Reviews of Tawhiti Museum. (Museum) in Hāwera (Taranaki).
Tawhiti Museum
401 Ohangai Road, Hāwera 4672, New Zealand
Description
Information of Tawhiti Museum, Museum in Hāwera (Taranaki)
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%!
Map
Open hours of Tawhiti Museum
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
Closed
Thursday
Closed
Friday
Closed
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Reviews of Tawhiti Museum
T. R. W.Awesome museum showcasing different periods of early New Zealand history. Get tickets for both the Museum and Traders & Whalers, and spend a good 3-4 hours seeing everything.
A.Located North of Hawera, this Museum boasts two exhibits detailing the history of the local area. Beautifully handmade models created by local model maker Nigel Ogle.
j. b.A totally awesome experience and could have spent many more hours there. Definitely not your typical provincial NZ museum, very engaging. Kids loved it too. Great to also chat to the curator / creator in the shop. Will visit again.
W. T.An amazing place. I've never seen models and dioramas so detailed and technically perfect as these. Allow at least half day visit to be able to take it all in and read the incredible history of the area. We intend to revisit and this time with grandchildren.
M. J.Beautiful museum in the rural area.. Lot of dairy history information..A must visit if you are in Hawera
K. W.This museum is a definite must do. The life sized figures are amazing and the dioramas very intricate. Kids will enjoy it and not get bored. Also the Traders and Whalers boat ride is a lot of fun. The whole place brings history to life.
J. P.Tawhiti Museum near Hawera, Taranaki NZ. Awesome museum showcasing early NZ. History, with an emphasis on Colonial, Farming & Maori History. The models & dioramas are some of the best I’ve seen anywhere in the world from Munich to Canberra. The collections and mock-ups of NZ history outstanding. A real gem of a local museum that I’d recommend going out of your way to. 35 years in the making. Brilliant.
R. m.A total sensory experience NOT to be missed. We weren't particularly interested in Taranaki history but this was imparted in such an amazingly different way we now are knowledgeable and wiser. Thank you Nigel and the lovely men who looked after us.
l. p.The museum is a must see. The dioramas are superb. The creator of these works in the shop on site.
R. J.Holy cow! If you enjoy learning about the history of other places, appreciate the effort put into life-like models and exhibits, or even have a passing interest in rural life and machinery - oh boy, is this the place for you! We could have spent hours more at this sprawling museum - the exhibits are so amazing. The life-size models are moulded from real people and have realistic expressions. Learnt so much about Taranaki history. Best of all was the Whalers and Traders boat ride - it's not what you expect, but so much more. Loved this place
K. M.What an incredible place. Not only informative but incredible craftsmanship by the owner who has made everything and all the models himself! Boat ride was cool sadly the train was off due to The weather. An additional bit on farm machinery which was cool but not a massive machinery type gal! Defo recommend
D. D.Totally recommend checking this place out, it really exceeded my expectations. We went on the traders and whalers ride, it's incredible that something of this quality can be visited here in Hawera and at a relatively low cost. I've been to Disney land and the ride is up at that level, it's quite astounding. Look out for the cannon at the end though..there is also a train ride, museum, machinery exhibit and more, so it's well worth the trip. Please go and get a lesson on NZ history you won't forget.
M. S.I cannot recommend this museum enough. We arrived half past 3 in the afternoon and had to go back the next morning as we couldn't see everything. Don't let it fool you from the outside. The gentleman that makes all the displays really have a talent not matching anything I have ever seen. Some of the displays take years and years to complete and most of the life size figures are modeled off actual local people. This museum should get international recognition as it's definitely the best one I've been to in the world. Please support them, you won't be sorry. Allow at least 3 hours here. There's ample parking available for small cars all the way up to big RV's across the road from the museum.
T. W.Wow, what a great find. Absolutely worth a visit.
Great for kids and all ages.
We did the Traders and Whalers ride which was fun.
Cafe is convenient if you want to stay a while.
I’d plan to spend at least 2 hours here, but you could do a half day easily.
L. P.A great little museum. Good portrayal of local history from pre - European through to modern day. Extensive modeling and collections of a high calibre to tell the stories. Wonderful collection of farm machinery, vintage through to modern day. Sadly in the slightly more then 2 hours we visited, we were unable to see everything. Highly recommended, will visit again, and try to ride the bush rail.
C. H.Wonderful museum. We went as a family with an age range of 5 to 65, 10 of us in total and we all thoroughly enjoyed the trip.
S. J.Well worth a visit. The work that has gone into creating all the exhibits is incredible. Fun boat ride, train ride, Cafe food was good. Lots of old equipment and tools set up and running. Our kids had a great time.
S. X.Amazing! Will come again!
T. G.Surprised me by being a great place to visit! Sort of stumbled upon it when looking for things to do on the way through the area. Definately recommend it and make sure to check out the museum and the ride. This place should be more well known. The roadside of the building could do with a makeover then it would be up there with NZ greatest tourist attractions!
R. I.A highlight in Hawera. Rich history and amazing creativity! The Traders and whalers is a must see. The cafe was wonderful and the staff were very friendly.
J. B.Jan2021: Went to the Traders&Whalers section. A lot of work gone into this place. Really cool. Worth the $$ then went into the farm machinery & stuff shed. Not my thing but a hit with the rest of the party..
G. L.Fantastic museum! A must see if you are in the area. The Traders and Whalers fell short though with limited presentation and less friendly staff so can be skipped.
M. R.Many thousands of hours have made the Museum what it is today. You must visit to see the sights. Well worth it.
R.It is without a doubt one of the best regional museums in the country. There are stunning displays that engaged the sensors and emotions. The New Zealand Wars Gallery is the best I have seen anywhere.
B. M.Definitely the best museum have done so far in New Zealand!! From the outside it may not look great but it is so so much bigger than what you can imagine. They've got some really cool stuff inside. Really shows how life was before around New Plymouth. The tour in boat is just awesome. Definitely worth paying the 30 dollars
E. A.Very nice place and friendly staff. creative sculptures and designs. thumbs up 👍
C.Great historical place to visit. Well worth it. Both the Museum and Whalers and Traders.
S.Our two and a half year old was beside himself when he saw all the trucks, rollers etc his words we.... This is so cool, trucks!!! He didn't know what direction to go in. Great place to visit and kept my toddlers amused.
S. D.Great museum. Spent 3 hours there. The models, boat ride, farm machinery and local history are well presented and informative.
C.Amazing! Allow a day to explore. Highly recommend. Creator very talented and obviously passionate with an eye for detail. Am still hobsmacked!
Cafe onsite very nice, too.
M. D.This is definitely a must see. Fantastic effort and time has gone into displays. We were there for 3 hours and still did not see it all.
V. S.This place is more than amazing, the man behind it is incredibly talented and a must view if you are in the area. There is a lovely cafe onsite and clean toilets.
S. A. (.Mind blowing attention to details. First thing to do in you visit Taranaki. Make sure go to the shop and say hi to Nigel who made all these over 30 years!
K. E.Very well created and maintained the history captured and stories told in an easy to read way. Difficult to read do those with eye issues, low lighting and little words.
M. M.Best private museum I have ever been to quite simply.
R. L. G.Awesome, we totally enjoyed the whole thing, definitely go again.
A. F.Such an interesting visit! So much New Zeland history. The detail of the exhibits just blew my mind. We were a large group from 10yrs up and all enjoyed the place. I want to return to show others.
S. C.Absolutely incredible. A must visit. Allow 3+ hours.
G. W.It's a great way to get absorbed in the local history. Miniatures by the thousands and hours upon hours of amazing things to see. Historical reconstructions of places, battles, and everyday scenes. Machinery from the last hundred and thirty odd years. A wonderful boat ride through an indoor man made river. It's really quite amazing.
C. T.Make sure you allow plenty of time when visiting this museum, such a lot to see. Plenty of local history to absorb. Amazing displays, a very talented man. Loved the boat ride.
S. S.Our group of elderly loved this place. Talk about bringing back the memories. A lot of hard work has gone into this. We will be back to see the rest.
M. R.The most incredible historic NZ models I've ever seen
So worth the visit!
G.A must visit if passing through Hawera. Just when you think you've seen it all there's another room of history and exhibits. Stop of for a bite and a coffee at the cafe. Super friendly staff to top off an amazing experience for young and old
S.Great place. The models are amazing
C.A fascinating place to visit. Need far more than the 90 minutes we had. A must return someday place.
G.Great attraction.one of the top attractions in kiwi land.well presented.supberb.
A.Phenomenal work on the immense diarama depicting the long history of Taranacki. Absolutely awesome place to visit. It's a "Must See & Experience" while touring New Zealand!!
G. C.World Class Museum. Lots of interesting and interactive displays. Truly amazing, highly recommended.
S. W.Stopped here after using Google to find somewhere ideal for younger kids... and the 4 adults enjoyed it just as much. The boat ride and little surprise were amazing... the detail in all the models (both big and small) were fantastic. And the machines had all in the group in awe.... highly recommend 👌
D.Really good & well setup & a must for the Traders & Whalers float thru time.
D.Really enjoyed the boat ride but will have to return to visit it all. Something for everyone.
G.Allow at least one hole day to enjoy this place.you will not be disappointed.
C.Well worth the visit, kids really liked the boat ride
K.This would have to be one of the best NZ Museums that we have visited. The diorama of of the Intertribal Musket wars, is just amazing, not to mention all of of the other incredible displays. This is a real living Museum that we plan to bring our grand-children back too as we would love to view it through their eyes. Well done Nigel Ogle and team
P. G.It was soooo awesome. The models depicting the history was so fantastic. The train ride and the train driver was also great. The museum just kept us so interested. We spent hours there. The only downside was the shop. The New Zealand souvenirs were made in China. To me that is not right.
'. “. P.Nigel Ogle the owner of Tawhiti Museum is one of the most talented men I know. What he has created in his museum is absolutely fantastic and I would encourage everyone to visit and take in all that he has done.
B. G.I remember visiting various small-town museums as a kid, and they were invariably uninspiring, despite the obvious effort put in.
The Tāwhiti Museum is nothing like those dinky small town museums. Once inside you easily forget that you’re on the side of a road in rural New Zealand. The dioramas are immersive, the range of displays quite amazing, and then there’s the boat ride that’s not dissimilar to something you’d find in an international amusement park. What an incredible place!
M. B.One of my favorite places so steeped in history. I just loved all the detailed work all the models and the figurines.
Everything was done so well and the history lesson you got will last for years to come.
Its places like this muesum thats not funded should be funded.
Loved the bushmen train ride and the whalers boat ride it really felt spiritual and I was gob smacked and some of the maori models every detail was just so fascinating..
b. b.Fantastic museum. A must see when in Hawera
D. B.Great place. A bit pricey, but well presented. Lots to see.
B. L.Highly recommend this little local gem. The miniature modeling is next level. An unusual hands on experience which is fun for all ages. Just be careful which doors you open. 🤫
K. H.Very nice museum with lots of information on how life used to be. A nice focus on Maori life in Taranaki with life-size and miniature wax people. What I also liked was all the equipment they showcased. I would highly recommend it. There are two different entry tickets, one for the Traders and Whaler's and one for the other. Both are $15 each.
B. M.Amazing displays and staff. Visited on a busy day and there was a queue in the tunnel before the traders and whalers tour. Both my husband and myself are a bit claustrophobic post Christchurch earthquakes and couldn't wait in queue once tunnel filled up behind us, so missed out. Would have been ok if we kept moving . Did retry later but same scenario, which was a shame for us.
E. F.Highly recommend this place!
A museum you've never seen before. Handmade sculptures tell stories of the past, a boat tour through history and a hall of old, unique tractors. Super friendly staff, the whole museum and the boat tour took us about 2,5 hours. So worth it!
A. K.All round wonderful experience. Could visit a handful of times and still find new details to marvel at. Friendly and helpful staff, tasty food at Mr. Badger's cafe and an exhilarating experience on the Trader's and Whaler's ride. 10/10 would recommend.
A. W.Good lord this place is amazing. We were referred by someone and I am glad we went. The staff are extremely knowledgeable and the exhibits are very interesting. Plan to spend at least 3 hour here. Take a packed lunch however buy your coffee from the cafe, the coffee is great there. It was $36 for one adult for all 3 exhibits, however you can pay just a smaller amount to just see 1 exhibit. All in all I will definitely be telling people about this place
M.It's a wonderful museum will visit again
A. L.Very interesting place with a lot of local history!
G.A great achievement by all involved with this. Miniture models were mind blowing. Hats off to the man who made them. Lovely cheerful staff too.
S. F.What an awesome experience. Balked a little at the price initially, but can highly recommend the museum.
H. P.A wonderful visit full of surprises. Miniature and life-size models with intricate detail depicting early life, history, farming and everything in between. A definite must visit, it will not disappoint.
S. B.Born and bred NZer... best history lesson ever. Not a 40-60 minute classroom squirm but a totally engaging 3 hours just to do Museum. Will go back for T&W another day as didn't want to over load. Very reasonably priced compared to overseas prices.
R. H.I am so happy we decided to go! If you are nearby make sure to take a look, we were here for half a day. Extra cool that this museum is privately owned. The owner build everything himself and has been doing so for 35 years now. I was very very impressed! Highly recommend this museum to others
S. M.This was an exceptionally cool place to visit ! It just went on and on with so much exciting things to see. For children and adults ! The highlight was definitely the traders and whalers boat ride! Couldn't recommend this place enough! Make sure you have heaps of time on your hands we spent roughly 4 hours here including a stop for a coffee in the cafe!
S. C.Allow at least 2hrs to have a good look.
A. N.Very special place, just incredible. A must do for anyone living in or passing through taranaki. The river ride was one of the most breathtaking experiences of my life, poignant and just so special, hard to put into words, the sheer amount of hard work and talent in this museum is incomprehensible.
C. A.Amazing, thoroughly enjoyed. The work this man has put in is a credit to him. Definitely a must see.
R. M. L.Most amazing place with handmade life size and miniature models to show how things were done. It's breathtaking to realize they were made by mostly one man, who you can meet and chat with in the shop. Fabulous day and should have planned on more time. Take a camera with tons of room.
B.Awesome place, needs two days.
A. B.Absolutely worth it. Looks a bit dodgy from the outside but is an absolute beauty inside. You can easily spend 3 hours there and the amount of detail is just astonishing. You learn lots about vintage agriculture and Maori as well. Staff was very lovely and there's a cafe too. Definetly a must-do if you're nearby. 10/10
C. J.This is truly a gem in the heart of Taranaki and an amazing place.
Heading north of Hawera turn off main road and drive 5 mins .
There is ample parking across from Museum.
Unfortunately I was on limited time so will have to go back .
However I paid the $15 to enter the Whalers and Traders exhibit and it was worth every cent.
Weta workshop built the venture which takes you on a boat ride telling the story of life on an island off New Plymouth where Maori and early settlers traded.Fantastic only 10 mins but seemed longer.
This also gives you admission to the museum displays using life size figures which have been cast from moulds of real people.
The miniature displays are amazing and created with love and skill and all tell a story.
Absolutely a treasure not to drive past. Allow at least 2 hours plus and there is also a reasonably priced cafe on site.
C. E.Amazing model making in the dioramas, big and small. A fresh perspective on Taranaki history excellently illustrated through the displays. Enough tractors, mowers and vehicles to keep you engrossed, just don't bring your crescent. The traders and whalers adventure makes a great finale. Very nice cafe on site, you'll need it to have a break from sensory overload.
S. P.Amazing museum and the models are unbelievable. Highly recommend a visit.
C. S.WOW. This is well worth making making the trip. Good history lesson on the Maori Wars
A. F.Love this place. One of, if not the best small museum in New Zealand. Amazing miniatures, dioramas, and historic collections. The ride is fantastic too. Great for the kids, good cafe too.
M. H.Only had time for the whalers and traders boat ride. Was a cool experience being underground but also a little synthetic. However the machinery museum at the end was very cool with a substantial number of historical tractors and other agricultural machinery on display. Is worth it just for that.
R. S.Excellent local museum, as relatives of Chew Chong we were very impressed by the exhibit dedicated to his achievements. The models are impressive and give an interesting snapshot of the various events.
R. M.It's a very interesting museum, however the prices are high considering the state of the buildings and the time it takes to go through the exhibit. You also have to pay the full price for each to visit both exhibits.
It's nice that there's a museum not quite in a city, but it limits access if you haven't rented a car.
C.This place is excellent. I cannot fault it.
Traders and Whalers reminded me of the pirates of Caribbean ride at Orlando Disney World..
Very interesting history of the local region.
Nigel deserves an area at Te Papa to create an exhibition!
L. A.Absolutely mind blowing experience of Aotearoa New Zealand history presented in an informative unbiased way. Every corner you turn more history unfolds before your eyes. The artistic attention to detail is incredible. You really need to look at the models - the intricate detail is amazing. Then there is the model bloke on the long drop...and the one reading in the cafe. I wonder how many have been fooled by him. Very friendly helpful staff and very reasonable entry fee well spent. One visit just whets your appetite for more visits...👍👍
L.Fantastic experience from start to finish. A love story of the history of Taranaki told by a true artisan. Highly recommend a visit.
F. M.After reading good reviews, I took my teenagers here wondering if they would be bored and moan about it, but no, they were totally enthralled and really enjoyed the experience. The models are great, and have such real charm and I loved the information. Not like a stuffy museum at all. Its a private made museum, and somehow you can feel the love. Really really good !!!!
G. R.Really interesting trip through Taranaki history. Fantastic dioramas, interesting stories, and extensive collection of equipment. I'll go again and do the 'river' trip and the train
g. m.Amazing experience on our second visit. We did the Whalers and Settlers tour... blown away. A must do!!
U.Very interesting historical museum
L. H.Great museum, with awesome models and sculptures of people with lots of details. If you come here I would also recommend you go to the whalers and traders boat part of the museum which is really awesome.
Pricing:
Museum
Adults $15
Children* $5
Traders and Whalers
Adults $15
Children* $5
Bush railway
Adults $6
Children* $3
* Children age 5 - 15 years
P. C.This is surely one of the best attractions in the country! Incredible displays with thousands of miniatures in exceptional detail, all handmade on the premises by one man. The Traders & Whalers boat ride through an eerie cave that depicts scenes from colonial New Zealand is also highly recommended. Put Tawhiti Museum at the top of your must see list.
A. H.An absoloutely fantastic museum, I would say one of the best in the country. You would never expect it given the location by a small town in a rural area, but this place is incredible.
The Tawhiti Museum explores parts of New Zealand's history that other museums often avoid talking about, discussing New Zealand's warring past in an informative and respectful way which is well worth seeing.
The museums extensive collection of industrial equipment and their displays on the logging and whaling industries are also fascinating. Definitely worth visiting!
A. E.Amazing place. Haven't been there for 30 years. Still awesome. Lots of new things to see. Loved the boat ride through the cave. Just fantastic. Highly recommend for all ages.
G. N.A rather small but unique museum. All of the models here were handmade by the owner. The museum alone will take about 30-40 mins to walk through. Highly recommended if you happen to pass by here.
B.We were recommended by a New Plymouth Local that if we were driving past Hawera we could not stop without seeing this museum. We were there 3 hours and ran out of time to see everything. $72 for two of us to view it all. A bush rail train tour, guided by one of the owners, who had built it along with others now opened 27 years ago, the underground boat ride viewing some history which really does make your senses feel your back in time, and actually just as we were almost forced to leave due to close time, found a whole other section of museum to view, it as really cool. We also had a pit stop in their cafe - with lovely light and tasty refreshments - cold drinks, coffee etc. Highly recommend it if you're in the area. 😍😍😍 Really makes you appreciate now.
S. C.What a wonderful museum. Well worth making time to go here. Our kids, 8 and 10, also just loved it and are still talking about it days later. Inspiring.
S.Every school holidays during opening hours my Grandmother would show us the museum. The pottery is always beautiful and the staff helpful and painstaking in regularly updating what is available. A still location with a Maori reserve close by it is worth wandering into.
E.This is the most amazing place to visit. Allow plenty of time to absorb the incredible displays and history recorded.
S. M.Fantastic, spent a good couple of hours looking around (didn't do the train ride or traders extras). Was informative, interactive, and very interesting. So glad it was open when we were passing through on our way home from traveling the forgotten highway and viewing the light festival at Pukekura park in New Plymouth. Loved it :)
S. V.Amazing museum, we spent there the whole day and were very happy to discover this fantastic place. Everything is created by one person. He is truly outstanding person, talented artist and hard worker.
J. C.The Museum is wonderful, so well designed and full of interesting things, especially the new Traders & Whalers boat trip. Quite expensive at $30pp (adult) to see everything, but unique, so worth it. Just don't visit the cafe - although the decor is charming the prices are outrageous! $10.50 for a coffee and muffin. Plenty of nice cafes in nearby Hawera.
A. A.This is an amazing place, a credit to one man's passion to record the history of the early settlers and their trade and conflicts with local Maori and the history of the whalers and traders in the area.
The Whaler's and Traders boat ride through time was excellent, you felt like you were really there. Fabulous lifelike models. There is also a train ride but unfortunately we ran out of time, but did manage to have a bite to eat at the great cafe.
I feel that this is a hidden gem and should be mentioned in Air New Zealand's in flight magazines so that tourists to NZ can go to experience this local treasure
J. G.Great museum well worth a visit. Lots of local history plus a train ride and boat trip at trader's and whalers which the kids really enjoyed.
I. M.Excellent! One of, if not the, most engaging heritage museums NZ has to offer, brought to life by the multitude of scale and full size figurines and dioramas. Enthusiastic staff!
J. &. T.So cool. I loved the train ride and going on the whalers and traders boat exhibit. Five stars for all the cool people and extractions. Loads of tractors and farm equipment. I also got a blue glass whale from the gift shop and the Mr Badger Cafe is expensive but delicious. Always ask if there is any thing else you can eat because we didn't know they sold soup.
😆😆
B. D.It is amazing how just one person has made all of these amazingly detailed figures. I like how it shows the history of Taranaki like when the european settlers came to New Zealand. I also really liked the boat ride which went through the bush where the maori were living and how they were shooting enemies with guns behind a wall made of wooden poles. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this place.
N. N.Worth a visit they have some really interesting stuff there. A lot of history packed in. The small boat ride isn't worth an extra $15 at all we were disappointed with that and towards the end of the ride a person at the front of the boat got shot in the face with the cannon. Would go again if they reviewed admission prices.
C. P.A beautiful museum with a collection that details both the daily life of citizens of taranaki in the past and the overarching events that occurred. The figurines are beautifully crafted and illustrate historical events far better than simple words can. The staff are very friendly too and even pulled a book off the exhibit for me to see due to my interest! What a wonderful place!
G. S.What an amazing experience to visit and marvel at history come to life in the exceptional modelling. Loved the water meander through the tribal wars. Worth taking a day trip to visit when in the New Plymouth area.
J. B.The most wonderful place we've visited since visiting the UK. I am absolutely blown away by the commitment to detail and history, the displays are impeccable varied and an absolute credit to everyone involved. We will be back for more.
D.What an amazing place. A must see.
R. T.Amazing well worth the visit! Go early as there is alot to see!!
J.Absolutely awesome models and interesting displays of historical material, something to suit every member of the family... and the cafe was good too - delicious sandwich and slice. I found the attic room where Ronald Hugh Morrison wrote his novels very moving. Such a lot of work has gone into maintaining thhe place to a high standard.
L. S.History of the settlement of the Taranaki region. Residing in a number of interconnected buildings that used to be a commercial Dairy. Inside you will find a range of historical large-scale exhibits, using things like life-size human models (whose faces are created from real locals), using farm implements, to small diorama's of settlers' daily activities.
Tawhiti has a shop, a cafe, (and even a Hall of Tractor's).
Very interesting place, & it may take a few hours if you are the type of person to read every exhibit description!
P. H.Awesome experience. Very impressive displays. A lot of work has gone into creating this amazing museum.
R.We did not spend enough time here it is a must see and very interesting information on the development of Taranaki. The farm machinery and vehicles including a large display of tractors was fantastic. It has a nice cafe for lunch.
R.Really neat, but watch out for the cannon fire on the boat ride, our 4 yr old girl who was already pretty scared, got shot in the face as the cannon went off, spraying her with water! A bit more warning from the captain on the boat would have been appreciated... Poor Ella! Other than that, this place is a bit of a treasure. Would like to go again when the train ride is operating.
P.Incredible artistic workmanship with marvelous attention to detail. The boat trip into the past is a definite Do Not Miss.
D. L. C.Wonderful museum for all ages. You must include the underground Whalers and Traders 'boat trip which is part of the amazing exhibits
C. H.Excellent place to visit. Lots to see, need at least 3 hours. 'Manland' great for guys (or girls) interested in machinery and tools as well as local and national history.
A. C.It is a fabulous place to visit..Mr Ogle is so clever to make lifelike people in history settings..including the maori wars. You look as if you could speak to them 😊 and there is a lovely cafe
D. G.absolutely enjoyed this experience, displays were amazing and bush train ride also enjoyable. Must see is the whalers and traders
J. G.Great local history told well.
H. S.A lot of interesting things to see. A number of the exhibits have a button you can press to activate a motor or lights. A good way to spend a day
S. H.This extraordinary "Museum " is Gem!
To my delight it holds the "Holy Grail" for Ronald Hugh Morrieson exhibits and artifacts...to my knowledge, plus all the other well known delights.
This includes the recently purchased and displayed complete bedroom of the literary genius of Hawera !
Thank you Nigel Ogle!
A.Absolutely amazing!!! Great for all ages. So fascinating and so educational. Worth every penny. Cant wait to go back
S.Awesome experience. Amazing setup with great detail. Well worth the visit. Badger cafe makes the most amazing coffees
C. H.need a good day of viewing for the wide scope of exhibits. a maori perspective also given for the area in the wars and lifestyles of the times different from many other museums
G. A.One of the best but little known museums in NZ. Don't let it's isolated location fool you. It is extensive and has some of the most intricate scale models (of people and NZ scenes) you could imagine. A must see. Allow a full day to get your moneys worth.
U.Beautiful museum. Good collection of tractors. Informative for trade history of butter, cheese, fungus and other animal husbandry businesses
D. D.So much to see!
M. C.A fantastic hidden gem. One of the best mesuems we have been to. Lots of great things to see. Brilliant historical info packed into detailed diarama and displays and the machinery hall is stunning. Wow!
F. M.By far the best musuem weve seen!. Te papa has nothing on this place. The kids absolutely loved the place and were intrigued at the history of taranaki being expressed through the artwork. Great place with nice, helpful people. Well worth the trip and money.
J. P.The actual museum and the traders and whalers ride is worth going to ...the time and work that has been put into it is pretty amazing...but Mr Baders cafe was a total let down the prices where ridiculous... sandwiches $8.00 mini pies $8.00, just an example of what to expect..pack your own lunch , but mind you there's no where really to go and sit to have it, second let down cost of getting in....$15.00 adult $5.00 child and that is for the museum, to go on boat ride it is another $15.00 each adult + $5.00 child ...for families today it is a lot of money, the train ride first Sunday of each month $6.00... such a shame ..as it is worth seeing
C. T.This place is a real surprise. The unassuming exterior hides a charming field of honestly interesting local history and entertaining exhibits that will entertain you for hours. Definitely a must see if you're in the area.
M. M.Thankyou for an amazing time and lunch x
Love Jocelyn Mandy xx
H.Very interesting will recommend
M. N. J. M. D. A. C.The most intriguing special private museum in nz. The diaramas are incredible and local history is conveyed in differing and special ways. Plus there is the usual 'old stuff' like tractors and horse gear and a working bush railway. You gotta go here.
A. B.Excellent and most enjoyable. We love to visit this museum and take our guests to enjoy the many interesting Incredible displays.
B.What an amazing place. Highly recommend a visit to this museum. Something for everyone :)
E. B.Stunning. If you're somewhere within a 100k's divert and go there. Check for opening hours though.
The dioramas are superb, and exquisitely detailed
No question, I'll be back.
D. B.Well set up. Nice staff. Decent value. Probably too expensive to do both the boat trip and museum for most families but otherwise good.
L.A very Intricate museum, with an extensive collection of stories, models, and fun activities. Great for the kids, much of it is very entertaining. Prices are also very reasonable.
D.This would have to be one of the best museums in New Zealand. It tells the story in exquisite detail with dioramas that bring it to life.
T. C.My 3 kids and I had a lovely few hours here. I havent been since I was a kid and just couldn't get over how much there is to see. We will be back. Lovely, friendly service.
P. G.Had a great day at the museum, the detail of everything in the display cabinets was just amazing. Had a lovely lunch at the cafe too, nice people and friendly. Would recommend visiting the museum to everyone.
A. G.Amazing big little place. Bring plenty of time, we recommend +2 hours since there's a lot to see. The kids loved it.
K. W.Tawhiti is absolutely fascinating. It has as excellent mix of Maori and European history. The dioramas added something special to the stories. And don't miss the machinery shed and the shop.
H.Absolutely incredible, one of the best museums I have ever visited!
B.Great museum we have just started taking our groups here and had great feedback from our guests I have been many times myself and still really enjoy it always finding new things to see
B. H.Amazing place to visit. Such a lot of history on display of early New Zealand. The traders and whalers exhibition is a credit to it's creators. Well worth a visit
S.Hawera has one of the best Museums I've ever been to. Nigel has really put his spirit into it. Has put Hawera on the map for sure. Would love to work here.
A.$15 Entry for the boat trip and machinery. Good even for non believers. Great Staff.
H.Absolutely amazing. Hands down the best museum I have been to. Make sure you have plenty of time!
T.Fairly incredible
Y.If you are nearby make sure to take a look, we were here for half a day. Extra cool that this museum is privately owned.
G. G.Absolutely the best privately owned museum in NZ bar none. Worth a holiday in the 'naki for on its own. Lunch in Mr Badger's cafe is a must. Try to visit when the bush railway is running. Defines what a museum should be.
B.Incredible! Really worth a visit if you are in the area. Give yourself time.
R. L.Great place to stop need at least 3 hours then we only saw about half.Entry $15 but $30 if you wish to also see Whalers and Traders which we did not do.GPS could find the place?
s. b.Intricate details of all models, life size to miniature, dedicated passion driving research and knowledge behind the museum and the fascinating history portrayed of Hawera and its regions, sublime
B. T.One of the best museums I have been to and as good as the Otzi Ice Man Museum in Bolzano Italy and the Plague Museum in Eyam in Derbyshire in England.
C.One man's creation of the models of what life was like in times gone by are very good. A wide collection of implements from times gone by and the water boat can be used to scare your kids.
R.A must visit. Something there for everyone. Even those not normally interested in history or museums could get lost in the wonderful exhibits for hours.
B.Loved it so much to see and read. Spent most of the day there. Coffee great as well.
S.Extraordinary that the models were built by one man. Hands down one of the best experiences I've had in Taranaki.
G.Amazing hand crafted model soldiers maori warriors children maidens in different diary master none were the same.
S. P.This was a wonderful surprise to discover. Well done as all built by Nigel. Well worth a detour to visit. The walers experience is a must do!
T. H.Great place, we visited about 12 years ago and it was good then. So much has changed and expanded. Great place, and a must visit
R.Amazing. Could stay for hours and not be bored. Much information about nz wars and early colonial life.
L. P.Absolutely unbelievable!!! Came upon this by chance and so glad we did!!! to have the forethought to do something of this magnitude is a sight to behold!!!! Please visit you will not be disappointed a very clever and dedicated man
d.Outstanding museum. Don't pass through Hawera without visiting. Buy both tickets, don't hesitate. Say hello to the man in the cafe for me.
P.Shows signs of needing more attention. Lovely place to spend a day exploring.
D. C.Amazing museum. Spent 3 1/2 hours there. Staff are welcoming and informative. Cafe lovely.
M.Best ever
So understated and under advertised
BEST IN NZ
probably most comprehensive as well
N.It is a great museum you can spend a good half day there
M.awesome museum, thoroughly enjoyed it. great value for money and so well done
R.Very well presented and professionally finished and a tribute to Nigel....a work of art....A Must See...😀😀
B. F.What an amazing place! The diaramas are out of this world. The time and effort invested in putting this place together must have been enormous. Much respect.
B. P.Definitely a place to visit. Fantastic history and amazing visual lay out of the museum. This is a must visit.
A.Wow! What an amazing experience. If I could give more stars I would. Put aside half a day and check this awesome place out!
R. K.Absolutely stunning. There is so much to see and very well displayed. Hard to believe that all was made by one person. MUST VISIT!!!
J.Awesome place. A must go to place when around Hawera. Unique property. Allow plenty of hours to have a desent look. Amazing place.
S.Amazing models. Great history and biggest collection of tractors ever.
R.Best kept secret in the Naki! Took our 5 year old grandson.... He loved it! (so did his Nan and Pa!)
K.Absolutely awesome - an absolute must to visit. World class in every way.
S.Enjoyed the visit. Excellent cafe with yummy food. Impressive Farmpower hall
I.Without doubt one of the best museums in the country
J.Excellent museum experience. Well worth a visit
C.An absolute must. Priced reasonably when you see the detail in displays. Definitely recommend
M.Excellent museum to visit. Very well set out and excellent exhibits, beautiful workmanship
N.Such an amazing collection of social history. A treasure. Dioramas are so detailed. Our second visit.
M.Awesome place with so much to see! Could have spent twice the time here. Will visit again!
K.This place is Amazing well worth the visit and very Educational. We loved every moment. Thank you
A.A wonderful place. The detail in the miniature scenes are brilliant
L.It is a must see very interesting place so much history and so many displays!
J.Nice place, it so amazing that what kind of a effort British has put on developing the area. Also show the Maori Heritage.
S. C.Wonderful way to spend 3 hours. Cafe was nice as well. Boat ride was fun
H.This is one of the most realistic and authentic museums. We have been too.
J.I loved how it had the history of New Plymouth and it a ride where we were able to get a more better understanding of how things where back in those days.
N.Awesome miniatures and don't miss the whale watch ride - the old gents running it are a hoot and a roar
N.This place is amazing. I could stay there all day and back the next day
I.Great place, well worth the visit, time and cheap ticket
J.Great place to visit. Lots of info. Boat rides great. Staff very friendly and helpful.
H.Don't miss this. Something for everyone. Sent hours here and finished off with coffee from the onsite cafe.
K.And amazing museum all made by one man, a place to learn NZ history
R.Awesome boat ride and machinery shed. Good value for money.
R. n.Amazing hidden gem.We will be back.We learnt so much here and found it professionally done.
J.Aboulutely awesome, we saw the wailers and traders and is fantastic. Such a hidden gem and a must see.
H.A wonderful slice of NZ history. So much attention to detail and a lot of quirky things to discover.
S.A bit expensive with the additional charges for different sections. It is well done and a good experience mostly
S.Great place, make sure you have plenty of time to visit as there is so much to look at.
P.An amazing place to visit. There is a lot to see. We spent most of the day looking around.
C.Really cool place to visit
T.Excellent museum. Train ride and whalers and traders boat ride also great!
D.Amazing place to visit
M.Great museum, many interesting things to see and do. The dioramas are terrific.
A.Awesome diaramas, boat ride, train ride very informative, and thorough history of the region
S.Incredible displays & hands on things. Traders and Whalers is amazing! A must visit!
S.This place is amazing! Do the boat ride also.
M.Take the boat ride & you will be very amazed
A.Once a site of childhood trauma, now a testimony of the curator's creativity and Taranaki's rich history.
R.This was the most amazing museum: private and public that I have ever been to.
J. T.Enjoyed the whole museum also learnt some things about the sugar loafs
J.Excellent place for early history of New Zealand with extensive exhibits and full of Maori historical facts during the British colonial exploitation and take over of New Zealand from the Maori People
G.Very large collection of vintage agri machinery. Also informative museum area on history of the local area
I.Best Museum in NZ second only to TePapa itself! :)
J.Have been to a lot of museums around the world and in NZ this would take a he'll of a lot of beating .Leave plenty of time to view.
B.Very interesting displays of local history. Great staff, nice cafe.
c.Fantastic museum. Great to see how much it has developed over the last few years
J.Unbelievable, evocative, and very impressive collection of artifacts and every conceivable old farming implement
C.Hi what a fab place you have. So friendly everybody were. Keep up your good work😏
B.The best regional museum ever.
A.A wonderful place. Exceptional dioramas and models depicting early NZ.
H.Very quaint and friendly atmosphere. Engaging and well displayed history
M.Amazing! We went for the Traders and Whalers and totally loved it
H.Better than Te Papa. Best interpretation of NZ I have seen, works for all ages.
C.If you are in the area you must see this museum.
S.Informative and entertaining, staff are friendly and helpful. Totally recommend a visit.
V.Great place. Beautiful displays full of history
E.We don't come here enough.
A.Brilliant musuem. A must-see. Allow several hours. Visually amazing.
C.Great place to visit plenty of interest for young and old
D.Fascinating. Allow a good couple of hours and then expect to go again. Very interesting
B.Excellent on early settlers, land and Maori wars. Must see if passing through.
A.Really great place as we can learn more
R.Spectacular exhibits, plan a full day. Affordable too!
S.Fantastic place. Very well set up. Loved it
A.Great fun, excellent interesting museum
S.A great place to go. Take your time and enjoy
P.Easily the best regional museum in the North Island.
C.A hidden gem....a stunning museum . Also close to that great old pa site...
M.Love revisiting Tawhiti. My favourite museum
F.A must to visit we had a fantastic time looking around
P.Must see if you are interested in the local (Maori) history of the region!
L.Amazing hidden gem with some serious work that has gone on behind the scenes
b.Must go if visiting taranaki very cool place highly recommended whould give more then 5 stars
E.Awsome place to visit have been a few times.
B.Such a world full of attraction that pulls you in
L.One of the best museums in NZ!
S.A pretty amazing museum and should not be missed.
A.Just amazingly good! So much to see! Loved it
K.What a wonderful experience and a great way of presenting history in a meaningful way.
P.Fantastic experience
A. K.Fantastic could have gone round and round and still find things I had missed
n.A must see in one's lifetime.
A.A real surprise. Stunning dioramas
R.Great place! Very interesting
L.Not to be missed
C.Excellent displays. Would go again
R.One of the best I've seen🤩👌
L.A must for everyone. Allow at least a day.
H.Very, creepily real life like statues
C.It's staggering the amount of detail and care that's been taken in putting this place together.
S.Very nice place with New Zealand history
J.Always amazing visiting this gem of south Taranaki.
V.Been there a few times and will come back again!
C.You need lots of time to browse this amazing place
W.Spend hours at this amazing place.
P.Amazing place so much to see so much to learn
G.Good value and the historical machinery was cool
P.Experience hidden jem. A must see
J.Was so well done and so much information a great day
A.Fantastic
A.Great day, lovely place & staff.
A.amazing, could spend a week here
j.Absolutely brilliant especially whale and traders
M.Amazing collections and attention to detail.
R.Lovely well presented history. Thank you.
K.Amazing , awesome ... A must see
H.Great boat ride
m.Must see place allow at less 3 hours
M.Very intricate designs.
D.Very interesting look at old New Zealand
C.Outstanding. Not to be missed.
C.Would love to visit again.
L.Incredible place. Not to be missed
J.Awesome, friendly, will do again
W.Worth visiting
S.Love the history and lots of it
j.Excellent place to visit - so informative 😀😀👍👍👍
T.Brilliant. Don't miss it!
M.The best museum ever!!!
S.Definitely must spent time here
W.Very interesting placr to
visit.
P.This is just AWSOME ! Regards from Denmark ♥️
D.Simply the best…..
A.What a amazing place a must visit
D.Really worth the visit
B.It is a wonderful museum
S.Great place, nice people
O.Too good.
M.Amazing!
D.Brilliant well worth a visit
M.A must see. Amazing
J.Awesome!
J.Very good
J.Unique way of displaying history
R.World class
P.Really surprised how good it was
A.great place for young and old
M.Amazing
S.A very clever man
D.Well worth going
j.A National treasure
G.Well worth a visit.
W.Amazing museum
b.Good old stuff
R.Great effort from curator
J.Awesome
A.Great place and history
N.Good family attraction
M.Love it
K.Loved it
N.⁹
S.A real gem
R.Very Nice place👍👍
I.Well worth the visit
G.What a great experience
C.Really interesting place
G.Very informative
R.Kids loved it
B.A must visit for anyone
N.Fantastic
G.A must see
R.Excellent
L.Kids loved it
C.Excellent
5.Amazing place highly recommend.
T.good
D.Wow worth looking at
S.Very interesting
N.Fantastic
R.Fantastic place
M.So interesting
M.Awesome
A.great place.
M.A little bit of history
A.POSITIVELY EPIC
D.Impressive!
J.V interesting
L.Impressive
S.Captivating
O.(Translated) I really liked the museum. First visited on the road to New Plymouth. Many exhibits are made in full size. I especially liked the boat tour of the underground canal in the caves. Very unusual and exciting. Surprising is the huge number of historical exhibits and the ability to preserve and display ordinary things in everyday life. A cozy cafe. Fine souvenirs in the shop. It is especially pleasant that souvenirs are not expensive at all in comparison with other cities and there are for every taste. We liked the museum so much that we visited it again on the way to Napier. We looked at everything thoroughly, took hundreds of photos. Wonderful place!
(Original)
Очень понравился музей. Первый раз посетили по дороге в Нью Плимут. Многие экспонаты выполнены в натуральную величину. Особенно понравилась экскурсия на лодке по подземному каналу в пещерах. Очень необычно и увлекательно. Удивляет огромное количество исторических экспонатов и умение сохранять и показывать обычные в обиходе вещи. Уютное кафе. Прекрасные сувениры в лавке. Особенно приятно, что сувениры совсем не дорогие по сравнению с другими городами и есть на любой вкус. Нам так понравился музей, что мы посетили его ещё раз по пути в Нейпир. Посмотрели все основательно, сделали сотни фотографий. Замечательно место!
C.(Translated) Private museum run with great attention to detail. The history of the Taranaki region with all its facets is wonderfully presented. Worth seeing and instructive.
(Original)
Privates-und mit sehr viel Liebe zum Detail geführtes Museum. Die Geschichte der Region Taranaki mit all seinen Facetten wird wunderbar dargestellt. Sehenswert und lehrreich.
L.
M.
l.
R.(Translated) great tour
(Original)
Ótimo passeio
W.(Translated) Shiny
(Original)
Brillant
M.
A.
G.Contact
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