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Te Papa (Museum of New Zealand)
Embrace New Zealand’s culture, history, flora and fauna with six floors of exhibitions and interactive experiences at Te Papa (Museum of New Zealand). Its full Māori name is “Te Papa Tongarewa,” which means “container of treasures.”
Start your hands-on adventure inside Our Space, a hi-tech interactive experience that includes The Wall, a 59 feet (18 meter) long interactive video wall.
Learn about the natural forces that shaped New Zealand at the Awesome Forces exhibit. Step inside the shake house and experience a simulated earthquake. Watch the light and sound show that tells the Māori account of creation.
At Mountains to Sea you’ll see displays of more than 2,500 native plants and animals, from insects to the 68-feet (21-meter) skeleton of pygmy blue whale.
Get close to what’s thought to be the heaviest squid ever caught. It weighs 1,091 pounds (495 kilograms) and has a mantle length (the length of the muscular organ that protects the body) of 8.2 feet (2.5 meters). It was captured by a New Zealand fishing vessel in Antarctic waters in 2007 and is preserved in a large tank.
Appreciate some of the museum’s cultural treasures, including thousands of Māori ancestral carvings, ornaments and weapons. Te Papa also houses the national art collection, which includes thousands of works by New Zealand artists, photographers and sculptors.
Explore an urban rainforest at Bush City, just outside the museum. Here, you can crawl through a limestone cave to see glow worms and the bones of an extinct moa bird.
Kids will love the activities designed for them. They can dig for dinosaur bones, learn traditional Māori games, make a puppet, examine insects under a microscope or take an art class.
Situated in Cable Street on Wellington’s waterfront, Te Papa is easily reached by car and public transport. Most of the city’s buses travel near the museum and the main railway station is just a short walk away. There is pay parking 24 hours a day.
Te Papa is open daily, including public holidays. Admission is free though charges may apply to some temporary exhibitions.
Guide to Exploring around Te Papa
Best Lodging Options Near Te Papa
Per night/room
Jun 21 - Jun 22
Oaks Wellington Hotel
89 Courtenay Place, Te Aro, Wellington, WellingtonLocated in Te Aro, this luxury aparthotel is within a 5-minute walk of Courtenay Place, Cuba Street Mall, and Te Papa (Museum of New Zealand). Michael Fowler Centre and Wellington Cable Car (Lambton Quay Station) are also within 1 mi (2 km). Wellington Station is 20 minutes by foot.
Per night/room
Jul 1 - Jul 2
DoubleTree by Hilton Wellington
Corner of Lambton Quay and Grey Street, 28 Grey Street, Wellington, NZThis family-friendly Wellington hotel is located in a shopping district, just steps from Lambton Quay and Wellington Central Business District. Te Papa (Museum of New Zealand) and Wellington Waterfront are also within 15 minutes. Wellington Station is 9 minutes by foot.
Per night/room
Jul 6 - Jul 7
Copthorne Hotel Wellington, Oriental Bay
100 Oriental Parade, Oriental Bay, WellingtonLocated in Oriental Bay, this eco-friendly hotel is within a 5-minute walk of Oriental Parade, Wellington Central Business District, and Wellington Waterfront. Te Papa (Museum of New Zealand) and Courtenay Place are also within 10 minutes. Wellington Station is 25 minutes by foot.
Per night/room
Jul 5 - Jul 6
QT Wellington
90 Cable Street, WellingtonThis family-friendly Wellington hotel is located in the entertainment district, steps from Waitangi Park, Wellington Central Business District, and Wellington Waterfront. Te Papa (Museum of New Zealand) and Oriental Parade are also within 5 minutes. Wellington Station is 19 minutes by foot.
Per night/room
Jun 10 - Jun 11
InterContinental Wellington
2 Grey Street, WellingtonLocated in the heart of Wellington, this luxury hotel is steps from Lambton Quay, Wellington Central Business District, and Wellington Waterfront. Te Papa (Museum of New Zealand) and Cuba Street Mall are also within 15 minutes. Wellington Station is 10 minutes by foot.
Per night/room
Jun 9 - Jun 10
Mercure Wellington Central City Hotel and Apartments
130 Victoria Street, WellingtonLocated in Te Aro, this hotel is steps from Cuba Street Mall and Wellington Central Business District. Te Papa (Museum of New Zealand) and Wellington Waterfront are also within 10 minutes. Wellington Station is 18 minutes by foot.
Per night/room
Jun 7 - Jun 8
Rydges Wellington
75 Featherston St, WellingtonLocated in the heart of Wellington, this luxury hotel is steps from Old Government Buildings, Wellington Central Business District, and Wellington Waterfront. Te Papa (Museum of New Zealand) and Westpac Stadium are also within 15 minutes. Wellington Station is only a 3-minute walk.
Per night/room
Jun 7 - Jun 8
The Thorndon Hotel Wellington by Rydges
24 Hawkestone St, Thorndon, WellingtonThis family-friendly Wellington hotel is located near the airport, within a 10-minute walk of Old St Paul's and Beehive. Wellington Cable Car (Lambton Quay Station) and Botanic Gardens are also within 1 mi (2 km). Wellington Station is 9 minutes by foot and Wellington Kaiwharawhara Station is 28 minutes.
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