Reviews of National Transport & Toy Museum. (Museum) in Wānaka (Otago).

National Transport & Toy Museum

1524 Reviews

401 Comments

Museum

Museum

Tourist attraction

891 Wanaka-Luggate Highway, Wānaka 9382, New Zealand

Description

Information of National Transport & Toy Museum, Museum in Wānaka (Otago)

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 National Transport & Toy Museum

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Reviews of National Transport & Toy Museum

A.

This is a comprehensive collection of almost every type of transport you can think of. Some displays have good explanation and/or background stories but most have very little other than the model etc. Cafe was nonexistent but the store itself was full of models to suit everyone. There's a brewery next door with a great selection of beer but they only serve pizza if you're looking for lunch as well.

W. L.

We spent more than 2 hours here checking out the exhibits in the 4 hangars, plus the ones outside too. It seems like there isn't enough space to display all of the things. Neat toy selection too. Some exhibits you are able to go or look inside. Good for the young and old too with toys for sale too

S. V.

AWESOMELY AMAZING 👏. The amount of cars planes bikes carts and toys. If you love transportation and old classics GO AND SEE. You will not be disappointed

K. O.

Amazing and big museum, never seen a lot of old cars and motorbikes like this before. Highly recommended

D. W.

It was ok - little bit of NZ nostalgia. Good bit of history there. I wasnt really into any of it, felt like a 'pick a part' lot just upgraded... But i know others who are into that stuff will enjoy it more than me.

S. B.

Amazing collection of transportation & toys spread out over several large hangers with surprises in between. The toy shop has everything for the kids & for a man cave as well.

S. S.

Felt super nostalgoc here and sharing memories with my children. You need a good few hours to take everything in and sadly they likely need a bigger warehouse/hanger again to stock with boxes upon boxes of nostalgia aswell as protecting the vehicles that no longer fit inside. We also spotted santa which we believe is the one that once stood upon aucklands whitcoulls building on queen street if anyone wondered where he retired to. 😂 And to top it all off my 21st present still sits in the musuem in great condition haha 😂 ford cortina. Aswell as a bit funny we own a ford laser and couldnt believe they have 2 there haha 😂 our car made it to museum status haha 😂

S. L.

Plenty to see here, the collection seems endless, most of the museum is undercover so great attraction if weather isn't great. Make sure to dress warm in winter as exhibition halls are cold. Well set out.

K. R.

Great experience, will have to go again, as there is so many things I'm sure I missed lots on my first visit. Lovely staff who explained things to us, definitely recommend

L. G.

Awesome place! Definitely recommend! So many coool things to look at! If you are in Wanaka, this is a must!

D.

Awesome range of vehicles ranging from 1930s cars to planes and scooters to speedboats. Some cars have featured in films but no major features, if you've heard of any of the movies you will be the minority. Extensive collection of toys which will give most adults a walk down memory lane. Overpriced for mine but if you're someone with a love of cars or toys it's worth a look.

L. M.

This is a brilliant museum. The collection of vehicles is outstanding. Could not recommend enough for anyone stopping by.

A. L.

This museum was so cool to visit. Walking around, we were able to see how the toys used to look decades ago and how it’s changed since then. We also saw so many older vehicles - from tricycles, your typical day to day cars, to fire engines, and even airplanes. It was a really fun experience for young and old.

J. L.

Interesting place. Heaps of cool stuff. A hint of dust smell but all good. Enjoyed the place

M. A.

Wonderfully eclectic collection of all sorts of things from tanks to typewriters. We had a very happy and enjoyable visit here, you could spend days fossicking around and still not see it all! There are so many exhibits jammed in that photography just can't do it justice, the museum desperately needs more covered space so that it can preserve and enhance the amazing collection of kiwiana. Lots of our heritage here and it needs support to survive and develop. Oh, and if you are wondering what happened to Santa, he's in bits, hiding in the quarry behind the sheds! Photographic evidence attached!

J.

If you want to know where is the Santa you used to meet on Queen St? Come and see here.

L. B.

Definitely worth the visit, kids loved it, fun family activity there’s something for everybody to enjoy. It would have been good if they had more seatings in the different building to have short breaks in between.

O.

Talk about nostalgia! Never thought I'd start seeing toys I played with as a child in a Museum baaahahahahaha. Loved it and could have spent hours in there. We had little ones who got grumpy with us and wanted to go back to the toy shop lol

c.

Fantastic place to visit when in wanaka. Incredible how much stuff is here, very historic and so interesting. Can easily spend a few hours here, we finished with a paddle next door at the wanaka beer works. Great activity and worth the visit in my option

M. C.

For me thus is a fantastic place. Spent nearly 2 hours here.

S. T.

Awsome loved every part of the museum.

K. L.

Highly recommend this place. There is so much to see, even the wife enjoyed seeing all the vintage cars. Finished off with a cuppa at the small Cafe. Definitely worth a visit.

A. H.

So much to see that you can come back within a couple of days and reuse your ticket to see the rest. Unfortunately I think the place is tired and over full! I didn’t expect a NZ museum to have Macdonald’s toys in it. Many of the cars had more toys in. Seems they have run out of room for displaying toys or just have too many. Some of the shelves had broken or collapsed onto the one below. I saw some of my old toys but not any of my old family cars. Lots of rabbit holes out the back where the buses and tractors/machinery is. Two of us fell over due to the rabbit holes.

J.

Was an amazing place! So many memories from childhood toys and what appears to be the golden age of toys! There are sooo many cars, would be cool to see them organised into Eras or grouped by brands, but was absolutely awesome nonetheless

J.

Highly recommend for people 36 year olds and up. Brought back so many great memories, toys I played with, cars we drove. Couple of US based police vehicles , play area for the kids and a good old punch bag machine.. i rocked the high score..

V.

A collectors haven of toys and cars in all sorts of conditions, across 3 hangars and a collection of vehicles not accessible to visitors. Brewery tour and tasting a separate, yet added, bonus. Cafe could do with a bit more food choices. Great outdoor area for kids (big or small). Some sharp hazards about from the condition of older vehicles. Great for a couple of hours of if you're a MOTAT fan.

K.

Awesome place to visit. Our 3 and 4 year old loved it. Could spend most of the day exploring.

M.

This place was awesome we stopped in while staying in Wanaka and I was so impressed such a huge collection of toys and cars. 100% recommended if ever in Wanaka. The owner is also lovely was so nice to chat with him and hear about the history of the collection.

S.

Hands down the best museum I have ever been to, could spend hours in there. Such a blast from the past. Came here 20 years ago and it is still amazing, can't wait to bring my kids here one day!

N. K.

If you have some time to kill and you are in the area this is a great place to go! So much to see and do. Small charge for entry but totally worth is as it can kill a few hours. Everything from cars, trucks, planes, motorcycles, and a wide variety of toys and memorabilia from number of decades. Great gift shop full of cool knick knacks and good coffee too.

N. G.

A good walk through memory lane... most toys youwould v played growing up are here. We didnt have much time so didnt enter the ticketed area but now i regret why didnt we go inside. Ticketed area has vintage cars, planes, helicopter and many other pedal cars for trying.

V. N.

If you are a car and general transport enthusiast, this place should be on your list. It is a pity I did not know about the museum and only noticed while driving past. Will have to back to Wanaka to see this place again. Require 4-5 hours to see your heart’s content. What a wonderful collection of cars, planes and fire engines!

A. M. (.

Definitely worth it!!! Brought back childhood memories with the toys and there are so many unique vehicles and other transportation.

G. W.

Do it! This is the most chaotic of tourist attractions. But that is what makes it so awesome! You could spend days, possibly weeks discovering new things on this massive site. If you are even remotely into cool toys, cars, fire engines, planes, construction vehicles, and so on, then you will get great value for money. There is a decent cafe/bar and a great selection of souvenirs.

G. M.

There is so much to see here! It gets a bit scary when vehicles you use to own and other everyday items, are now museum exhibits.

C. B.

Something here for everyone. Second visit and will go again. They have three hangars as well as a massive outside area, stacked full of collections. They have parking, toilets and food available as well as a store where you can purchase your own collectables. Will go again.

S. B.

Would say a "must do" if you have kids or you are a car enthusiast. The place has amazing collection of Vintage cars, trucks, motorbikes and a lot of other types of transportation. There is a cool collection of vintage toys and dolls as well.

S.

An incredible display that bought back a lot of memories. So much to see. Allow a couple of hours easily

B. C.

Beautiful cars and vehicles the best part are the toys and technology displays and seeing pieces that I've had and my dad who's in his 60's had.

H. H.

Sits a little out of town and covers a large area. Incredible variety of toys crammed into every inch of the museum - very visually stimulating, if rather chaotic. Some nice nostalgia. Car collection is really impressive and covers a huge range. As my girlfriend pointed out, this is a bit of a boys' museum, but fun for all ages. There's also a brewery attached - some very tasty offerings. Recommended on a rainy day

M. B.

Great place for little kids and big kids. A lot of nostalgia. A truly wonderful collection of véhicules and toys

M. L.

Get ready to be impressed by this large private collection. 2 hangers worth of planes, cars, military trucks, firetrucks, toys, vintage knick knacks, even a rocket fuel... this guys got it. We spent a good 2 hours here just poring through these treasures. Hopefully the family would continue this amazing collection!

c.

WOW!!! What a place, filled from floor to ceiling and everywhere else as well, exhibit on exhibit. There is everything here toy collections Barbie, Starwars, Lego , and a lot more. Model car collections, railways, typewriters, etc Then you get to the grown up stuff! Hundreds of Classic cars wagons fire engines planes one offs motorbikes This is a museum for everyone young and old An absolute must at any time of day

R. S.

Awesome museum, liked the Starwars toys, the cars I have associated with in my past and the models of planes especially. We spent over 1.5 hrs here, could of spent more. Only thing missing is some memorabilia to purchase of the museum!

D. L.

So much to see, from toys to cars to planes. Well worth a visit and you probably need a good few hours to see everything. Friendly staff.

S. M.

Amazing collection. Be even more amazing if some time put into better curation and organising the exhibits better.

G.

The lady behind the counter was much friendly. Didn’t have enough time to see everything. But enjoyed what I was able to see. Found the same Ferrari hot wheels I had as a child.

G. R.

Truely something for everyone - this place is just bursting at the seams with toys, dolls, games, displays, cars, trucks, planes in an eclectic and sometimes eccentric mix. They have so many dolls they have filled many of the cars with them - hilarious.

J.

Amazing place with Santa. Aucklander’s Santa is here now.

J. C.

This place was brilliant!!! Amazing cars, buses, bikes, planes, toys and other collections!!! Only 19 dollars, one of the cheapest attractions in ND!!!!

F.

So many things to see here. Brings back memories. A must go if you are older than 60. If you grew up with toys in the 80s, you’ll find many toys familiar here. There is also a treasure trove of old Star Wars toys.

G. K.

Actually I did not expect in the middle of nowhere in New Zealand a museum to have so many exhibits. If you have plenty of time go visit it otherwise there are so many other interesting things to see and do in New Zealand

t.

The first two sheds were very well presented. A bit disappointed we couldn't get a coffee. A good way to spend half a day reminiscing.

A. M.

Absolutely breathtaking collection. Everything from starwars to 90s porsches. Vast array of vehicles and even a few pieces of military equipment.

M. N.

Such a cool collection of items! Brings back memories for anyone over 35yrs.

L.

Wonderful place full of nostalgia and incredible displays. The conservator in me wanted desperately to offer my services! Take the kids, take your Nana!

C.

Amazing place. Well worth a visit. You find yourself telling yourself you remember "those". The new facility planned is needed

J. C.

The museum was a really good unexpected gem of a find. If you love cars and feeling nostalgic about when you were a kid you'll love this place. Toys and games from the 70's coupled with loads of cars. Winner. Jensen Interceptor was my favourite.

D. K.

All the old toys brought back some fond memories. The toys were even displayed in interesting little setups. We spent an hour in this place but could of spent 2.

A.

Great collection of toys and cars, they also got some odd collections of spoons, and other things too.

C. S.

My head is SPINNING! This place has everything imaginable when it comes to toys and transport. Well worth the visit

N. I.

The toy shop is not bad eventhough dont expect too much neither. But the museum quite nice and has a lot of variations if u like car etc

M. O.

If you love planes, tanks, cars, transport and other machinery this place is heaven. Not just vintage stuff some early 90s cars and toys too. Worth spending time here and the kids loved it.

K. D.

This place is more than a museum! It is amazing and something you definitely need the time to take in. Not only are the staff lovely and inviting but are more than happy to answer any and all questions. I would happily go and visit this place again. So much to look at and read about. My mind was blown at how much there was to look at. Everything from barbies to star wars to cars and aeroplanes. Please visit this place and support something local. Suitable for all ages.

B. S.

The national toy and transport museum has one of the most comprehensive collections of its type anywhere. Although it is clear that this attraction lacks the funding required to bring to a truly world class museum, the extensive collection of classic cars from the 50s, 60s and 70's, as well as toys makes it worth while to visit whilst in the Wanaka area. Although strapped for time, I went by myself and spent a good 2hrs wandering through the various buildings but I would recommend that more is required to truly appreciate the exhibits.

D.

You could spend all day looking at the stuff that they have got, there is everything from star wars memorabilia to all sorts of cars, trucks, planes, tanks and other things

J.

Such a great place and the displays are never ending Quite nostalgic and value for money.

B. R.

A good museum that's well worth the price of entry. The only downside is some of the exhibition feel like they need more care and attention, a bit of spit and polish would go a long way. There is a lack of information, there was a group of American cars that were obviously used in a movie (Pete's Dragon, we later found out) but nothing to say what movie or how they were acquired.

D. T.

Will definitely visit again asap. So much to see. A true gem.

x. w.

This place is amazing and should be a MUST do at Wanaka. Suitable for all ages. Our 4 years old and us totally enjoyed it.

C.

Excellent place to visit if you are a car or toy buff. Prepare to spend at least 2 hours mimimim

A. f. S. l.

Well worth checking out if your a fan of anything automotive and aviation. Make sure you have at least 3 hours as there is so much to see.

r.

This an amazing place and a place you should goto...however it does cost to visit but well worth it.

M. M.

Wonderful. Spent 3 hours there exploring.. Everyone was so friendly

L. M.

This really is a fascinating place to visit! There are so many planes, cars and toys of all descriptions and for all ages! Highly recommended stop

D.

Excellent display full of lots of great older items

J. K.

Do you love toys from the 80s? Go! Do you love cars, planes, or motorcycles from the 50s/60s/70s? How about old fire engines, tanks, or large Earth moving equipment? You should go too! Fun for all ages.

M.

...nice to see the "old" toys again, showing age 😉, and change over time of these same as the old cars bikes and planes. Collection of all sorts. Worth the money.

J. A.

Kids loved it, slightly depressing that I had a lot of the toys and cars 😅 old enough to be in a museum. Great for you and old

J.

Brought backs lots of memories of childhood fun n games. Really enjoyed playing fetch with the gawjus black labrador...

C.

I don’t know how to say this nicely but it seems like a hoarder lost their mind and had more money than sense so built this place. Our son loved it if that’s any consolation?

S. M.

Amazing spot for kids just outside of Wanaka. Our 16 month old loved playing with the trains and cars in the gift shop. He ran around the exhibits and loved the model trains, real aeroplanes and fore engines. We went for a ride in a pedal car which was fun as well. Definitely worth a stop if you have little people.

J.

This place was amazing!! Could have spent the entire day wandering around and still not found all the cool stuff they have. Definitely a must see!!

R. A.

Cool place so much to see but opening cafe earlier would have been appreciated.A little over full and a shame dolls and other stuff were shoved in old cars if they cant be displayed properly store them out of sight..

M.

This is worth a look..Has something for everyone and talk about nostalgia

R. F.

I don't have words to describe this place, simply amazing. You'll be mesmerized in there, never miss this place.

r. v.

Always fantastic - I always visit when I go to Queenstown (often) - they even let you use your admission ticket free for a few days after your visit. The exhibits are changing sometimes and alwasys interesting - whether you're a car nut or plane nut, and there are mechanical allsorts, general consumer goods, barbie dolls, meccano, all sorts of toys, phones, scale models, trucks, cranes, engines, fire engines, buses, tractors, dozers, motorbikes, ski-doos, army tanks, model railway, cant even think of the rest - theres acres of them spend at least half a day there and go back the next day.

L. G. (.

This place as the most random collection of cars, toys, spoons (yes spoons), and other stuff. Worth a visit for the price 👍

W. Y.

Surprisingly fun. Full of collections. Way better than MOTAT in Auckland

M. O.

Bigger and better than I was expecting. Great activity any day but especially on a rainy day like today. The toy collection was awesome and pretty cool to see some of the toys I remembered having as a kid still in pristine condition. Loads of cars boats trucks and planes to check out.

R.

Such a gem! Amazing toys and vehicles. Shop to absolutely die for!

K. M.

An extensive collection of automobiles, aeroplanes, armed forces vehicles, public service vehicles, toy cars, bikes, and so much more. Definitely a must visit in Wanaka!

Z. F.

My son so loved this place .

D.

Huge collection with many different toys If you're a toy lover this is the place you must visit Also has much auto collection Entry fee $18 is cheap for its big collection range

A.

What's not too like, a toy place with beer tasting attached and a museam we didn't make into as the little girl had a ball in the toy shop alone..both of us left happy, I had a six pack and she got a train set...very good rainy day option

J.

Seen beautiful classic vehicles. Great place to visit with kids.

P.

OMG, you'd need a week to see everything.

W.

Amazing amount of cars, toys, etc. So much to take in.

J.

A must visit, blew me away, everything is here. Amazing

K.

Excellent place. Well worth a visit. Certainly a walk down memory lane. Plus a huge amount of toys for sale. Friendly helpful staff. On-site Cafe.

R.

What shoooot could have driven past that would of been a tragedy don't be cruel on yourself pull over get in there wooooo

V. N.

Awesome place! Son was beyond thrilled with the sights. Toy store is fabulous! Great coffee and the fire just draws you in 😍

T.

Very cool! I went here mainly for my fiancé who loves cars thinking (I love him so I’ll go haha) but I ended up loving it too!! For me it was the nostalgia of seeing all the old toys from when I was younger (born early 80s). There was so much to look at, we spent a couple of hours here. They have done a great job presenting so much stuff and such a great range I would highly recommend visiting!

M.

Lots of interesting things to look at and unfortunately at my age reminisce on as well.

C.

Masses of cars and toys. Very interesting. Only pity couldn't see it all cos so full and stacked up. Not all accessible for wheelchairs. They are working on building more display space so should only get better

M.

We really enjoyed it but the cars hall was little scary i don’t know why!! 😂 I love the airplane 😍👍🏽

D. &. P. W.

Fantastic place! So many memories in the toy side and some fantastic collections of vehicles and planes! Will be back for sure!

C.

Chocked full of stuff. Worth a look around but you might need a few hours. Luckily they have a cafe.

B.

Fantastic visit, was overwhelmed by the displays, a must do for everyone.

G.

Great play

E.

Great find and well worth the price! I don't think this is a good activity to do with kids, definitely for adults who want to be lost in a world of nostalgia dreaming of the toys they owned as children, and car enthusiasts!

d.

Great place even if he didn't want to sell me his 3.3 victor. Wow I want i want i want

H.

An awesome display of toys cars and other memorabilia. So much we became overwhelmed. you need heaps of time to go through and look .but lots of fun exploring.

E.

Awesome, well worth a visit, however, the exhibits are spread over a large area so be prepared for a long walk and several hours of your time.

L. L.

Quirky and fun. Like exploring Granddads garage if he was an eccentric hoarder!

T. L. (. K. T.

This place is truly amazing! Literally thousands of toys, hundreds of cars, planes, fire engines, etc. I doubt there are many other museums in the World that have the range that this place does. Also a very well stocked toy shop. Definitely a must see when in central Otago.

S.

Great spot. Huge variety of trucks, cars, motor bikes, toys plus plus. You have to have hour's to fully appreciate the exhibits. Funky tables in the cafe. Craft beer brewed on site.

J.

Awesome collection something for everyone one , Great car collection

Z.

I was so excited to go here and it absolutely did not disappoint. So many cools displays showing off retro toys and cars. Definitely recommend going if you have kids

A.

Awesome place and great price. Brings out the kid in an adult. Heaps of toys that bring back memories...

S. S.

Extensive car track airplane and toy museum some fascinating pieces. My only feedback would be the hosts could be a little more enthusiastic and welcoming to visitors to their amazing museum

B. R.

Eclectic & seemingly never ending! Another twinge of nostalgia around every corner. My 2yo loved the fire engines and the pedal cars especially

B.

Absolutely brilliant, has everything you could imagine and more, well laid out and the guy we spoke to was nice and informative. Well worth the visit.

A.

Absolutely love it and probably one of the best museums I’ve ever been too! Couldn’t stop saying “woww, that’s so cool” and took me at least 2 hours to look at everything. Definitely a MUST DO if you drive pass Wanaka. Highly recommended!

C.

My son and I loved this museum and were only stopped by the museum's closure at the day. This is a museum where the exhibits are kept in a genuine state instead of being overly polished and perfected. You can see and smell past times. We were told by the staff that most vehicles are ready to go and hence regularly started, including the big tank on the front lawn!!

p.

Well worth the time it was a eye opener

D.

Brilliant place to visit. Spent ages there looking and bought some pretty cool stuff. Go check it out. Our 3 year old granddaughter said WOW the second she walked in the entrance. Down side didn't want to leave 😁

A.

Great place for kids young and old to visit, but allow a couple of hours as there is so much to see through multiple sheds

B. G.

The old toys you back in time! Well worth checking this out.

R.

Definitely worth a look very interesting ,

Z.

Quite big for those toys and vehicles lover to explore

L.

My kids love this place but I find it a bit of a bore as a mumma. It would be nice if the cafe added some wine or better alternatives to the cafe menu as that's where I seem to plonk myself for the few hours whilst the kids roam with their father! As far as cars go they nail it!

J.

Fantastic. Started with a wonderful coffee from the cafe. Then a few hours to get around a wonderland of yesteryear. Very highly recommended to EVERYONE.

A.

An awesome place with some very cool aircraft and cars, they have fun guns to fire and pedal cars to ride in. You will learn a lot of facts from the museum about aircraft , cars and other transportation machines.

A.

A home for old cars planes and trains plus loads more

V.

Was so interesting so much to see... very cool cars and planes. Went to see hubbys grandfathers car well worth the trip

T.

Love that place, there are a lots of things from the past to explore! Great for kids as well as for adults.

R.

Very interesting museum. Wide collection of items on display. Enjoyed it. Would recommend to visit!

B.

This is a massive memory flash back. You need a good couple of hours if you really want to reminisce and take it all in. Plus the onsite brewery is a great way to finish the tour.

R.

Needed lots more time .fantastic collection of everything

S.

What a cool place. Sooo much more than I expected. From smurfs to aeroplanes, and just about everything in between. A real treasure trove - loved it.

A. B.

If you are into cars, fire engines and tractors this is your place but the collections of toys is a trip of nostalgia if of 70's or earlier vintage. About average pricing for these sorts of things. Nice collection of planes too. Its mostly under cover so a great few hours for the kids if bucketing with rain.

T.

When we first went in there were well laid out collections of toys are grouped together in smart display cabinets and I though wow this is great and then it all went a bit haphazard so to speak. The exhibits got a bit packed in there we many obscured from view and in the transport hangers a lot of exhibits were not labelled and were so close and packed in you could not view them properly. There was too much really it would have been better to have less on display and provide better information about each one. Some people may enjoy the randomness of how things are displayed but I found it frustrating. Many vehicles were crammed with junk which I did not really understand.

A. I.

Always love going - great for all ages and never boring! Cheap family entertainment. Not only do they have old cars, trucks and tanks but really amazing toy collections. There is also a cafe attached if you want a bite to eat and toilets on site. There are also FREE pedalcars to ride around on outside! Highly recommend.

C.

Great museum, old vehicles too

C.

What a great place for all ages. Spent hours looking around. So glad we visited.

T.

Filled in an afternoon, not badly priced, kids enjoyed it. Got drinks on leaving that were not cold when mentioned to the staff member she told us it was because it was so cold outside so made the milk feel warmer than it was which was not the case as all 4 drinks not only the milk where warm.

C. S.

We've visited the Museum a dozen times and we keep coming back for more. There is always something new to see every time we go and the toy shop is always fresh and full of a mix of vintage and modern day toys, games, models or puzzles. You name it this place has it covered.

A. L.

Lots of cars, toys and other stuff. Loved the collection. Not organised well due to lack of space. Some cars cannot have a closer look as in the middle of other cars. There were rider things for kids in all 4 buildings. I went in the morning in January as it was quite hot inside.

P.

Loved this place. Seen it o. TV several times over the years and wanted to go here. Took the kids we all love it

M.

This place is WAY beyond expectations. The variety of "collections" or just collected stuff from the past few centuries is astonishing. Some is in pristine, restored condtion, and where they have sufficient pieces, they're in collections. Other items are as is (in whatever condition) and are just 'there', standing alone as part of a broader tapestry. From spoons to a range of old bank teller machines that morph into early Commodores, Apples and PCs, Firetrucks, Lego, Planes, cars, Barbie dolls ... seriously, the variety is too broad to describe. In my experience it's an unparallelled (sp) collection of history that will have something (many somethings) that appeal to anyone (male, female, old and young). The highlight for us (of the many highlights) were the "pedal" cars at the end (BTW, try the local beers/cider at the museum 'cafe'). They are fun, rustic and the perfect complement to a surprising and magical experience. Take the time to visit this Museum. It's not the polished experience of Motat (Auckland) then Smithsonian (Washington) or the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History (Brussels). It's something else. It's unique and it's brilliant.

J. O.

Sooooo funny that this amount of Things ( not only transport but much much more variety you could never guess much enough.) were placed here, and that is not well known enough. This can be a iconic place around here. Yes, it’s a little more place of random collections than museum. Would be great if it’s more organized in genres and explained more. But when it’s done, this shall be a major destination for NZ visitors. 予想の100倍はあるコレクションに度肝を抜かれます。これを1人で集めた情熱とは。。。

A.

Amazing collection, lots to see.

A.

This place is absolutely amazing. There is so much to see. If you love looking at old cars and trucks you can spend the whole day easily. I had high hopes and was still way too low in my expectations. Absolutely a must see when in Wanaka.

A.

A must see in Wanaka! Lots of fun for adults and kids as well. This is definitely the most impressive collection if seen in NZ so far.

J.

Massive location with a lot of huge sheds with a lot of interest memorabilia. Could do with a bit of sorting of various items which were spread through all the sheds. Awesome displays.

I.

Fun place to visit to feel nostalgic, lots of older vehicles , planes , toys and cool old technology. The toy shop is fantastic also, do if you have kids, bring some money :)

H.

Alright place. A bit run down and a lot of junk, but still some good bits too. Would recommend staff checking for rubbish (we found cans, ice cream sticks ect). Would be good if there was more information on the toy displays so you knew what era they were from and some information.

E.

What a wicked place. They have so many toys i remember playing with when i was young

C.

WOW. Probably the messiest place in terms of how the displays are set for any museum ive ever been to but not in a bad way. It makes the visit there a bit of a treasure hunt. So many hidden objects around the place. Toys sitting in cars and above the shelves. It is quite a massive display with a lot of hangers completely full of cars, bikes, Planes and trucks along with some war machinery. The toy section would bring back a lot of memories for the young and old. You need to allow at least half the day and I can guarantee you still will not spot everything that is hidden in this place. Highly recommended if it's the only car museum you visit. Well worth the admission price.

A.

Awesome collections to see if you like to reminisce on your childhood. Loved the Barbies!

E. R.

Loved this, so many various collections, a bit like Alladins cave, old cars, predominantly old English models, magical old Duesenberg, excellent PA Vauxhall, so many others, you have to go. Old planes, tractors, huge display of old Fire Trucks, in amongst all of this, collections of dolls, toy trains, model cars, your eyes have to wander everywhere

J.

Amazing displays, toys were awesome, cool old cars and planes. Note, Cafe has snacks only

A.

This place is awesome. Lots to see and fun life-sized pedal action cars to play on. And there's a cafe and playground. We picnic-ed in the grounds for lunch - lovely grounds.

M.

It is one of the best museum I have been to took me back to child hood thousands of old toys and cars really enjoyed it would recommend and only $19 per adult

G. M.

Really nostalgic.. For sure worth it.

S.

Fantastic museum. only downside, is no aircon.

W.

This is the most messy and extremely chaotic museum I've ever visited. Many things made no sense to me. It's a huge, HUGE, private collection of transport, toys and things inbetween. It doesn't seem there's any logic in it. Or knowledge (the display of Star Wars has collectibles from different era's displayed randomly together). You can't touch the collectible items. But at the same time, they're a mess. Boxes are thrown in there (because why not using a car as a storage at the same time?), like they are thrown everywhere else. Also, it makes no sense to me that I'm not allowed to touch a car in the hangar, while there are birds that decided to live in the cars, which is easily to see because it's covered by all their bird poo. But hey.... why not? So, everything looks random to me. Like I'm visiting my grandparents attic with a mix of junk and collectibles in (no offense), but 100 times bigger 😁. But yes, I enjoyed it. Because it has its charms and it just kept me confused and surprised all the time. I wouldn't call it a national museum as it doesn't fit the standards of a museum in my opinion (there's not much text or explanation). But it's fun and worth a visit.

D.

What an amazing place full of little treasures and a trip down memory lane. Definitely recommend this for all ages. The kids loved the pedal cars and we hope to see more interactive displays in the future.

S.

Pretty cool if you like old cars and vintage toys :)

A.

Enthralling place so much fun looking at so many amazing toys, cars, trucks - something for everyone. Surely one of the best and most unique collections in the world. Brewery attached! 😀

R.

This place is humongous! There is an incredible amount of exhibits. It brings back many memories. The cafe however can do with an update. It is not possible to service larger groups.

K.

Too much to take in. Ww2 gunnery looking awesome and working parts. Great display and stock, highly recommended for anyone who had toys and likes old cars and aircraft

M.

AMAZING collection of old toys and transportation

D.

Toys all Toys

I.

If you have a toddler or a kid that loves cars and vehicles this place is a must. Amazing! Works well also for a rainy day

M.

Really nice place with lots of history with cars, firetrucks, planes, motorcycles and a few war items like tanks. Hangers are a little bit cramped so you cant have a good look around that's the only reason it didn't get 5 stars from me

J.

Extremely large collection of cars, toys, and other gadgets. Not much in the way of descriptions but fun for a cold or rainy day.

S.

Great staff a really helpful staff of Jason and Debbie. You can spend hours just walking around looking at all the model's. Have a beer or s coffee.

I.

Needs to be more publicly recognised. Loved the whole place and the service. Really enjoyed the enormity of the collection. Have to visit again when we visit Wanaka again.

S. B.

Fantastic time but they could clean the cars to make it more enjoyable

B.

What a hidden gem. Amazing place that everyone should visit. There is something for everyone here, Mum, Dad and the kids alike. You won’t regret it. Make sure you allow plenty of time as there is more to see than you can imagine.

J.

Great day out... such a huge collection. Loverly people running it. Been many times and always see something new.

R.

Great experience loved it there. More stuff to look at than I had time for!!

D.

Fascinating place to visit, so many different toys, dolls, lego, toy cars. Lots of old cars, trucks, motorcycle's to look at. Even an old Air NZ jet. Don't miss this place.

d.

Was a good place to visit. We enjoyed our self's. Thanks to everyone their.

S.

Amazing collection of absolutely everything you could imagine, could go there everyday and always see something new. Definitely worth a visit if you like vintage cars and trucks

B.

Interesting place, could do with some solid curating, but the sheer scale and absurdity of it is part of the appeal. Needs to be seen to be believed, at least once in a lifetime!

T.

It's big and full of big toys

F.

A must do whenever you are in tye Queenstown Lakes District. They have a cafe and a shop where you can buy a toy, collection or a hobby. And see in multiple warehouses of all modes of transport.

M.

A great museum but at times quite overwhelming. Give yourself plenty of time if you go here as there is a tonne to see

S.

I was delighted to find an Essex Super 6 among the Museum's collection; that was my family car, and I never thought I’d see one again. It seemed to have shrunk since I was a child. They also had a real Ford Prefect - not the man in 'Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy’, but a motor car, so I was able to explain some facts of life to our sons. It’s an eclectic and absorbing collection, and I spent hours wandering around. My wife thought it was a bit Boyz-Toyz - tanks and bombers and trucks and stuff - but nonetheless an admirable and varied display, worth visiting.

R. v. d. V.

Just go! You will be amazed by the chaos. Trown back into memorylane, no matter what age you are. Great beertasting too. Rain or shine you can spend your whole day over here! Cool outdoor play area as well. Oh, and a big toy shop you can’t ignore. So bring your wallet or blindfolds for your kids

B.

Have been here many times and gone through whole place. This time when I walked through the doors there was a souvenir shop planted there, inside the "toy shop". Not happy but it is a risk they are taking I suppose. It's a toy shop, not a souvenir shop that sell the same stuff anywhere for tourists. I had a quick look around and left. I probably won't go there on my next few visits to Wanaka. Sorry guys.

R.

Wow, I've never seen a collection quite like it - toys, cars, you name it. Great place, I had to drag the kids out. Oh and it has a small brewery with a range of craft beers, which are tasty!

L. S.

Great collection of stuff, and some of it was absolutely fascinating. But needs more structure. An absorbing record of technical-social history that deserves support. I got lost in there for about 4 hours and would have stayed longer if they had not closed up for the night.

B.

Great museum the toy part takes you back to your childhood no matter what age you are. Transport part is awesome, if you've owned more than one car, at least one of them is gonna be there.

B.

Absolutely fab - our three kids (10, 8, and 2) were in heaven! Nice coffee and warm wood burner was a bonus. Easily spent 3 hours here.

k.

Very good and interesting

p.

Great place, could easily spend 2 hours plus here, and a fabulous toy shop as well.

C.

Really enjoyed looking around, so much to see, and the admission price is great value for money. It's a must-see if you're in the area.

P.

lots of toys and lots of vehicle from tanks to planes to trucks , a extraordinary collection and a sure stopper if you visit wanaka, from cycle ricshaws to uni cyle to machines

T.

I never saw a bigger collection of everything.

L.

Museum of everything. Not something you might be used to but very entertaining and unexpected. Definitely off the beaten track. So weird, that it became one of our trip highlights. Recommend.

m.

Absolutely awesome. Never seen so many toys and old vehicles.

E.

Amazing. Never saw places like this. Very friendly staff. Once in a lifetime experience ☺️

R.

World class museum, well worth the family pass.. children thought the whole day in toy shop, were amazed it led on outside.. well done guys

S.

Wow. Great value for money. My 3 year old loved it! You name it.. It's there. Easily spend 2 hours there if you love toys or Motor vehicles

M.

An amazing collection of toys and all types of transport, and many other things too. Well worth a visit, for at least an hour or more.

R.

I spoke with the curator who was rather apologetic about the chaotic state of the museum. He and his wife showed me the plans for the new buildings which should, when completed, allow a much larger portion of the collection to be displayed in a less cluttered manner. It really is one of the most amazing collections, something not to be missed. And there is also a warbird museum, just a few hundred metres away!

P.

Loved it

E.

Nice experience good fun for the kids

J. H.

It was amazing! Very child friendly, young and children at heart! Allow for plenty of time, at least 1 hour to ensure you're not rushed.

V.

The amount of stuff on display is amazing, take your time there there's so much interesting stuff to see.

T.

Awesome place, well laid out museum with so many interesting things to see. The retro cafe was like going back to my childhood. Primo!

N.

A horders/collectors paradise. Something for everyone here

C.

This place is one of the most amazing museums I have seen an I have seen quite a few. Well worth spending some time here, why go all the way to the Henry Ford museum in Detroit when we have a better collection right here in NZ

R.

This place is awesome! I liked the artillery guns! The old toy collection is epic.

E.

Super amazing... Wow.. could of spent five days here.. it's awesome

N.

Absolutely amazing, we'll worth the money spent to have a look around, a little bit there for everyone

M.

I've never been surrounded by so much in my life. It takes a long time to look around. So much to see. Make sure you have a cuppa in the coffee shop. Very friendly staff

D.

This was a big surprise to find so many interesting vehicles in this place. The toys were a real trip down memory lane. Great value.

S.

A huge collection of antique cars, motocycles, bicycles, trucks, planes, and toys, exactly as the name suggests. Came across as a warehouse to store the exhibits, rather than a well-curated museum, due to the presentation. However, still worth 2 hours strolling through if you are driving past.

B.

Needs a few hours. Brings back lots memories. Welllaid out and plenty to interest everyone.

G.

Fabulous experience... Took me back to my younger days... Highly recommend

J.

Very nice collection of transport vehicles. Kids friendly.

T. c.

This was a fantastic place to visit and has the biggest collection of toys and vehicles I have ever seen. It is very well organised and a real delight to spend time at.

J.

lots of interesting toys but no information to go with them, cars were cool but no interesting trivia or knowledge to go with them

G.

So many vehicles! Was very cool, they have an amazing collection

W.

OMG this museum is full of all the toys you wished Santa gave you as a kid. The other three hangers are full of cars, motorbike, planes and other automobiles. When a collection becomes an obsession. Have a cold beer or hot cuppa at cafe as you return to the main museum building.

G.

Great place for both adults and children of all ages...set aside at least an hour . two would be better.

N.

What a great trip down memory lane. Lots to see. Awesome place to visit

T.

So much to see, heaps of old toys and cars wonderful

V.

Too much to see in half a day, the entrance ticket can be used another day at no further cost. Worth it, the exhibits bring back nice memories.

R.

Great few hours spent with my 4 and 2 year olds. Great collection of old toys and cars/aeroplanes. Awesome that kids 5 and under free also

R.

What an amazing place. Young or old, you'll have a great time. Some of the old toys brought back some forgotten childhood memories.

M.

The place is just full to the ceiling with collections of stuff. You could spend a day or two in there and still not properly see everything. A lot of history too. Worth a look.

F.

Filled with history and fun. Will need at least 2 hours to see everything you like.

D.

I felt that the pure number of cars in museum was unbelievable. Hard to believe one man could collect so much. Only a car guy can appreciate.

B.

Loved every minute of it!!

D.

It has a lot of toys, cars and airplanes from about 190 on. Lots of toys, dolls, doll houses. Could spent from 2 to 10 hours exploring

A.

Museum is great. Does need a spruce up and changes as nothing has changed in the past 5 years. Also a cafe wouls be great!

L.

Something for EVERYONE!! I could easily spend 2 days here. Interactive displays are a delight.

E.

So much to look at! Loved all the old toys

L.

Great place lots of things to see and really interesting

B.

What a gem this place is! We spent several hours here and all age groups found it fun, A brilliant day out

S.

Great toy shop and playground. Museum which could do with a fair bit of maintenance but fun nonetheless

J.

So many exhibits!

K.

Pretty good and huge place to look at toys and classic car collection .amazing place. The kids did love it.

D.

An unbelievable collection of vintage vehicles and toys. With an added bonus of a brewery on site that serves delicious craft brewed beer.

E.

Great toy displays from the past good collection of cars trucks and planes on display at this place

R.

Great to see all the old cars and trucks etc, peddlecars were cool too...... Some more interactive stuff would be better

L.

Make sure you have plenty of time for this walk down memory lane. Wonderful

D.

So many interesting things to look at. Great planes, mind blowing selection of trucks and cars.

E.

An interesting place to reminisce a past life of toys and vehicles.

M.

An idiosyncratic collection of aircraft, cars, toys, motorcycles, boat motors, bottles, trucks etc. Hidden treasures and hoarder oddities ;)

G.

Make sure to allow plenty of time. Lose yourself in the toy section. Stroll through the sheds and paddocks of cars, tractors, trucks and more

J.

We almost drove past but so glad we went on this adventure. So amazing!!

M.

Awesome! - Friendly helpful staff .... every little nook & cranny had something different. The Museum kept on giving & giving & giving ......

R.

It was very interesting brought back alot of memories well worth stopping and having a look but do take your time.

C.

This place has the biggest vintage car collection I have ever seen!

A.

Good value for money, alot of different things to see. A great distraction to start the day

A.

Good place to see old cars, police vehicle, planes etc.

B.

What an amazing place. So much to see. Give yourself heaps of time

J.

Lots of cool toys here

B.

Such a fun place especially the peddle cars

J.

Very Good first time there need to go back sometime. So much to see and take in. Need to take a 3D Camera next time.

D.

Amazing completely blown away, soooo different variety of transport.

A.

Blast from the Past! Such a great spot to stop and have a look around - you could get lost for hours checking out the spectacular collections!

B.

The biggest collection of toys and cars I've ever seen. I could have spent hours in the four buildings

M.

I found my Car!! 🥰 & the old style pedal cars outside on the grassed area were heaps fun too 😍

P.

Was an amazing afternoon with the family looking through the place so much to see we all absolutely loved it and the staff that were on were amazing and so kind and helpful

C.

Great place to wander around for big browse.

E.

So much to see, very appealing for the inner child!

a.

Amazing place, if one is found of old cars, bikes and antique collection, it's haven. the only problem is that it's not stored properly.

J.

Wow, what a fantastic collection, this really is a must visit.

a.

Few old stuff lying around, many things to see.. from cars to plane etc.. for the young and old.. try pedalling that old vehicle on the lawn.. great fun.

G.

The place is massive. Thousands of vehicles. Toys mainly transport related. One man's dream!

m.

Love this place u need at least two days to see everything

D.

Wonderful place to visit

G.

Absolutely brilliant. It is what it is. Cars planes and so much more. You could spend ages there.

J.

Great place to visit. Be prepared to spend at least two hours or more looking around.

M.

Great museum. Lots of toys that will take you back to your childhood

A.

A fascinating place with many unusual exhibits. A lot of memories with cars and toys I remembered from my youth.

B.

First class! This place had an amazing range of vintage cars and provides hours of entertainment.

S.

A great way to spend about 2 hours

A.

Great fun if you like cars and transportation

A.

Amazing totally enjoyed the experience, needed more time to admirer all there was to see.

W.

Good fun but cafe was small and had very little

S.

Great fun. Massive collection, you will need at least an hour to see everything

M.

Lots to do for whole family lots to look at too

Y.

Great place for nostalgic petrol heads

d.

Great place. Lots to see and enjoy. Awesome

R.

Found toys from my childhood on display. Lots to see

L.

The sort of place you can spend a day wandering around, so much to see.

T.

Great place if you like cars and toys.

G.

Really interesting. Great staff☺ So much to see that evoked lots of memories... Felt like a kid again☺

H.

Really enjoyed our visit was able to see tha changes since our last visit 3 years ago

A.

Full of old toys and vehicles. Great fun to look around.

C.

Cool place with lots of interesting this us to see and great coffee.

R.

A stunning collection of vehicles, including planes, equipment, models, toys. Don't drive past it!

A.

Great to see the toys and cars that I grew up with.

C.

Mind boggling array of memorabilia, interesting toys and vehicles. Kids loved it!

G.

Every one .this is one of the best places to go ps take the kids

R.

Absolutely amazing and stunning collections.

V.

Really nice place for car guys and girls

A.

Cars, toys and beer ¿is this the best museum ever? It is.

F.

Not bad .. nice for kids to enjoy .. lot of collectables from different toys

d.

Great value for money and if you run out of time you can continue the next day. A must to see

C.

Brillant wish had more time but back next year

K.

I loved it! I would need a week to see it all!

R.

Worth a day of exploring the thousands of exhibitions. The free pedal car is a bonus!

J.

Spent many hours. So much of history and stuff

B.

More MOTAT than MOTAT, a great collection of cars, trucks, planes, toys and much much more.

A.

Fun place to visit with all the family. Spend a good couple of hours here.

B.

It's was great and cool but it smelt a bit.

s.

So much to see and do, for all ages

A.

Lots to see, so much to take in. Definitely recommend

R.

Utterly amazingly huge collection of everything imaginable.

K.

Such an interesting place to visit. Friendly staff

B.

Brings back memories

B.

Worth a visit in Wanaka

e.

amazing collection.collection of everything.especially old cars..beautiful...

J.

Really amazing place. A definite recommendation on a rainy day!

G.

Huge selection of items but very few aircraft these days. Aviation nutters be warned.

R.

The store is fantastic. You will find any toy you want.

M.

Well worth a look. Impressive collection. A must see!

D.

Very nicely laid out , definitely worth a visit .

T.

If you love toys and vintage transport, you'll love this place.

M.

Amazing place. Lots to look at.

A.

Awesome day out. Highly recommended for young and old

L.

Walk down many memory lanes- take your time to take it all in

J.

The museum of everything we have found. Recommended.

H.

Enormous collection of stuff. Totally fascinating if a little random!

B.

Really cool selection of classic toys and huge quantity of classic and old vehicles

P.

Absolutely amazing, worth traveling 10,000+ miles for!!!!

O.

Amazing selection of transport and toys

I.

It was great, such a selection of many eras.

Y.

Amazing, allow plenty of time

A.

Excellent Museum

N.

Eclectic mix of treasures

M.

Literally AMAZING. One mans dream... There is nothing like this, thats for sure. Everybody have to see.

M.

A very large collection of all sorts of things from cars to barbie dolls

P.

This place has just about everything I remember from my younger days

S.

This place is amazing Well worth a visit

P.

Nice

T.

Kids and adults loved it

V.

It was awesome friendly staff and the place is huge

C.

Awesome

s.

Excellent place for toys and so many used motor vehicles

L.

Lots to see here loved the visit back in time

B.

Always a fan of these toys! Great place!

R.

Very good place to see especially for children and young.

V.

It was awesome friendly staff and the place is huge

s.

A real treasure trove for all young and older...

D.

Fantastic display of everythinh

J.

Really amazing place. A definite recommendation on a rainy day!

D.

Amazing place. Totally awesome

W.

OMG this museum is full of all the toys you wished Santa gave you as a kid. The other three hangers are full of cars, motorbike, planes and other automobiles. When a collection becomes an obsession. Have a cold beer or hot cuppa at cafe as you return to the main museum building.

l.

There is a lot to see...

P.

Absolutely amazing, worth traveling 10,000+ miles for!!!!

e.

amazing collection.collection of everything.especially old cars..beautiful...

G.

Very cool place to visit and take kids.

D.

Nice place.

T.

So much cool things to look at

M.

Have visited on several occasions when in NZ and staying in Wanaka. Always seem to find something not noticed previously.

J.

Best museum in nz in my opinion.

R.

Really enjoyed it especially all the cars

D.

Amazing place. Totally awesome

s.

A real treasure trove for all young and older...

J.

Great. Fantastic. Will go back.

J.

You need to take your time exploring this place!

R.

Fantastic worth it definitely

J.

This place is amazing. You really should visit.

B.

Wonderful collection and display

p.

Overwhelming you senses there is just so much to see even after 4 hours I still missed some.

M.

Fun 😁

u.

Great place for adults and kids :)

H.

Too much to see for just one visit...

t.

awesome place to visit, well worth it.

C.

Awesome experience! recommended to one and all

J.

It has awesome collection of cars.

H.

A must visit for petrolheads and toy lovers

F.

good

S.

Fantastic place. Totally worth it.

D.

Far to cramped. Lots of cars with no information.

R.

I would rate Southwoods quite a bit better

P.

Fascinating place.

M.

Great spot over crowded with a lifetime of collecting

H.

Hidden treasure ! Amazing place and amazing collection !

C.

Well worth a visit , amazing collection

M.

Wow,mind blowing for the kids

M.

Great Place about be prepared to spend many hours

E.

A must do toy lovers

P.

I can't believe how many cool things this place has.

l.

There is a lot to see...

R.

Not enough hours in a day to explore

L.

Really good and interesting

G.

Awsome just amazing

D.

A definite must visit

c.

Great place so much to see. .

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