Being an island, New Zealand has a long nautical history. From the arrival of the first Polynesian people through today, much of New Zealand life revolves around the sea, especially here in Auckland where it is said that one in four people have a boat. It is no surprise that Auckland’s nickname is the City of Sails.
The New Zealand Maritime Museum is the best place to discover New Zealand’s nautical history from the first people to arrive only 1,000 years ago in dugout canoes through modern blue water racing. It is one of my two favourite museums in Auckland (the other is the Auckland Museum). It takes us through the nation’s nautical history with actual boats, replicas, stories, interactive exhibits and more.
Blue Water – Black Magic: The Story of Sir Peter Blake
Blue water, Black Magic is a tribute to Sir Peter Blake, yachtsman, environmentalist and New Zealand hero. His life was cut short by pirates in 2001. It also features maritime achievements that have resulted in New Zealand holding every significant blue-water sailing trophy in the world, at one point in time. Sir Peter Blake is New Zealand’s most celebrated sailor, and probably its most famous. He is joined in fame by some of New Zealand’s recent olympians and America’s Cup team members.
Modern Nautical History
Sail on the Ted Ashby or the Breeze
The Ted Ashby is a ketch-rigged deck scow. The Auckland Maritime Museum offers daily sailings on the Ted Ashby as well as other boat options. Check out the sailing time schedule to help plan your visit.
The Breeze is a recreation of a brigantine style ship used in New Zealand coastal and inter-Dominion trades. While we have not yet sailed on it, we did get on the Breeze during a special event entitled “Dangerous Duties at Sea” held at the Maritime Museum. The highlight for my teen was getting an opportunity to climb up the rigging on the Breeze.
Practical Information and Tips
- The New Zealand Maritime Museum is just off Quay Street on Hobson Wharf, directly across from the Viaduct Harbour where people can race on former America’s Cup boats. It is one of the best Auckland museums.
- Entrance to the Maritime Museum is one of several free activities for Auckland ratepayers.
- The SS Puke is a working ship and touching or leaning in the wrong spot will get you greasy (I know this first-hand).
- The museum the check-in location for the Auckland Whale and Dolphin Safari.
→ Get tickets for America’s Cup Boat Racing OR Auckland Whale and Dolphin Safari
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Marae is the Center of Māori Life in New Zealand
Nancie
April 19, 2015 at 11:13 amFascinating looking museum. I’m from Nova Scotia and we have a great maritime museum in Halifax, which includes an awesome Titanic exhibit.
Rhonda Albom
April 19, 2015 at 5:19 pmI keep hearing about that Halifax Maritime Museum. Now it is on my bucket list.
Bob R
April 19, 2015 at 7:48 amThose sock are VERY red.
I too like these topical museums. Was there anything showing nautical history that wasn’t colonial in nature. ie pre-colonial?
Rhonda Albom
April 19, 2015 at 5:19 pmThose are the actual red socks.
The nautical history starts with the first people to come to New Zealand. I touched up on it in the first photo. There is plenty at the museum.
Julie K Pick
April 19, 2015 at 7:06 amThis is such a fascinating museum! All of the little details like the lucky red socks, make it even more special.
Sue Archer
April 18, 2015 at 1:56 pmGreat picture of the suitcases! I have been to various maritime sites in Nova Scotia, Canada when I was young and I’ve sailed on a replica Viking knarr out in Newfoundland to search for icebergs (we found one!), but it’s been a while since I’ve been near the sea.
Rhonda Albom
April 18, 2015 at 4:29 pmWow. I would love to do that. A Viking ship, Newfoundland, and icebergs, what a magical combination.
Archana
April 17, 2015 at 4:35 pmInteresting museum with even more interesting artifacts! Island nations do have a strong nautical history and its always wonderful to read about it.
Sean @ His and Her Hobbies
April 17, 2015 at 1:24 pmMaritime museums are always a lot of fun. We went to the one in Halifax a few years ago and loved it. The highlight there was artifacts that were retrieved from the ocean surface from the Titanic.
Sean at His and Her Hobbies
Rhonda Albom
April 17, 2015 at 9:08 pmThat would be very cool to see artifacts from the Titanic. I will have to remember that should I ever get to that part of Canada.
Paul F. Pietrangelo
April 17, 2015 at 11:56 amOnce again I loved your photos. Now I know where I left my red socks. Ha,ha,ha. Really, I do have a red pair of socks, & yellow & green & blue. I love your adventures Rhonda. Keep going giving us some more of them. See ya.
Cruisin Paul
Charlotte
April 17, 2015 at 10:56 amInteresting museum!
C. Lee McKenzie
April 17, 2015 at 8:18 amWhat a great place to visit. I can see a whole day if you include a sailboat trip.
Rhonda Albom
April 17, 2015 at 9:07 pmIt really depends which boat you pick. If I remember correctly, the Ted Ashby was only an hour. Plus it takes a few hours to see all the exhibits.
stevebethere
April 17, 2015 at 7:30 amBrilliant…I love museums so interesting and educational too 🙂
Have a nauticaltastic day 🙂
Elen @ Elen G
April 17, 2015 at 5:17 amImagine the stories that go with all those pieces of luggage! Love the kiwi boats.
Rhonda Albom
April 17, 2015 at 9:05 pmFunny you should say that, directly across from the luggage on the wall our cards. Each visitor is encouraged to take one, which will follow the story of one immigrant. At the end of the exhibit you can learn of their fate.
Tim H
April 17, 2015 at 4:28 amOne fun thing about traveling is the chance to see small boat designs. I’ve always enjoy seeing the (sometimes very) different approaches that cultures took to essentially the same problem of near shore exploration and fishing.
Comedy Plus
April 17, 2015 at 3:26 amI love all things nautical, but you already know that. I would love to visit this museum. A. Lot.
Have a fabulous day. 🙂
Rhonda Albom
April 17, 2015 at 9:03 pmI did know that, I even threw in the last question just for you, so you wouldn’t see my biased towards all things with sails.
Eli
April 17, 2015 at 2:21 amThat looks like a great museum. A big nautical museum in my hometown Bergen, Norway too. I particulary like the personal touch to them – when they bring the historical persons back to life – and seems they have done that on yours. Good one:-)
Rhonda Albom
April 17, 2015 at 9:03 pmI don’t think we’ve visited the Maritime Museum in Bergen, as we went to one in Oslo only a few days earlier. It was very different then New Zealand as it was based around Viking ships.
Chrys Fey
April 17, 2015 at 1:33 amI love museums! That picture of all of the suitcases stacked up like that is a great shot.
I’m not a boat person. Because I can’t swim well, I’m afraid of water.
LD Masterson
April 17, 2015 at 1:17 amI enjoy museums that give insight into the personal side, like the mock up of the inside of the ship. Fascinating to imagine what it was like for the people there.
Rhonda Albom
April 17, 2015 at 9:01 pmIt is a really cool exhibit. In several of the bunks, they show continues video to give you a feel of what you would really be like to be there. Each of those bunks held a family, not just one person.
Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor
April 17, 2015 at 1:00 amYet another place we never visited when we lived in NZ! I always wanted to go, but for some reason never made it there which is crazy as I only lived a few blocks away. Fortunately, I can visit it online through your post 🙂
Rhonda Albom
April 17, 2015 at 8:59 pmI have to admit, I was surprised to read this. You and Scott are boaties, this seems like such a natural for you. Plus, as Aucklanders, it was free. Maybe when you get back here we can go together. I am still giggling at the idea that you never visited.
Jackie
April 17, 2015 at 12:52 amWe are just back from New Zealand and I just loved it! Auckland is a gorgeous city but we didn’t have enough time to visit any museums, guess we have to go back!!
Serins
April 17, 2015 at 12:14 amMuseums show us fascinating things. Thanks for sharing these little treasures
Rhonda Albom
April 17, 2015 at 8:57 pmThis is one of my favorites, and it seems to be somewhat different than other Maritime Museum we have visited around the world, jazz this one has such a strong Polynesian influence.
ann miller
April 16, 2015 at 9:33 pmlove the lucky red socks!
Hilary
April 16, 2015 at 7:45 pmHi Rhona – I didn’t know anything about Sir Peter Blake, but popped over to Wiki, I’m sure I knew his name – but not the story … how very sad … but I’m glad his memory is being kept alive through the Blake Trust. Black Magic … must be magical to see so close … and I love the look of the rest of the museum .. and especially your first photo .. gorgeous shots for us to look at and learn from …cheers Hilary
Rhonda Albom
April 17, 2015 at 8:56 pmThere are many things named after him, a big yacht race is the one that pops into my head. As for Black Magic, there is a video on the Maritime Museum’s webpage showing how they got it in up there. That was part of the magic too.
Robyn Engel
April 16, 2015 at 4:46 pmA fun and interesting post, Rhonda, but I’m sad to learn that Sir Peter Blake’s life was cut short by pirates. That’s tragic. I’d love that museum, though. Thanks for the tour.
Rhonda Albom
April 17, 2015 at 8:53 pmIt was tragic. He was a true hero and sportsman. It was just before we moved to New Zealand. I am sure the nation cried.
Joyce
April 16, 2015 at 3:29 pmLooks like a cool museum.
tara tyler
April 16, 2015 at 2:42 pmgorgeous ships! and thanks for all the added info and maps – i’ll be all set (must check out that k-road!)
happy a to z-ing!
Celine Jeanjean
April 16, 2015 at 2:29 pmI love the shot of the suitcases – and the lucky socks made me smile!
Alex J. Cavanaugh
April 16, 2015 at 1:58 pmI would enjoy that museum. Like the lucky socks.
Rhonda Albom
April 17, 2015 at 8:51 pmI have taken many people here, and everyone seems to like it. Maybe one day you will get to New Zealand and I will bring you here as well.