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.
The New Zealand Maritime Museum 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. I am only touching upon it here with a few photos from my last visit:
A variety of vessels used to travel across the waters in early days before Europeans arrived. Take a closer look at these Polynesian Outrigger boats here.
The entrance to ‘New Beginnings’, an exhibit on European immigration to New Zealand.
Simulating life on board the European immigrant ships, this “boat” gently rocks from side to side.
The entrance to “Blue Water, Black Magic,” a tribute to Sir Peter Blake (yachtsman, environmentalist and New Zealand hero whose life was cut short by pirates in 2001). It also features maritime achievements which have resulted in New Zealand holding every significant blue-water sailing trophy in the world, at one point in time.
Sir Peter Blake’s lucky red socks
Looking down on NZL32 – Black Magic, New Zealand’s 1995 America’s Cup-winning boat.
The underside of Black Magic.
A row of innovative kiwi boat designs.
This waka, belonging to the Polynesian Voyaging Society, has been at the Maritime Museum for a while and will be leaving soon.
SS Puke (pronounced puķē) is New Zealand’s oldest working steamboat.
Practical Information and Tips
- They offer daily sailings on the Ted Ashby Sailing Scow as well as other boat options (I will be going out on a Breeze Gulf Experience at the start of next season). Check out the sailing time schedule to help plan your visit.
- Entrance to the Maritime Museum is free 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 is where I checked in before heading out on the dolphin and whale excursion.
If you want to learn more, this is a great book Sir Peter Blake: An Amazing Life
Are you fascinated by nautical history? Have you been to the Maritime Museum? Are you a boatie? Sail or power?
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I would enjoy that museum. Like the lucky socks.
I 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.
I love the shot of the suitcases – and the lucky socks made me smile!
Thanks Celine. I always liked the suitcases also.
gorgeous 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!
Thanks Tara, but you will need the maps when you come to New Zealand, as I will be your guide.
Looks like a cool museum.
It really is, You will love it.
A 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.
It was tragic. He was a true hero and sportsman. It was just before we moved to New Zealand. I am sure the nation cried.
Interesting….
Hi 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
There 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.
love the lucky red socks!
Got to stick with what works.
Museums show us fascinating things. Thanks for sharing these little treasures
This 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.
We 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!!
There is so much to see you New Zealand, I’m glad you got to visit much the country.
Yet 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 🙂
I 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.
I 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.
It 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.
I 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.
Thanks Chrys.
That 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:-)
I 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.
I love all things nautical, but you already know that. I would love to visit this museum. A. Lot.
Have a fabulous day. 🙂
I 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.
One 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.
When given the choice, I prefer to get out of the water and try out the boats. That’s not always possible.
Imagine the stories that go with all those pieces of luggage! Love the kiwi boats.
Funny 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.
Brilliant…I love museums so interesting and educational too 🙂
Have a nauticaltastic day 🙂
What a great place to visit. I can see a whole day if you include a sailboat trip.
It 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.
Interesting museum!
Once 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
Thanks Paul, for the compliment and the giggles.
Maritime 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
That 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.
Interesting museum with even more interesting artifacts! Island nations do have a strong nautical history and its always wonderful to read about it.
And New Zealand is about 2000 km to our closest neighbors.
Great 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.
Wow. I would love to do that. A Viking ship, Newfoundland, and icebergs, what a magical combination.
This is such a fascinating museum! All of the little details like the lucky red socks, make it even more special.
True, and there are far more than I can share here.
Those 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?
Those 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.
Fascinating looking museum. I’m from Nova Scotia and we have a great maritime museum in Halifax, which includes an awesome Titanic exhibit. Thanks for linking up this week. #TPThursday
I keep hearing about that Halifax Maritime Museum. Now it is on my bucket list.