a simple ride on a tram can be enough to make your day

A.

Overall a very great experience. My family have enjoyed going here for many of years. My mother said her father used to take her there. Everything he did she throughly enjoyed the trip also. Many of mechanical items that have nevery seen before. Awesome staff the best of service and knowledge. Great tour all round, can't wait to go again

B. M.

Great experience and was fun for our boys (3, 3 & 5) but would probably be more appreciated when they are 5, 5 & 7. Planes at MOTAT 2 were awesome, shame you can't climb in them. Limited play area there for kids. Free parking there and Free Tram to Zoo & MOTAT 1 was primo. Just check return times etc as last tram departs MOTAT 1 ~ 4pm, past zoo ~ 4:05...but check first. Fun day out at M2 & M1 then Zoo.

J. L. D. G.

My kids had a lot of fun with the interactive games. Lots to learn and read with all the history that this museum has! Parked at MOTAT 2 as that's the more spacious lot, rode the tram (for free), had a stop over to the auckland zoo (if this was where you're heading to), then onwards to MOTAT 1. Staff are so friendly and all smiles! On the other hand, the place needs more upgrade and update too!

L. J.

Definitely worth going, especially for the annual Christmas lights. When they run the machinery, it’s pretty cool, and it’s right next to the zoo, so why not make a day of it? There’s also a vintage-looking tram for the kids (or adults, no judgment) to ride on.

S. L. (.

I had been there for the Light Festival. It's was WoW... Amazing. Worth going with the family and kids.

O.

A great place for people love old things. I missed MOTAT2 as closing for re-development.

H.

Awesome place to go with very fair admission charges. Tram is great. Good to see and learn about transportation and technology. Thinking of getting a family annual pass

M. B.

Pretty cool light show. Good value for $10. Would love to see some vintage computers there.

M.

Very good place specially for people who love old machines. Tram's ride was wonderful... Must visit place...

S. R. R.

Awesome place to spend fathers day. Plenty to see and interact with. So much to read and learn. The staff are so helpful and friendly. Definitely want to go again. It's cool they're always working on stuff and making improvements.

S.

My daughter and I had never been and I did worry as she sometimes loses interest very quickly. But she loved it, especially as she could interact with the different exhibitions. Will take her back once the other parts of Motat are open.

J. S.

Interesting place to spend a rainy day. It's easy to miss things, better maps would make it much easier to navigate.

M. B.

Happened to stop off on an open top bus tour. And well worth the trip. Aviation section was packed with vintage planes. Delighted to get a free tram ride with our tickets. Lots to see and do. Highly recommended

D. L.

Impressive place to be! It involves the kids and the parent about the history of modern science, locomotive, tramps and vehicles. It is a great day to take the kids out to learn and interact with mechanical science. There is a big park with lake (Western Spring) where the kids can have fun under the sun plus picnic for the whole family!

C. H.

Wow, this place has a whole lot of stuff to look at. Great displays, with fantastic information to go along with it. They have a collection of some of the most fascinating aircraft. Because this place is so spread out, there is a tram that will take you to all of the different areas. The tram is also an exhibit! I do wish they had more automobiles. But they certainly had enough things to entertain me for the time I was there! A great place if you have children. Allow an entire day to explore all of the areas. I suppose I'll just have to come back to New Zealand to see the rest.

N. B.

This place was pretty awesome. So much history and so many interactive sections to play with. The only reason I have not given 5 stars is because of the cafe. Their food was good, their service was good but they were so understaffed that it was chaos. Mess everywhere, food all over the place. However the chap who was managing was wonderful and he quite obviously cares about his staff and is customers. I'll be coming back and bringing my little sisters next week.

G. S.

This is a museum that’s has something for everyone, young & old. Engaging exhibits from all time periods. Easy to get to & parking was not a problem. Take the trams up to the aerospace museum for a mind blowing treat....no spoilers....😎 Block out s few hrs as there is a lot to see. Little ones will not be board with all the tactile exhibits mom n dad may be a bit worn out so there are a few places to relax & have some snacks. All in all a good day out.

L. R.

Awesome place, loads to do. Some of the exhibits are a bit hit-and-miss, but be sure to check out the Hall of Planes at MoTaT 2. The exhibit features a number of World War II and modern combat aircraft. You can even get a free tram ride there and back. Would recommend for kids and adults if you can make it!

R. S.

Kids loved MOTAT. Some of the displayed things are amazing to watch. I personally enjoyed the early age computer displayed. The aerospace section was delight. We loved the tram ride which passes by the Western spring. Worth spending a few hours and good places for almost all the age groups.

A.

Friendly staff members. The passes are really great value for money compared to their normal entry ticket prices. Plenty of exhibitions, shows, activities, and open spaces that you and your children will enjoy. They also run trams every days except during level 4 lockdown; and you can ride the tram for free, and on board, you'll also get souvenir tram tickets.

М. В.

My kids love this place, we visit it regularly as they setup new exhibitions quite often and for weekend events that they run 1-2 times per month

C. S.

Amazing night at MOTAT, went to MOTAT on dec 23, good vibes, excellent lighting decor, games, workshops for kids wishes tree, photo with Santa, skating area, Christmas Carols... all you can imagine in Christmas time are all there. Ticket price is reasonable $3 pp. facility: Big parking area ( I arrived here early). Toilets around. Food trucks n drink, handmade candy workshop.

R. W.

I overheard staff members gossiping about another staff member and they didn't seem genuinely nice, only putting on a smile when waving goodbye. There were pictures and descriptions of successful people in different areas being exhibited, none of them were women. It seemed like the small children were having fun but I personally didn't enjoy it very much. It does look very nice though, aesthetically, so I enjoyed walking through and seeing the historical buildings and machines, but I wouldn't pay to walk through again. I would like to go when there is an event going on because I would like to be able to interact or socialise more, even though there were a lot of people, none of the staff seemed to be interacting with the visitors.

S.

Never get bored of seeing kids trying to master rotary dialling, and peering into the rejected coin chute for a screen.

L. H.

I love this place. They have so many old stuff and I also learn something new from here. It's a good place not only to learn science, but also understand our history. I also love that free tram passing the beautiful park. It's really good experience.

M.

Lots of interesting exhibits . Really enjoyed seeing the aircraft and Bomber Command display. Also the trams and tram ride. Food nice in cafe. Friendly staff. Shame the model trains didn't seem to be running. Fancy a pizza being delivered by the pizza drone!

M. K.

Incredible museum, one of the best of its kind. Amazing airplanes collection and interesting activities for children. It was sunny, then we had a good chance to walk all over the area. Reserve 2 to 3 hours to explore it. Take the tram that goes around the Zoo and come back, included in the ticket. If I live in Auckland area, would buy the annual family ticket, worth the value to take our kids as much as we can.

M. S.

I remember this museum from my younger days, when it seemed to be mainly piles of rusting machinery lying around. Today it is a much cleaned up experience, with everything displayed effectively and attractively. Quite a lot of interactive displays as well make it a more fun experience. The tramride to the aviation hall is worth doing - the aircraft on display are well restored and the Lancaster bomber and others are as impressively large as I remember. Can't go in them anymore, but they are in better condition.

G. “. V.

Tonight we attended the night lights festival, the colours, the music, the steam the vib etc was wonderful, for the best part, the traction engine tooted and scared the daylights out of us all. The staff are all helpful and polite, those interacting with the public about various things like the 1939 anti aircraft spotlight, were very interesting and knowledgeable, with lots of great facts. The crowd was nice too. Not pushy or loud, just a good holsome experience all round. Looking forward to next event

紐. V. i. N. Z.

One of the best place for family to visit. You can spend all day there with very little amount of money. You can get annual tickets if you live in Auckland. The cafe is always busy especially school holidays.

J. M.

There's really something for young and old here. From novelty things to amuse the young right through to transport and vehicle enthusiasts. There's nostalgia and education everywhere you go here, complete with glimpses into what a different world women had to live in not so long ago. Make a day of it and come here you won't be disappointed.

A.

Enjoyed my visit but the aircraft part of the museum will not reopen untill around June 2023

M.

I attended the night lights on Saturday night at Motat. Entry fee was $10 for an Adult. Great value for money.

C. L.

Great place to take the kids especially when they host exhibitions. The recent one we went to was on STEM(Science, technology, Engineering and Maths). With the way technology is taking over this was really good to see. It's always good to get the ticket to include the tram ride too. Can stop at the military Museum too.

S. W.

The Motat 2020 Christmas lights were brilliant. The highlight however had to be the Christmas Carols in the village. Great atmosphere, and all the visitors were in good spirits. Get there early to avoid the large lines!

k.

Great visit. And a plus was a ride in the cab of the tram with Bob the tram driver.

O.

The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT) is a science and technology museum located in Western Springs, Auckland, New Zealand. It is located close to the Western Springs Stadium, Auckland Zoo and the Western Springs Park. The museum has large collections of civilian and military aircraft and other land transport vehicles. An ongoing programme is in place to restore and conserve items in the collections. This work is largely managed by volunteers many of whom have been associated with MOTAT for upwards of four decades. Since the passing of the Museum of Transport and Technology Act in 2000, new management and the support of full-time professional museum staff and a large number of dedicated long term volunteers have ensured the Museum's future. New public programmes and facilities now promote the collections.

E.

Enjoyed the time I took 2 young adult boys with me .They loved the technology section as well as the area where all the old planes were kept...thrre were some interesting areas to explore . We had a ride on the train dropping us off and we walked back took us 20 min to get back to the main area .We spent about 2 hours there it was fun . The cafe on the premises was not great the food was expensive and the epic chicken chips melt was shocking ..no chicken to be found and very expensive and took ages to arive..the tables were dirty and old plates and bottles around . There were schoolkids at Motat at the same time so was quite noisy but expected I guess just be prepared for noisy little bodies .8

S. H.

Had a fun day out with my three sons, nephews and parents. Started at the airplane hanger and took the tram over to main motat site. Good value as two of my son's were free (under 4 yrs) and my parents had a gold card so also free 👍 the planes are so impressive and interesting.

C.

Some of the exhibits at MOTAT look like they could do with a little more care - but overall very engaging and would definitely be worth taking the kids.

M. G.

Great place for families with children. Lots of different events/exhibition throughout the year. I would say get a family pass, value for money (only $95 at the time of writing).

T. H.

We loved the place. An absolute must for every trip in Auckland. The kids love it but even more all adults. You can learn to fly like a bird. You can play Pacman in its original form. Use the real telephone when it had a dailer. Build your own flight jet and then test fly it on a simulator. And many many more attractions. Well with the time and efforts and then go again!

m. l.

If you're here for the season....check out the Christmas lights.... It's beautiful 🤩 You will find the schedule for 2018 is one of my pics below...enjoy! PS: You can find Santa here and make a call to the North Pole from here as well! 😍 🎅

J. B.

We visited whilst the Christmas lights were on show. Our children thoroughly enjoyed themselves as did we! So glad we made the time to go definately a magical place at that time of the year.

R. W.

If you have a kid that likes cars or planes it is a nice place. Kids include people that are over 50cm too. The planes are down a road next to the zoo. There is a tram connecting the two part of the museum. You can buy a ticket and that is for both parts of the museum.

D. S.

Not as good as it used to be. A lot of displays where not working (model trains for example) or missing buttons. Staff very friendly. Food over priced. Take a pack lunched! Also take water. No water fountains etc. The aeroplane exhibit however was amazing! Motat 2 was great.

R. L.

Excellent spot for kiddies, full days entertainment. Make sure you come early. Theres just so much to do in 1 day. Loads of fun for all.

k. i.

The kids loved it, so many interactive exhibits and staff were really informative in a fun way. The kids enjoyed listening to them..

C. P.

Great place really informative and a good half day spent there. Good things for kids to do all over the place and the exhibitions always change. Tram great to other area.

M. S.

Great value for money. Use your AA card to get a discount on entry. Catch the free tram between Motat 1 and motat 2. Lots of activities for the kids, lots of history and Learning too.

R. L.

One needs at least 5hours to walk around and appreciate everything. Fascinating to learn and see where our transport and technology have come from. Highly recommended and excellent day out for the children. We loved our ride on the Tram as well.

N.

An absolute great day out for the whole whanau! So much to see and do.

L. T.

Useful to visit with children 👶 two locations, between them nice free retro tram passing beautiful park zone. Enough activities for children to know about science in a very interesting way. Old autos and planes; a very good explanation of historical events. We visited many museums across the globe, and this is one of the most fascinating.

P. V.

Great place to take students on an outing. They will cater to all needs! They had working stations set up for our students. All day planned trip.

M.

I particularly loved the the transport side with all the aviation history. The wheelchair access here is superb. Fantastic old tram ride to the separate technology site; and it's free! 🙂 Quite difficult to get on & off for those with accessible needs though. Technology site had a great variety of things to see and do. This is the one to go to for families as there is heaps to do for the little ones. Unfortunately wheelchair access here was poor and required a lot of help to move around. Food wise, I suggest you bring a packed lunch as the food in the Cafe, although good, is on the pricey side. All in all a really enjoyable day out! 🙂

J. a. R. M.

One of the most delightful museums we have experienced anywhere in the world with our 3 kids, 5 and under! And the adults had a blast too.

K.

Xmas lights at the Motat is a very special event and is a must do in the Christmas time. We had have a lot of fun.

F.

very interesting, learning place to go for all ages.. my son had a school field trip and I was able to come along to assist the kids, and honestly I had so much fun too..I get to learned the old and new transport and technology with the kids, as they hop from one place to another.. they have enjoyed the Motat Village, and was surprised to see a man inside a fake prison 😃(it was a mannequin), they asked “why there is a man inside?”...it was along day for everyone and the kids and my son had a great time!

M. H.

Great place for kids and older types. Easy to get around to view some of the changes throughout the years. Tram is included in your ticket so make use of it

S.

Great place to explore, lots of interactive things to do. Sadly a bit restricted in Red Light, be great when all back open.

H.

Motat 2 - Reminded me of going to Wigram Airforce Muesem when growing up in Christchurch. Look forward to going back one day for another long look. Really enjoyable and plenty of nostalgia on offer.

A. J.

I love this place much bigger then my first thought. I love the interactive old style phone. And my god the Melbourne tram <3 did not expect to see one after flying over 2000km to Auckland!! Will be back again soon!

S. P.

It’s a very cool and fun place for children and adults alike. Unfortunately the Richard Pearce replica airplane was not in display. My girl loved the experience

E. S.

Pretty average with not a lot of things working, for example the model trains and a lot of the science fiction exhibit. The Motots was also a bit budget. The highlight was the tram from M2 to the main Motat site.

D.

Always a happy, friendly and great atmosphere for the whole family. Came here last to see the Christmas lights. Super vibe. ✨✨✨

m. s. (. g.

It’s amazing, it’s not just for kids, cheep on price, spend at least 5 hours to enjoy all, it’s a heaven for bomber plane lovers

T. L.

Fantastic, good aircraft display and the best tram conductor took us to the second part of the museum and the kids really enjoyed the hands on technology displays

A. f. S. l.

Excellent place to take the family, allow at least 5 hours so you get to see everything. Motat is spread out over two parts, Aviation and the main Museum.

R. “.

Awesome mix of old technology and two exhibitions of not so old. Great interactive machines and lovely old smelling steam engines still running while you can also observe restoration of Auckland trams etc

C.

Its a long and boring day if you take the wife. However there is a lot for the guys to see. 2nd site via tram is good.

C.

Lots and lots of things to do for all ages. We have kids that range from 15 to 2 yrs old and everyone was entertained for hours.

A.

Fantastic place for toddlers, always something to entertain them that is extra to the usual exhibits. The trams are wonderful and the staff and volunteers are excellent. Also good on a rainy day because most things are under cover. The special event days are great but get very busy. Highly recommend the MOTAT Mates family pass.

A. M.

Cool place to spend around 3 hours. It's gonna be a great fun for kids. I myself and my friend enjoyed a lot as well! Recommend!

A.

Amazing Muesum, so much to see and do there for the low admission price, most things all under cover so the wet weather isn't a deterrent :). All the staff are really awesome, helpful and super friendly you can tell they love their job there! Makes it 100% the better experience, can't wait to come to Auckland again will be visiting Motat every time ♥️

D.

Been bringing our kids for years. Love the familiar feel abs the passion of the cumin trees and staff, especially at the aircraft end of MOTAT

L. L.

awesome experience very educational great time to spend whole day with your family here it's like visiting a time capsule.

E.

Had a great day out, Really liked the aviation hangar and the short intro tour we were given on arrival by nice male member of staff very knowledgeable. Tram to main section of MOTAT was brilliant and really enjoyed the exhibitions and had a nice chat with guide Alex in the vintage vehicles exhibition. Well worth the time to visit.

K.

My 4 year old loves Motat, I would like to see more interactive displays for him!

J. M.

We hadn't planned to go in, but had some time to spare. Oh man what a joy. It's totally breathtaking, getting the free tram from the main motat building to the aviation museum is all part of the charm

J.

It was a great experience, is a special place for kids and adults. The Motat has a lot of magic things which make you feel in a time machine.

S. U.

Great place to take children during the school holidays. They had a good variety of different and interesting activities for the children to get involved in. Staff were relatively friendly and engaging. The cafe is probitively expensive (i.e. $10.50 for a small cup of chips & 4 chicken nuggets, or $5 for a donut).

R. M.

A good collection of historic transportation and communication artifacts. Has children's activity. Nice cafe. Must go experience the tram ride and see the aircraft hanger as well. Great family or individual experience.

R.

This place was excellent & marvelous,today I enjoyed a lot. sense of place is when people feel a longing of belonging towards a place or a city they are familiar with. When people visit a place for the first time, there is a feeling of anxiety and excitement where they tend to explore their surroundings for the first time. If they enjoy the place and it has led to a positive emotion, then they will re-visit or return to the place. This sense of returning to the place frequently and having that deep connection with the place makes the ‘space’ become a ‘place’ of meaning and connection. The particular place whether it be a public space or an office building, if it has led to a positive consequence, then people will return, leading to a sense of place. This is particularly important in public spaces and outdoor space. If the planners and architects create a place of belonging and an ambience where people can feel comfortable and convivial, be it the artwork or the fountain or the seating or the footpath or the grass area or the safe feeling one feels in the public space, the architecture of the space contributes to a sense of place.

B. L.

I love WWII history and I was particularly impressed with the aircraft from that era and the set up they have for Bomber Command. The huge Lancaster Bomber was a real highlight. Lots of other activities for the kids with a real focus on hands on education. Highly recommend.

N. L.

Don't have much time to go and have a look at the other museum but will definitely be coming back as there was things for kids to do like the treasure hunt and got a badge out of 6badges when complete. Great outing for the family to do and must bring a picinc. What a lovely day it turned to be on good Friday. AA members get a discount a bonus.

G. B.

Really fun and informative. Loved the mixture of old and new technology. Great for all ages kids and adults too- my husband and I are physics graduates and we both loved it!!

A.

Wow! This was so much fun! Definitely recommend it. The tram to see all the old aeroplanes was sick as! All the staff are super friendly too :) incredible place.

C.

Kids loved it! Machines exhibition was excellent- very interactive and fun. Innovation exhibition did not meet expectations- pretty boring & not geared for young kids.

L. P.

I love MOTAT. Even though I visit it at least once a month, there always is something to see. And I particularly love the steam train that opens every 3rd Sunday of each month!

M. B.

We so much fun but wished I’d had more time there. You definitely need to have 4-5 hours there for the full experience. Being there for a live day made it so much better and getting to meet some of the people working on the machines and exhibits helped me to appreciate it even more. There is something at MOTAT for everyone and I would highly recommend it.

A.

Take your time and take the tram. To pick a favorite I liked the soft blocks on the lawn.

V.

Thank you to David in the machine makers area he made our trip epic and was very knowledgeable, with a great sense of humour!

L.

My son kids absolutely loved the night visit and entries into Motat leading up to Christmas.Favour part was the Tram Ride

D.

Shame most of the exhibitions were closed but still a great interactive view of technological history in NZ

C.

What a great place to spend a few hours, and take the tram to the next part down the road. Cafe is ok as well.

S. A.

Great place for the whole family Awesome that there’s always something cool for everyone to interacting with Even if the weather is a little rough there’s always something cool to do and they have umbrellas available for you to use

R. R.

A good place to visit on a weekend. Good for kids as well to learn about the transportation and aviation technology.

L.

A great place to take the kids, we spent hours there

K.

The museum has a wonderful collection of antique planes and they show them nicely at their second location. There is a large collection of tram cars and early autos and quite a bit on trains. It is a large place, and it is easy to spend an entire day here. We thoroughly enjoyed everything about the museum.

D.

Great place for seeing a host of technology history. Lots of interactive exhibits.

T.

Lantern festival was held there it was beautiful Every one should go at least once

D. J.

We had such a wonderful time. So many fun things to see do. The treasure hunt was amazing. A great day and we learnt so much!

K.

Great place for walks and outing for the pup

G.

Very cool displays. I particularly enjoyed the planes! Well worth a visit

C.

A worthwhile visit for young and old! Lots of interactive displays for 8 year olds and above. Some fascinating engineering exhibitions and an impressive vintage aircraft collection.

N.

Fantastic day out for everyone. We have a yearly pass. It's the best value for money

Y. C.

Went during school holiday, lots of different activities, kids thoroughly enjoyed their time!

G. M.

Had a good day however some attractions were closed. We were there in the school holidays so was a bit disappointed. But was still a good day for young ones.

E.

I love the atmosphere, smell and the feel of the museum. Nothing like old working technology. Just like in the old days.

C.

It has so much to see and do the kids loved it.

S. M.

Great place,very informative,exceptional display.Free tram ride and free horse carriage ride.Quite big place to explore and kids will love it.

z.

Large and wonderful place could easily spend a whole day there . Free horse and carriage ride and free tram rides to many places , including being able to ask tram to stop at zoo or parking spot . Also very interactive for children .

R.

Spent an hour here it was not long enough and thoroughly enjoyed it. Highly recommend we parked down by the zoo and caught the mortar train which seems to run on the half hour

A.

Love MOTAT. We have a family pass and love going to MOTAT as there is always something to do with the kids. The kids love MOTOTS. Went to the Digger day and it was so much fun with some great food vans. Much better food than the on-site cafe. Avoid the on-site cafe as the menu has changed and the food has gone down hill. Waiting 52 mins for chunky fries and ended up getting a refund. Overall great day out and highly recommend getting the family pass.

S.

We went to attend the night light event and it was fun!

T. D. B. T. C.

Great day out, they say to allow an hour but we stayed for four or five :)

K. L.

Really enjoyed the displays and tram would highly recommend

M.

Great place to explore transport and technology, as well as their cool events.

M.

Great place to bring your family....didn't take many pictures as was concentrating on keeping my child within sight and keeping up...😂😂😂😂

n. g.

Kids or adults will love this place. They get special exhibits too which is really neato

T.

Enjoyed the tram ride and the aviation area was fantastic with a very enthusiastic free spontaneous tour. The cafe food was a let down so would recommend bringing a packed lunch as you explore the exhibits.

T.

Great lights display. Reasonable entry fee which was good to see. Value for money this time round. Security guy at the trams was rude and unprofessional! Christmas carolling and music was missing which would have topped it up nicely.

G.

An enjoyable day out for those interested in historic technology. The museum has a good selection of well maintained displays of various things from vehicles to telecommunications to aircraft. The latter really is the hilight of the museum with an impressive number of historic aircraft which are in stunning condition - just a short tram ride away from the main campus.

M.

We love this place! Us for the quality of the exhibits and stories we can make out with our little one. My son loves it especially the displays of planes and the tramway. It's a wonderful place to spend the afternoon. (and also get some great science presents for kids of all ages).

D.

A bit average for adults although it must be said that the aviation display was closed. I can see it would be wonderful for kids.

M.

What is open is really informative and engaging. Take lots of hand sanitizer.

J.

Excellent museum! It's full of old cars, planes, and trains that are fascinating to check out. They are also branching out into hi tech now.

I.

Great maintenance on the desplay. Great to see they are still upgrading the properties and ensuring they kerp up to date with the past. Great for family day out and if it is raining you won't miss a thing. Love the past and how they showcase it

F. Y.

I actually only had a little time wandering around in MOTAT before catching my flight. The steam machinery room is fantastic for all machine lover. David and Peter are so nice to explain the historical background of those steam giants and why they are symbols for NZ's fortune before the war. 10/10.

A.

Just a great day with my 6 year old. Even bought the yearly pass.

N.

Huge variety of exhibitions, warplanes were impressive, found some oldstyle arcade games. Entrance fee totally worth it. Only gripe, was quite hungry after several hours of meandering, but the café's kitchen shut at 3, and the cabinet options were very limited. Didn't stick around to try the coffee, hunger pangs were kicking in!

D.

Great place to visit, but I had a customer service issue. I bought a single admission ticket. When I got home, I saw a suggestion to upgrade the ticket to an annual pass by paying the difference "today". MOTAT was closed when I got home, so I drove back the next day to purchase the upgrade. They told me that I had to do it the same day as I visited, so I'd not only wasted the cost of a single admission, but also the cost of driving back to MOTAT to do the upgrade only to be told I couldn't have it. That was very disappointing.

G.

Enjoyed the experience. Haven't been in a long time Staff are friendly and easy to talk to

J. C.

Its always a wonderful visit with lots of exhibits and the giant planes and tram are always highlights.

S.

TLDR: Went the extra mile while still providing spectacular service during the Christmas light night, they were running trams every 20 minutes. They were supposed to end at 10:30 pm but they noticed that the line was very long even at 10:30. After noticing this, they decided to run the trams overtime to almost midnight (PS. THEY ARE JUST VOLUNTEERS). The work culture at MOTAT is amazing and their customer service is on point

G.

I love this place. So cool with so many exhibits to see. Great for the small kids and for the bigger ones too. I absolutely recommend going to the aeroplane hanger as it's got a great selection of planes

J.

An excellent afternoon out with 7yr old grandson. The short train ride from the parking area was exciting.... for the grandson! Plenty of indoor viewing and activities on a very wet day. Well priced and thoroughly enjoyable.

F. F.

Nice family time To spend To... if you are interested in transport and technology history.

L.

Went mid week over xmas hols, a lot seemed to be closed, the little store set ups were locked, for example. Came out of motat 2 at 10:38 for the 10:45 tram, along with another group, and it was pulling away, fortunately he stopped and remarked we were lucky he saw us in his mirror. Once on board he then made a rude comment about 'maybe the tram would actually get to leave this time' - still 5 minutes early!! We then got caught at the other side, after being told the tram runs every 30minutes, by the fact it doesn't run at lunch, there is no trams between 11:55 and 1pm. Overall the experience was ok, but felt a lot of stuff wasn't on display which I see in other reviews. Didn't see many old vehicles, just a few parked outside, no old toy display or phones like I remembered from last visit. Unsure if we just missed these somehow, they were closed, or if they've been taken away. There was one very lovely, engaging man in the machine makers area who was great to talk with. (Dec 23rd visit)

P.

The displays were really interesting. Had nice man show us around the aeroplane part and he did a great job. The only let down was the food in the restaurant.

K.

Friendly staff, Christmas Spirit, Love Motat Christmas Lights, finishes tonight 24th December 11pm

J.

Great walk around the lakes in the park. Fishes and eels in the lake. Chickens, swans and ducks walking around the lake.

j.

Kids enjoyed it and so did I. The staff was very knowledgeable in the planes and was very compelling that you wanted to listen.

R.

Haven't had a look around inside for years. Used to love coming here as a child. I am currently a bus driver andI do many School charters here. Very popular.

G.

Yea good for the kids

D.

Great place for kids to learn while playing and still interesting enough to keep adults entertained. Would happily visit motat with the kids or just on a date.

P.

Found this place while out and about in Auckland. Gave it ago during our stay. Great museum, especially with kids young and old -- even our 12 year old enjoyed it. Good for an afternoon. Plan for around 3-4 hours to enjoy both locations, with a tram ride included in the cost of a ticket. Loved the way this museum is set out, and loved the tram ride to the Aviation Display Hall. Great interactive exhibits.

S.

Excellent museum, great for kids. There is a special indoor, airconned play space for under 5's called Motots, nice feature. Lots of cars, trucks, some heavy equipment, and rail and tram stuff on display. The functional steam "beam pump" inside The Pumphouse at M1 is impressive too. I learned some things in the displays about digital tech as well and the collection of pre-digital and digital information technology is impressive too. And I haven't even been over to M2 and the aviation display hall yet! Will definitely be back.

F. P.

Great 2 parted museum with tram transfer. Very enjoyable. Take your time, it's worth it!

P.

Not really my thing. Good for children. As my son explains - " It's not really a museum for him is it?"

A.

Great way to get children to learn history in a fun way!!

M.

Great place to spend time with kids. Lots of things to see, lots of place to run around.

A.

Great fun for kids and anyone interested in machinery, technology and flying; overheard one old lady tell her grandchild his great great uncle flew one of the flying boats on display so it has a personal connection for many people too. Some fascinating displays, from steam engines to digital technology. Two separate locations connected by a tram that passes around the zoo...don't lose your ticket!! Needs at least 4 hours to do it justice.

K. P.

Loved coming here! We came during the week and there were a couple of school groups. Staff were very knowledgeable and helpful. Exhibits are fantastic. The whole complex was very clean, tidy and well laid out. Right on a bus route if public transport is your means of transportation, however there is plenty of parking here too. We did find some very modern exhibits (items that you can still buy in shops now) which I thought bizarre. It is an very well worthwhile place for young and old to see weather or not you are a history buff.

A.

It is amazing place that good for family and kids

A.

Could make more parking space but a awesome place to go and visit and to see thanks Motat

C.

The operator at the Steam engine was an inspiration. He had volunteered at glenbrook since he was 9 years old and knew all there was to know about operating a Steam engine . This is the first time I had seen the engine fully operating at Motat...very pleasing experience

G.

It's amazing , with a plane section that our boys love . Then there's a tram that goes round all of the museum . There is also a big historical village , with picnic tables so you can have lunch there. The sections are numbered 1-5 ,so you can't get lost . But your kids can :the area is gigantic. There's a big car park and a sports feild next to it so you can't miss it At the start there is a big shop witch is really nice .

N.

Awesome place to spend time with the kids. The reenactment of a Victorian school and police constable was top notch. The new tech and gaming area are great too, but it's a shame some areas weren't accessible due to absence of supervising employees.

R.

Interesting collection and displays. Has changed a lot since I was there last and volunteers were very helpful and happy to explain ongoing restoration projects and answer questions. Plane exhibit with Lancaster Bomber was impressive. Cafe food catering was great. A enjoyable day exploring technology of days past to get us here. Innovators stories and STEM to inspire the next.

K.

Went to the Aviation NZ Gala Dinner in the Aviation hall at MOTAT. I can't praise the venue or the aircraft in there enough. This place is a true gem in the aviation history of New Zealand and should be on evey aircraft enthusiasts bucket list.

P.

Good set of old planes there to see, some cars, as well as plenty of other interesting exhibitions. A shame they don't have enough space to get the whole collection out of storage.

H. R.

If you have kids great place to take them

a.

A great place to spend the afternoon. Went there because of layover in Auckland. Good exhibitions and informative. There is a kids section so don't stress about taking your kids there. Unfortunately my layover wasn't long enough; it is huge, so you should put aside at least half a day for it. Would go again, but unfortunately I don't live in Auckland.

A.

Always interesting and soemthing new to look at each visit. Trams are fun

J.

Enjoyable but somehow not quite the experience of 30 odd years ago. It seemed to me to be pretty much geared up as a marketing experience for children rather than a museum. Still, having said that, I was there with my children and their children and it was a good day out. They all enjoyed the ride on the tram to the Aviation section and that was excellent in every way. So, perhaps I should up my rating to 4 stars! Thank you.

D.

If you like old engines, cars, planes, communications equipment etc, you will love this place. You can ride a small trolley to the airplane musuem which is why I went in the first place. This isn't an all day museum unless you are a slower patron. Plenty to see, less so to actually do but that's typical. Staff is nice and helpful. All in all a decent museum.

C.

Liked the steam driven equipment in particular. And the trams were great - and working too!

S.

Awesome place to take the Kids and show them some of the History they may not have seen

S.

Great museum for kids ans adults alike!

J.

Hands on, interactive and enjoyable place to educate the young and young at heart

J.

Such a cool place for the kids. Heaps to do with lots of exhibitions and interactive activities. Good for those who love all things machinery, vehicles etc. Take the tram from the main building down to the aviation section. Cafe on site at MOTAT to feed the troops.

M.

Went yesterday with my 14 year old son. He really loved the planes and War memorabilia. Need more programmes for older kids/teens who are interested in historical things. Staff are helpful and exhibitions are beautifully set out.

J.

Very good place to take the kids lots to see and learn

E.

This places continues to grow on us! They've made improvements to the facilities over time, but the best part is seeing your kids fall in love with technology and science. It was when our kids hit 7years old (or so) that this place became so much more special to them. There's plenty to see here for sure, but it was once our kids could read and engage the exhibits on their own that this place became our go-to museum in Auckland. Nerd or not, the historical value is worth a visit regardless.

M.

What an awesome place, such a cheap family day out. Can’t wait to bring the kids back. Staff especially over at the aviation museum and the train drivers were so so lovely and full of knowledge and info. Kids had so much fun. Auckland traffic back to Hamilton will be the only thing holding me back.

B.

Aeroplanes were very interesting and it was great to talk to the people restoring them. Enjoyed riding on the tram between venues and found the interactive things at MOTAT 1 fun.

S.

Must visit for all the technology, science, and history enthusiasts. Have life size time capsules of old houses and many more

C.

Amazing place to take your kids! Lots of engineering type stuff; cars, steam engines, telecommunications, aviation etc. Better on the weekend as mid-week we had to contend with school trips and a quite a few exhibits were shut. Great little restaurant in a villa, and the staff were very very helpful!

M.

Here with my almost 4 year old. He adores this place. Plenty to keep him happy and interested. Lots of spots to take a seat if you need them. We brought our own lunch today,so cant comment on onsite food. A good day out.

V.

Spent a whole lovely day with my three year old kid here and had loads of fun

L.

Great place to take the kids! I really enjoyed how this museum had a variety of things to look at aswell as playground attractions for the kids. They had a comfortable parents room where I happily nursed my 5 month old. Definitely worth going to Motatt.

Y.

I bought the annual membership, it is well worth since I came to this place with kids multiple times in a year due to they have multiple different event throughout the year

T.

Great for the kids as usual. Parking a problem but usually more parking at MOTAT1 off Meola Rd and a tram trip, which the kids absolutely loved, to MOTAT2.

J.

Went to MOTAT with our 2 year old for the bubbles day and he had a blast! The event was fun and enjoyable across all ages. For the second half of the day, we went onto the tram ride for $2 and visited the aviation museum and that was fantastic as well. I do feel that the place has so much potential with the space and hope to see it improve in the future, perhaps heading in the direction of a Science Museum which is lacking in NZ.

S. I.

Good place to visit one time! Weekend special activities are an attraction for younger kids. Many cars and planes on display. A toy train runs in the centre of the park. There is also display of fire engines. There are 2 parts of the park connected by a tram. Tram ride is enjoyable and gets you to the site where airplanes are on display.

P.

Came here with my gf and her family, definitely worth visiting, especially if you got kids... we didn't get through everything on offer but did cover a good 75% of it or so. The little one's were getting restless near the end so we called it a day, but they loved their time here while it lasted and I'm sure they would again if we ever returned. I know I'd definitely be back if the opportunity/invitation came up.

P.

It was a fun experience. Amazing collection of modes of transportation and technology. I particularly enjoyed the functioning rides. Like the tram, steam powered train and horse carriage. It takes you to a different time and place, if you know what I mean. The old telephone units took me down memory lane. Quite amusing. But I think the highlight of it all is the aviation section. Awesome display of fighter planes. Huge ones! One concern though. If you go there and rain suddenly pours, chances are you will get wet when moving from one building to the next. So check on the weather before going. We were not so lucky.

G.

Love this place as a kid now my kids love this place. They have updated and relevant exhibits, as well as friendly knowledgeable staff. The librarian even sent us on an adventure to find a plane which was my little ones favourite part of her day.

J.

I've been before, and it's great for entertainment values for a museum which is defiantly not one of those old boring crusty places. But yesterday's trip was for the Christmas lights. The museum opened at 8pm, entry was only $2 and the Christmas lights were really beautiful, but the exhibition halls weren't open which was a bit sad. But motat did a good job of setting out a vision of. Christmas, with carolers and old fashion candy as well as tram rides.

G.

An excellent museum with a variety of things to see from aviation to gaming technology. There is a cafe on site. I visited on a rainy day and thoroughly enjoyed. Entry includes access to the tram ride to the aviation hanger which is about 1km away. You could easily spend all day at this museum although we weren't advised it would take us around 3hrs to view everything.

K.

The best. Fantastic for kids and adults alike

S.

Motat is amazing, would highly recommend! Great exploring and finding out our history. The tram ride is a lot of fun and goes by often. During the school holidays they had a detective challenge for the kids to accomplish!

B.

It would be great if there was parking available. The food truck idea is great, how about getting circus performers to do busking

S.

A lot of displays missing from last visit. Areas closed off. Fewer interactive displays. One staff member on at cafe. Took the family, cost $105 admission- Disappointed. Did enjoy the Tram ride and Aircraft section.

H.

Awesome place to go to with the family it also caters for the disabled & wheel chair access. Take a lunch or use the cafeteria with lovely meals & awesome staff

R.

Loved it. Worth going and visiting. Could take a good few hours if uve got kids. Try and complete the tasks so as not to miss ur badge.

P.

I have always enjoyed going here and it keeps improving. What astounded me recently was incredibly how they give free entry for people with a level of autism. My little nephew has autism and ADHD and loves it here. We have been a few times for free and is an amazing experience. Thankyou so much.

Z.

They had a cool STEM exhibition, so lots to try and touch and play with. Good activities to bring science and technology to life! Lots to explore. Staff are helpful and friendly. Toilets and facilities tidy and clean. Cafe has a big range of food and drink. Cherry on top was free entry for educators and family, thank you!!!

C.

We had a great family day out.

D.

Great place to have a walk around. You don't have to be a child to love this place. Went here with my wife and we are both 27! We loved it! Seeing all the displays and learning how things worked. It was an awesome day out for both of us.

I.

If you’re ever in Auckland, this is an amazing place to take the kids. Endless fun for them to be had, and educational too. I have fond memories of MOTAT as a child. My father took me here 20 years ago and now I get to take my own child. I’ve visited MOTAT four times since then and it’s always changing and improving! Definitely take a whole day for MOTAT. There’s a little cafe and a great seating area even if you decide to take your own food. I don’t think it’s possible for kids to get bored here.

M.

I had a superb time visiting this museum. Lots of displays on so many different topics. Very reasonable admission charge includes free trolley to their second location, which is a fun experience by itself. I was particularly impressed with the old, yet operating, huge stationary steam engines. Rare to see live steam engines these days. The operating telephone switching racks were fascinating, with the complex relay mechanisms clicking away. Also, I enjoyed the old radios, TVs, and computer equipment. (But ones that I've used shouldn't already be displayed in museums!) Of particular interest to other Geeks like me is the analog computer built from Erector set parts. I had heard of them, but what fun to actually see one.

J.

Really interesting site with a tram ride between site locations.

A.

Was here on a rainy day but as most exhibits are inside it wasn't a problem. Very interactive for children. Second part of museum is dedicated mainly to aircraft and is quite a distance from the main museum so you are best to use the tram or drive. I'd recommend you see the web site for any special events, exhibitions and working days. Well worth a visit.

E.

Some interesting exhibits like the diesel/steam equipment and vintage cars, but the rest of the museum is rather underwhelming. Multiple features were broken or unattended making them unusable. Definitely more oriented towards kids, not much for adults.

O.

Very well thought museum with a friendly and knowledgeable staff. Whoever came up with the idea to put the cars on lifts, so you can see the under carriages is a genius. I love touches like that. The air museum wooden hanger is abosulely gorgeous as well. This is also a kids friendly museum.

S.

Still a good place to take children. It was slightly disappointing that some of my childhood favorite places / things to do and see were gone, but still worth going.

M. C.

Excellent place to learn about New Zealand transport and technology. Has a nice cafe too. Plenty of toilets, ok for wheelchairs. Pity there aren't human guides. I had lots of questions. There must have been 200 school kids present when we went. Better to go when they are at home. Less noisy, some things I couldn't hear on the audiovisuals due to the children.

T.

Amazing display of aircraft, friendly staff.

D.

Awesome. It was a really great experience & my lil 9yr old niece & her base friends all enjoyed yes it too.

M.

As someone who has been into aviation for decades this has to be one of my favorite places. All the birds are in top notch condition! Well looked after and maintained.

A.

A great place to experience every once and a while. And a must do, if you don't live in Auckland. We went and enjoyed Bubble Weekend in February which allowed you to enjoy another activity (for several put on by MOTAT) as well as being able to view what MOTAT is really there for. Everyone loves the tram ride too!

C.

Really great! The kids enjoyed it, was really busy because of school holidays but plenty of room to move around and look at everything. Kids really loved the tram. Star lost for not very friendly staff at Cafe.

J.

The museum has technology ranging from earlier forms of transportation including steam powered engines. Automobiles, science and fun practical applications of mechanical engineering. The Boeing aviation exhibition was brilliant and the aviation compliment has some rare gems. Really good value for money will have to visit again so much to read and learn.

M.

The museum is a great place to take the family. Heaps of fun activities for the kids. Would recommend a Sunday they have a live Weekend with steam enginees etc running. We are regular visitors at least once a month.

S.

Didn't see the aviation part but the rest was good especially the steam engines. Allot of outside so not so good on wet day.

N.

Fantastic place. Lots of things to do and see. It was the bubble festival so great for the younger kids. Loved that there were lots of amenities and places to eat other than just hot chips! Well worth the visit.

O.

Came here for a school trip. Lots of construction and changes going on. Staff member that took our private lesson was good. Tram ride and driver were excellent with the students. We were left with only about an hour to explore the rest of the museum on our own and that was more than enough time. Dissapointed with lack of interactive exhibits and stuff got younger children.

P.

Even though it was a wet day we enjoyed all the exhibitions and our grandchildren loved the interactive activities. All the staff were helpful and friendly. We spent 4 hours there and didn't even go on the tram to see the aeroplanes. There was lots more we could have done.

R.

Great place to take the kids, cool free military, tram & train rides on 'live' days plus heaps of other activities. Free for special needs children & one carer!! The cafe on site is hideously expensive but doesn't do a bad coffee actually. Heaps of parking available

C.

Heaps of interesting things on display and activities for all ages, and staff were friendly. Quite a few things weren't working when we were there, perhaps requiring a bit of maintenance after school summer holidays. Definitely recommend the aviation exhibit which you ride the tram to get to. You can also park at the aviation site and buy tickets there.

B.

We enjoyed this place. If you have an interest in this stuff you would love it. Kids enjoyed some of the interactive features whether the wqter pumps of other displays. Tram ride was strangely enjoyable as we crossed the road stopping traffic. Really liked the aviation section with the lancaster bomber very cool. Probably only a one visit place.

G.

Very informative as I haven't been to the facility for a long time. especially with the level of lock down in Auckland. Staff making sure everything is sanitised and that social distancing is observed.

R.

Great fun for kids and awesomely interesting for mechanically-minded dads. Maybe not quite so enjoyable for mum but hey, there's always the cafe and a magazine! For mum, on-her-own time is easily as exciting as steam engines. 😀

N.

$2 entry and super friendly staff. We arrived at 8.30pm and the queue was immense. So, we went for dinner and came back just after 10pm. No queues and we got all the way round. The lights were so stunning, the atmosphere was gorgeous and our four kids raved about how festive they felt being there. There was craft making, food stalls, tram rides and the little houses were all open to view. A really worthwhile pre Christmas family event, just be prepared for the queues or if you’d rather miss them, go the first few days it opens or arrive later in the evening.

J.

Always good for a day out and and the annual passes are very reasonable making it a cheap outing to go to regularly. Kids all love it as there is always something new every term to explore.

C.

The new look is great even though they are still working on areas there was plenty to see and do. There are plenty of interactive displays, the best one being the video games in the technology building. Only let down was the cafe, the coffee wasn't bad but if you are looking to have food don't, over priced and worse quality than a 2am pie at the gas station. My hot chips, weren't fresh and could have used some extra cooking.

A.

Great place for kids!

C.

Visited the place during Rad Robot show. A day filled with fun activities, technology and inspirations, especially for kids.

B.

Loved the night lights. Good atmosphere for kids.

K.

A wonderful experience, I built my first UFO and went to Kepler 452b meeting a new species called the Brunians, very friendly 10/10 would come here again to build another.

C.

SOOOO much fun!! Recommend it for anyone in Auckland for a holiday or even if you live there and have never been

C.

Amazing during Christmas ❤️

R.

Went here for their Christmas lights. Such a great place to go to the whole family. So much care is taken to ensure the right staff are in the right jobs. From friendly elves to conductors giving high fives. So impressed, definitely worth the time to go.

P.

The exhibits are great, very interactive and cool for kids. You need to self cater as the cafe is a shambles...surely it is big enough to have two cafes on the main site? Or a permanent coffee stand? The tram ride is a major plus. Cool to see all those old trams, including the old tram map of Akl. Good for 3/4 hours out.

J.

We love this all-weather friendly place, which has both outdoor and indoor entertainments for kids. There is always something new to learn for both adults and children.

R.

Not only a machine museum, it's got interactive physics for kids, has modern family events, and supports some kind of invention hub too. We go with our 2year old for a few hours once a month. He likes the trams, moving machines and of course the play ground :)

M.

Motat is an interesting place to visit. Lots to see, do and learn.

C.

Huge display. Well done all the volantares for their efforts over the years. One off my bucket list, but I will be back.

E.

Excellent place to take the kids. Lots of interactive activities. The exhibits are changed so if you haven't been a whike they, chances are things have changed. Great for school trips, too. Make sure to ride the tram and check out MOTAT 2 - the aviation exhibit.

M.

Great for the kids! They loved it! Kids aged 2 and 10. Both had a great time!

L.

Jump for Joy happenned at this iconic museum and hundreds of kids had fun on the ROCKUP Monkey Motion 4 way Extreme Air Jumper

E.

Always something new to see and do. From exhibitions, to kids shows, to tram rides... Every 3rd Sunday is also the 'live day' which is a must see at least once. Actors bring the historic displays to life, with real blacksmiths, printing press operators and horse and carriage rides. Over at MOTAT 2 they also have steam train rides, jeep rides, and if you're really lucky - tank rides. And of course, there are all the standard exhibits.

I.

Beautiful. Great to see how people care and look after their yesterday

J.

Free for gold card holders and the cafe is well worth bringing your grand kids to.

C.

Good fun for the kids and educational for the adults too. There is a tram that you can use to get from MOTAT 1 to MOTAT 2, so no need to walk or drive the distance and fun. Bring your own lunch and picnic or have lunch at the cafe. Be warned, it is over priced for what you get.

S.

Honestly, I don't love it. At all. I was extraordinarily bored every time I've been here, which is a lot of times, because my two kids (aged 10 & 12) LOVE IT. I don't get why, it's the exact same stuff there almost every time (except when they have special stuff on). I cannot fathom how they get so much enjoyment, but seeing as they do I bought us all a years pass and it's a fantastic way to entertain them. And there's a cafe.

L.

Some great developments and progress being made to their experiences. Definitely good to see some of the tired galleries and exhibition spaces being revamped and brought up to date. Our 2 year old loves it. Plenty for him to see and do. Cafe is a bit expensive, but quality of food and coffee is quite good. Couldn't quite bring myself to spend the asking price of the soft-serve...

J.

Went with our toddler who enjoyed herself and the hubby who loved the aviation hall. Still things the same as 20 years ago and parts could do with some up keep. Tram ride was great.

J.

Anyone can go, something for everyone, clean facilities

K.

Wished we had longer. Fantastic set up of full sized planes at one site and then you catch the tram up the road to the other site where there are cars, tractors, trucks. Would highly recommend

N.

The Xmas lights and tram ride is a must see

B.

Thank you so much for your thoughts n appreciation upon the teachers you gave us chances that special for this whole month for free to visit the museum thank you so much as I used that chance to bring my kids explore themselves in lots of things that they haven’t seen n visit before as a family. Great staff good services thank you so much for your great support i really appreciate it💖👍

S.

They are looking to upgrade which is well overdue. Have been underwhelmed with the special exhibits of late. Hopefully spending some money and breathing new life into the place will help. Kids have fun.

J. R.

New displays and changes are awesome, loved the experience this time. Mr 8 the perfect age for both the holiday challenge and the Above and Beyond display. Only criticism is the cafe, disgustingly dirty, at 10am (opening) and 1pm...

L.

Many buildings of exhibits to explore and things to learn about: technological innovations, transportation, telecommunications, pumphouse, aerospace (special time-limited exhibit), plus a village of heritage buildings, plus a vintage tram ride. I spent three hours onsite, glad to have the time to read many of the panels and participate in some interactive displays. The aviation section was closed when I was there (so site entry was half-price), so I will return sometime for that.

D.

This is a place for all age groups to get a feel of science and technology. They kept old engines, cars and artifacts of old telecommunications systems. The team ride to section 2 is a nice experience. It's located near Auckland zoo. There are so many gam s to play and enjoy. Must visit attraction when you are in Auckland.

C.

Enjoyable place to visit with lots of different examples of technology past present and future. Different exhibits each covering a different type of technology. Make sure you have plenty of time as there is lots to see and do. Gear to see all the work that the volunteers are doing to restore the old machinery to running condition. Entry price also includes free tram rides and entry to the aviation part of the museum

C.

Great place, lots of awesome exhibits

G.

Great time, a lot of exhibits in both pavillions. We went there on military day, had a fair bit of thematic exhibits on the day, also free ride in armoured vehicles for kids, and RNZAF Black Falcons flyover. Highly recommended for a family day out

S.

Colorful, unique museum. Enough stuff to spend an entire afternoon in, but a good choice to combine with the zoo (they're easy walking distance). Expect to walk between buildings on somewhat uneven terrain and some buildings won't have air conditioning, so dress for the weather and maybe save this one for a day that isn't rainy.

S.

Awesome place to take the kids. A good mix of hands on activities and exhibits just to look at. Not as spread out as the map would have you believe so not too bad on a wet day, if you're lucky they'll have an umbrella for you to use

J.

Matariki lights was great but the place needs more food stalls for events like these.

S.

Great place,, very bummed that we didnt realise there was a aircraft area,

N.

Great day out with the kids at MOTAT, especially when they had the Dig It exhibition on!

K.

Great place for the kids. So interactive will take you the whole day so take a packed lunch not a lot of food options available. Easy to follow and the tram ride is neat. Staff are helpful and informative.

J.

FANTASTIC INTERESTING museum for all ages. You can catch the OUT bus from Auckland Central and get off at the first part of the museum. Your entrance fee includes a tram ticket which is a fun 5 minute ride to the rest of the museum. You can choose to hop off and go to the zoo too. The museum consists of a number of very educational displays including historic planes and a video/display on Jean Batten, info on Skylab's rocket, all sorts of old machines and inter-active fun activities. People of all ages will love this place 😊

G.

A surprisingly good visit. Plenty of hands on items for kids and also a number of things for the adults to enjoy. Also worth taking the tram up to view the aviation hall.

S.

Plenty of interesting things to see. There are interactive displays which seem pretty fun for children. Also, there is a free tram ride that will bring you between the two main areas. Along the tram ride, you may drop off at the Auckland Zoo if you please.

I.

Quiet amazing lots of history many different planes to look at great shop to buy merchandise very reasonably price you get to ride on the tram also

A.

Definitely need more than a few hours here. Hard to glimpse things to see where to head to make the most of the time we had so missed some cool stuff. Affordable entry and good cafe with reasonable pricing so would definitly go again when in Auckland.

D. P.

I love this living museum. Make sure you take the team ride to the other sections, it's included with your ticket. I always suggest parking at motat 2, as there is always plenty of parking. It's a wonderful way to spend your day learning about technologies. It's honestly a treasure.

L.

Excellent museum, this covers a variety of transport, innovative and historical areas of New Zealand society. All on one level this is great for stollers and wheelchairs. Parent room and plenty of toilets. There is a cafe on site but it struggles to keep up with demand on busy days.

C.

Huge place with two separate sites including a hangar with all kinds of planes. Kids tend to LOVE this place and it's certainly interesting for adults as well. The price to enter is very competitive compared to the nearby Auckland Zoo. As little as a quarter of the price, potentially.

M.

Love love this place. My son asked to go for the holidays again. Second time going. Definitely recommend.

F.

Best value attraction we have seen in NZ so far. Cheap in value but not in experience, we spent all day there. Cafe was great value too. Highly reccomend this place if you have kids.

M.

Lots of great exhibits, friendly staff. A good day out for the kids or people with an interest in technology. The tram trip over to the aviation exhibit is well worth the time.

H.

So much to see and experience. Love it!!

L.

Full of crying whining kids. Avoid on weekend

N.

One of the best in Auckland for a family day out specially in the themed weekends. Kids loved the bubble weekend.

S.

Great outing for the kids. Good value for money. However be warned, the restaurant is a complete ripoff. $8 for a milkshake with no ice cream in it just milk and flavoring. Unreal. Avoid at all costs.

P.

The kids love it here, and spectacular value at under $100 for a year long family pass.

J.

Impressive displays and a walk down memory lane. Awesome for a visit every few months

r.

Probably 25 years since I had been to motat, the place has definitely improved by leaps and bounds. A massive variety of things on display and lots of interactive stuff too. My little nephdudes had a great day, especially the tram

I.

When I was younger, I used to come here all the time, and when I cam back a couple months ago, it was great to see you keeping up with what you do. Keeping up with all the history of transport, while keeping it fun for the kids.

A.

It is good for school kids. One of the enjoyable things is the Tram ride.

J.

Loved it. Just never enjoyed the pre made meals. Would rather wait longer and have it fresh.

N.

Excellent museum exhibits covering various technologies like computers, stream engines, planes, and working trams you can ride. Also kids' activities and a cafe. Fun for the whole family.

R.

We have been going to the Motat around Christmas for a couple of years now. The lights they put around the whole place is just fascinating and my son loves it. Hope to visit it again this year and watch a movie as well.

D.

Very good value. My children are 4 and 6 so a lot of the museum displays beyond them but they loved the tram, horse and carriage, and road train rides which were all included in the entry price.

m.

MOTAT is a cool place to see the old things and to know what was there before we came to this world. You may need almost two hours to completely visit the place. It will be amazing for childrens as well as the adults. You can travel in a TRAM, see the old cars, trams, tram garages etc. A small old village model is set up there, which is good. This includes a classroom too. MOTAT-2 is a super cool place. Aeroplanes and related things. Bomber planes are superb there. Overall, its a good place to invest your time in.

H.

Still a good place, but it’s not what it used to be 10 years ago (I was 6 at the time), the exibits are good, especially the above and beyond exhibition. Dad and I spent like, an entire morning there. I have always liked the tram ride.

A.

One of Auckland's great museums. Very popular. You can easily spend all day here observing and interacting with the technology exhibits. The plane displaysare fantastic. The steam train is a unique experience. The trans are a reminder of Auckland's recent history.

L.

Excellent place to take kids and have a fun day. Ride the tram to the airplane and military area too. Great value if you get the annual pass as they are always having pop up type events!!

r.

Had an amazing time! One of the best museums I've ever been to. They have exhibits on everything from slide rules, the old phone system, water pumps, historic vehicles, and more!

C.

Little disappointing, seems to have lost its way many of the old historical favorites gone replaced by cheesy kid friendly displays, aviation section though is world class

H.

I went there today with friends We where disappointed The old village looks so neglected and could only see into 3. There was no lollie shop anymore. Would we go again no. Helen

C.

This is so worth going to, especially if they have a display on....well thought out interactive education....a must see for all New Zealanders and visitors, at least once

Á. L.

Great place for a whole day of family fun! Even on a rainy day we enjoyed trying out various means of transport, from police car to the old tram that tookbus to visit the plane exhibition.

C.

Great place to take the kids, the food stall could do with help on a busy day but were very prompt considering the small amount of staff at hand. I did notice the who I believed to be the supervisor was just sitting in the room behind the counter although the team could have used her help..

R.

i went to motat when I was a very young school goer, only remember there being a laser tag type of exhibit that's about it. Now that I'm older and visiting again, my most recent visit was interesting in that I noticed many things. FYI I would say that the park itself caters more to families and children. Please also note there are TWO sites both have their own parking. I first arrived at the and had a problem - no clear signage for where the park was and parking. I pulled into the station road parking entrance and immediately noticed another problem - no dedicated parking lot. On the right was a public park/field, towards the front was the back end of western springs and a building that was in construction/reno mode which also meant the carpark was completely full. a mix of pickups, staff cars were parked in the 20+/- (dedicated?) parking area (also note no pram-friendly parking). I had to decide if I was going to park in the street that the zoo was on and then make my way into the entrance, OR go to the other site and hope to find more parking there. It took 6 mins (via google maps) to reach the other site (which is on the other side of western springs) and even there the parking lot was about 12+/- spaces once again. No pram-friendly parking once again. I made my way inside and bought my ticket. Immediately another problem I noticed was, the ticketing area. It is squished in between a gift shop which means if you have large groups of people, then it's going to be a hassle to get everyone through infact - without any security gates/dedicated queue or an obvious wrist band, anyone could've walked through easily. They also gave me a map, and my receipt. The receipt was my actual 'ticket' into the place. I thought this wasn't very personal as i had to carry around bits of paper that would eventually be thrown away or blown away or be lost easily. Also the map is informative but not very effective. It does not tell me where 'I am here' is which would be very risky if you plan to have kids running around the place, getting lost etc. Also not available in other languages so if you cannot read or speak english then that sucks. Overall the place is obviously more catered to children and families. the exhibits are all well cared for however don't expect crazy immersive experiences or huge interactions. mostly a point and see type of museum. Personally I just think it could be much better, esp for the price you pay.

C.

Really great experience. A lot to see and do and we'll priced.

A.

Motat is definitely something you want to like and follow the facebook page of because the events they hold (such as the Christmas Lights) are well put together, a fun and interactive experience for the whole family. Motat is a great place to learn about science and the older forms of transport and our progression through technology to where we are now. Well worth the visit.

R.

Has a wonderful collection of Airplanes and also an section " Above and Beyond" which will entice kids to have an interest in technology. Rest of the displays are also good. All staffs were very helpful.

M.

World class museum. On the day we visited the steam boiler was going and many steam engines were in operation. The place is made up of many different buildings that cover different aspects of technology. There is a building just for telecommunications that has three operating telephone exchanges of which one was from before 1910 and is in working condition. There was no parking but signage said we can park at motat 2 then take the free tram past the zoo to motat. Great for all ages.

K.

If we aim at London or San Fransisco's similar museums, it has lots of room for improvement (I know money is a major issue though) My recent visit (20/1/2018) has changed my view. It now has lots of new stuff and deserves a 5 star review! Well done!

J.

A little bit of everything. A great place to spend a day and learn a lot about New Zealand history and technology.

K.

As always a great place to take the kids, we lost track of time and ended up being there after it closed the staff were lovely and had a giggle with us about being lost in time as they found us in the little historical village.

S.

You have to take a whole day to go through all that is to see at MOTAT, lots to learn and lots of fun for kids and parents.

D.

Loved this place. Been there with family to see the Christmas lights. I’d highly recommend the train ride as it’s quite a hit with people of all ages. Warm and friendly staff, who put in efforts to ensure the visitors have a good time. It’s a must visit place even otherwise. Would strongly recommend this place for tourists.

N.

It's changed sooo much since the last time I was there. No more mirror maze or the dark room maze and the big train is also gone which was a bit guttering. A lot more modernised. 3D printer is bomb! :) The train ride was awesome though, driver was cool. The planes site was amazing and the man named Hugh that worked there was lovely enough to give us a tour.

M.

Loved the day out at Motat with my little one, although I did get lost a couple of times.

C.

The Christmas Lights event is well organised and fun. It is also popular with many people around.

W.

Christmas lights and trains was quite fun. Entrance fee was fair, quite nice to come here once in awhile.

D.

A good family day out or even a good trip for tram, aviation and science enthusiasts. Some old Auckland and Melbourne trams whisk you around the complex.

A.

MOTAT is New Zealand's largest transport and technology museum suitable for all ages. All the telecommunication devices and application are arranged in chronological order, Most existing part is we can try landline wire telecommunication. we can try morse code. Proper explainantion of each and every device and its working is available at the site. Old gaming devices, we can try old games and get hands on them. Various generations of vechiles, Trams, train engines, Buses, Fire engines, Tractors and many are available there.

T.

Absolutely wonderful science and technology museum, focused on children, but wonderful for curious people of any age. There is a really delightful kiwi slant to the information presented, which is intriguingly delightful to an American looking at it. I really just can't recommended enough.

J.

Alot of stuff not working. Place needs better maintenance , especially if you're going to be asking people to pay $16 to enter. On the upside the food at the cafe was excellent. The tram was a great experience.

D.

I have been here myself and even taken my own family here . Sheer wonder of the setup and so many displays to look at through history . Whether it's aviation , public transportation , or different varieties of vehicles that have graced out country and throughout the world . There is something here to amaze everyone's curiosity . Prices are very affordable and worth every dollar . A must see .

R.

Positive - 5 stars for the Museum it's awesome. The new heart transplant and surgery small exhibition is great. Now, Negative - Please avoid the cafe - 0 stars!!! Dry old sausage rolls, bad coffee and I'm running out of negative words regarding potato wedges... My 3 YO potato wedges and chips loving daughter and 5YO son tried 1-2 each and said 'its discussing". This speaks for itself.

R.

A little disappointed in the condition of some of the exhibits and some poor lighting in places. The steam operated pump house was in operation during my visit and I found it both interesting and well set up. The De Vince exhibitions was extremely interesting. The new building housing the aircraft was great and the aircraft on display along with engines, bombs and other static displays was great. Pleanty of information for you to take in.

S.

A great museum to visit for transport enthusiasts, including meny of our customers. Tom Rosentreter. >>>>> SportsCarRental.co.nz <<<<<

R.

Beautiful. Not much has changed but why fix something that isn't broken. Went during the Christmas event 2018. It's got all sorts of historical monuments and sets pertaining to the age of steam engines. There's a Black Smith there too!

D.

The Night Lights event was very cool, we had a great time

H.

Lights were fairly basic but still nice to go out there at night. Didn't wow me as such...maybe for younger kids

M.

The activities in the energy sector had lots of information for adults and older children with plenty of hands on and physical activity for children. The cafe had some gluten free food and a very helpful person on the counter

M.

Great place, very intersting and fun. Family loved it

S.

Went on 20/12/2016 with family to see xmas lights and watch outdoor cinema. We enjoyed the day although there is nothing much to be done other than the museum which makes it boring for the kids when visited more than once.

F.

Lots of things to see, really enjoyed the interactive nature of the exhibits. Recommend visiting their second building connected by tram which has some amazing planes such as the Lancaster.

L.

I will always love Motat. So many memories of taking the kids there when they were small. I am so impressed with the awesome events they stage there now but my kids are always saying they miss the tactile dome and the spaceship thingy awfully.

J.

I always enjoy a little stroll through yesterday's technology and so many events featuring from time to time, I enjoy rattling along in the tram to and from the aviation shed which is pretty awesome. So easy to reflect on the past and glimpse the future.

R.

This is a great museum with lots to see. The annual pass is good value. There are two sites to see with a vintage tram ride between. I recommend the display of planes and the arc rectifier.

R.

Great show for xmas - light displays were on-point and the staff were friendly too. The kids loved the tram ride. With $2 entry, who could complain?

A.

School trip. Some great stuff there. Amazing card but a tiny bit dead pan. Has improved all t I remember it 45 years ago on my own school trip. Cool stuff. Good pictures

P.

The Museum, in short MOTAT, was founded in 1964, has good display of New Zealand's transport and technological heritage. Children definitely love visiting it, especially the children's corners!

M.

An interesting day out for any age. I used to love coming here as a kid and I still do now. If you take the time to read the plaques and talk to the friendly and passionate staff you can learn so much

W.

Hard to rate.... Aviation section is fantastic! Main section, don't even bother. Transport? Has a couple of of trams and buses and that's it. I was expecting a car collection. Nope. Trucks? One or two... And the cafe? Just don't. So, aircraft? Outstanding! Then go home

C.

The new layout in the plane hangar is great! Showcases the planes more. Its a really good place for a family day out!

P.

Excellent place to visit with kids, I love the free tram ride to the aviation building which is one of the most contemporary place filled with New Zealand's aviation history. Must do for plane lovers! Check the Motat's website for kids activities, something is always on.

L.

Great day out with family best time to go every 3rd Sunday of the month everything is open and they also have days where special events are held. There is team rides avaible between MOTAT 1 and 2. Auckland Zoo is also very close.

D.

Kids can interact with various activities. Steam operated machinery from the past. Telecommunications from the past, past technology, computers, village, cafe, trams and aviation from the past. Tram ride between the two museums and competitive pricing. Fun day for kids and adults alike to view a blast from the past!

R.

30 years? since last visit fabulous shows my pick aviation, flew to Chatham Islands in Sunderland, 1964 from Wellington amazing memories!!

T.

Had a great time with my family. My toddler enjoyed his time there, there's a lot to look at and do.

S.

Awesome day here. Went with my sons class. The staff were amazing and organized. The facilities were very clean and we'll kept. Highly recommend visiting this place.

B.

Such an interesting place to wander around and see the history of transport and technology in Auckland. It's changed a lot since I was last there, 30+ years ago

J.

Very few transport related display. Good outing for kids. Aero display was very good.

L.

This was a fascinating museum and a terrific venue for a technology conference function. A great reminder of how far we've come in transport and technology - from steam engines, taffy making, and letter-set presses to the digital conveniences we take for granted today.

M.

Great for kids and adults. Make sure you go on the tram to the aviation museum also, that is a must see! And the burgers at the araroa tea rooms are awesome with super friendly staff 👍👍👍

J.

Great place for kids to go with the interactive exhibitions and opportunities to learn. Adults may get a bit bored with the simple way things are laid out so be sure know what you're getting yourself in for.

N.

Fun for the whole family. If you enjoy history it is a great place to spend the day or an afternoon. Rain or shine there is something to see or do inside and out

N.

Went with my wife and our kids 5 & 3, paid $40. Thought it should've been cheaper about $30. Seeing all the old telephones were good. The lego display was a waste of time. The arcade games were really good. But the highlight was the tram ride, still the best thing about Motat.

C.

I enjoyed the aviation hall best during my visit.... world class collection of historic aircraft. You will need a whole day to see everything. Well worth a visit when in Auckland.

K.

Absolutely love this attraction ! My wife and i had a good laugh ! We've flown from Melbourne ! Got to motat the first thing we see A W class Melbourne tram, Yes we had to have a ride ! Very informative and brilliantly Presented ! Well done .

W.

Excellent facility, great structure, friendly welcoming staff. A thoroughly enjoyable experience. 😊

J.

Good values for money... And alternative to zoos and rainbowsend... Kids needs to be 4yrs or older to be able to enjoy or they may find it boring. Tram ride was a bonus.

h.

Fantastic NZ icon. I was last here in my primary school years 1978ish, gr8 memory lane's and awesome new technology. Sadly 'Google's directions for car parking needs to reflect a wider option than the short dead end street! at the back gate. BUT very well worth the time. The Tram up to MOTAT Aero was my son's highlight.

R.

There is so much to this place that all ages can enjoy. You can have a totally different experience every time you go there. Take your own food and find a nice spot for a picnic.

M.

If you like tech and you like history then it's a go to place. And the exhibitions regularly change. Not a static place. My boy would pitch a tent in this space if given the chance. We visit regularly.

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