New Zealand Maritime Museum

About

The Maritime Museum sits on Hobson Wharf at the edge of the Viaduct, which is the right place for it. The collection runs from Pacific voyaging waka through European migration to New Zealand's America's Cup campaigns, and the migration section does a good job of conveying what a months-long sea passage meant. The real draw is that the museum sails. Heritage vessel trips run out onto the Waitematā from the wharf outside, and being on the water is a different proposition to reading about it. Those sailings are scheduled and weather-dependent, so book ahead rather than turning up hoping. The indoor galleries take about ninety minutes. The Viaduct and Wynyard Quarter are immediately outside, so it slots easily into a day spent on the waterfront.