Waikato Museum Te Whare Taonga o Waikato
Te Whare Taonga o Waikato
A regional museum on the bank of the Waikato River. Its treasure is the 19th-century Māori war canoe Te Winika, and it also houses contemporary art and a science interactive centre.
Waikato Museum stands at the southern end of Victoria Street in central Hamilton, on the bank of the Waikato River, and showcases the Māori culture and colonial history of the Waikato region. Its most important piece is the Māori war canoe (waka taua) Te Winika, built around 1836. It is about 16 m long and was gifted by Māori Queen Te Atairangikaahu. The museum also has contemporary art exhibitions, a Waikato River ecology exhibit, and the Exscite science interactive centre for children, which charges an additional fee. Admission to the main museum is free, and it is open roughly 10:00–17:00. The riverbank lawn outside connects to the riverside walkway, and the city centre’s dining district is nearby.
Opening hours
10:00–17:00
Nearby sights
- Waikato River Paths & Te Awa River Ride
- Hamilton Lake Domain (Lake Rotoroa)
- Hamilton Gardens
- Hamilton Zoo
- Zealong Tea Estate
- Cambridge
- Hakarimata Summit Track
- Mount Pirongia