Te Manawa is an excellent regional museum combines exhibits in the fields of art, history and science. It is a well laid out museum with many interactive exhibits and is a great way to discover more about Palmerston North and the Manawatū region.
Te Manawa
New Zealand Rugby Museum
The New Zealand Rugby Museum is the world’s oldest museum devoted to rugby. The museum features an extensive collection of rugby memorabilia from around the world.
Waimarie
The Waimarie Centre consists of the restored 100 year-old steam-powered paddle steamer Waimarie and a small museum. Waimarie plied the waters of the Whanganui River between 1899 and 1949 and she capsized and sank in 1952. In 1993 Waimarie was salvaged and after a seven-year restoration programme she was re-launched in 2000. Waimarie now runs regular cruises 13km upriver to the small settlement of Upokongoro.
Whanganui Regional Museum
This Whanganui Regional Museum is a regional museum that is home to an extensive collection of exhibits with a focus on Māori culture, local and natural history. It is noted for its collection of Lindauer portraits and Māori taonga.
Sarjeant Gallery
The world-renowned Sarjeant Gallery occupies an imposing neo-classical building in Queens Park. It is one of New Zealand’s best regional art galleries and is host to a varying exhibition programme.
Durie Hill Elevator & Memorial Tower
If you walk across the Wanganui City Bridge you’ll come to the Durie Hill tunnel, which takes you 205m into the hill where it meets the Durie Hill Elevator. Built in 1919, this historic lift takes you 66m up to the top of the hill. Once at the top, you can climb the 33.5m Memorial Tower for spectacular views of the city. On a clear day you can see Mounts Ruapehu and Taranaki.
Tawhiti Museum
Many people regard Tawhiti Museum as New Zealand’s best small privately run museum. It uses brilliant dioramas to cover the history of South Taranaki.
Glockenspiel
Stratford’s Tudor-style clock tower is home to New Zealand’s only glockenspiel, which features six figures of Romeo and Juliet and performs for five minutes daily at 10am, 1pm, 3pm and 7pm.
Puke Ariki
This brilliant museum is New Plymouth’s top attraction. Puke Ariki features excellent displays on the region’s geological and cultural history.
National Aquarium of New Zealand
The National Aquarium of New Zealand features a wide variety of marine life. It includes a walk-through tunnel in one of the tanks plus enclosures with kiwis, glow-worms, tuatara and New Zealand geckos.