New Zealand Maritime Museum

Table of Contents

Introduction

The New Zealand Maritime Museum Hui Te Ananui A Tangaroa, located on Hobson’s Wharf at Princes Wharf in the Viaduct Harbour of Auckland, New Zealand, welcomes visitors daily (except Christmas Day) from 10 am to 5 pm. Situated at the heart of Auckland’s vibrant waterfront, this museum invites maritime enthusiasts, families, and curious travellers to explore Aotearoa’s rich connections to the sea. With a reputation for engaging storytelling, maritime artefacts, and interactive galleries, the museum offers an immersive and uplifting experience for all ages.

About the Museum

The museum is a celebration and preservation of New Zealand’s seafaring heritage, from the earliest Polynesian navigators through to modern nautical innovation. Its Maori name, Hui Te Ananui A Tangaroa, gifted by Sir Hugh Kāwharu, translates to “the dwelling of Tangaroa” and reflects the spiritual and cultural dimensions of the sea in Māori tradition.

Exhibitions guide visitors chronologically and thematically through the nation’s maritime story. In the Voyage Gallery and Landfalls Gallery, guests can learn about Polynesian wayfinding and early European explorations, including artifacts and replicas of waka and Captain Cook’s voyages. The New Beginnings Gallery focuses on immigrant journeys by sea, offering interactive experiences that evoke life aboard immigrant vessels. The museum also features the Navy Gallery, celebrating the history and contributions of the Royal New Zealand Navy, and the Maritime Innovation Gallery, which highlights technological and environmental contributions in shipbuilding, navigation, and conservation.

One of the museum’s standout permanent exhibitions is Blue Water Black Magic, dedicated to Sir Peter Blake and New Zealand’s America’s Cup legacy. It displays the famous yacht NZL 32 (Black Magic) along with memorabilia and artefacts commemorating national yachting triumphs. In addition, the Edmiston Gallery rotates maritime‑themed art exhibitions, including the ongoing Into Ocean & Ice exhibition with works by contemporary artists exploring Antarctica and its environmental context, free with museum entry through August 31, 2025.

Outside the main galleries, visitors can step onto the wharf to view and board a fleet of heritage vessels berthed at the museum. These include the Ted Ashby, a replica 19th‑century scow available for public sailings most days (except Mondays), and other traditional vessels like the Breeze and vintage motor launch Nautilus. Sailing excursions offer the chance to hoist sails and enjoy views of Auckland’s harbour for an extra fee.

The museum also offers guided tours—free with admission and available multiple times per day—led by knowledgeable staff who bring to life stories of voyaging, immigration, nautical design, and New Zealand’s yacht‑racing heritage. Facilities include the Koel café, serving organic coffee, light meals, and snacks with harbour vistas; a gift shop; complimentary wifi throughout; and bag‑check services or lockers for visitor convenience. The museum is committed to accessibility, providing ramp access throughout galleries, wheelchair hire, and support animal access. Heritage sailings are wheelchair‑friendly with specialist boarding assistance (though electric wheelchairs must be left behind).

Admission is free for Auckland Region residents upon presentation of valid proof of address, such as a driver’s licence or utility bill. Other visitors pay competitive rates: adults thirty dollars, seniors and students nineteen dollars, children aged five to fourteen twelve dollars, and family passes available at fifty‑eight dollars for two adults and two children (or variant).

Interesting Facts

The museum incorporates the historic Launchman’s Building (built in 1920), now listed as a Category II heritage site, which forms part of its entrance structure.
The museum opened in August 1993, the same year Auckland hosted the New Zealand America’s Cup regatta, and cost approximately NZD 11.1 million to establish.
It cares for some of the nation’s most important maritime collections, including the maritime index, photographic record, Bill Laxon library, lighthouse documentation, and genealogical shipping archives.
The Ted Ashby scow offers daily sails (weather permitting), allowing visitors to actively participate in sailing on Waitematā Harbour.
The RMS Rangitata, a famous ocean passenger liner from 1929, is represented by a scale model in the museum’s collection.

Photo Gallery

Physical Location

Contact Details

Phone: +649 373 0800

Website: maritimemuseum.co.nz/

Facebook: facebook.com/nzmaritimemuseum

Conclusion

A visit to the New Zealand Maritime Museum Hui Te Ananui A Tangaroa is a journey across centuries of human connection with the ocean. From ancient voyaging traditions and European exploration to modern innovations in yachting and maritime design, the museum offers an unforgettable blend of storytelling, hands‑on experience, and historical insight. Whether you are a local Aucklander taking advantage of the free entry, a family looking for interactive education, or a maritime aficionado keen for heritage sailings and fascinating artefacts, this museum promises a rewarding and inspirational day out. With its welcoming ambience, cultural significance, and harbour‑side outlook, it truly is a treasure of Auckland’s waterfront.