Auckland War Memorial Museum product reviews

I love museums and can spend hours in this one. I find the price and the car parking are the bits that put me off visiting as often as i would like.

I always start at the bottom with the stuff that never really changes (where the elephant is and all the old stuff including a play station from the 90s and lollies). One of my favorite things about this part of the museum is the look on peoples faces when they look into the tree hut. I however am too scared to do this as i fear getting stuck in the tree. I like to take my time looking around and this annoys most people that visit with me.

I especially tend to take my time looking at all the war stuff and reading about it even though i have seen it millions of times before. It makes me feel connected to the soldiers in the war. Working my way through the museum towards this part is like a small child crossing the days off on the calendar before Christmas.

There are exhibits that change a lot and my personal favorite would have to have been the BMW racing cars that had the life size car on display and then the small model size. This is the only time i have been lucky enough to have been in the top of the museum, which also has an amazing view over Auckland.

I tend to find the gift/souvenir shop a VERY typical gift shop but like the coin machine that you put in your $2 and it prints you a museum coin with a picture of the front of the museum on it.

My biggest concern with the museum is the parking cost which isn't seemed to be taken into account when a quick trip to the museum is at least 4 hours and you are paying Auckland prices so my tip to you if you don't have a lot of money is, park where its free and walk to the museum but go early so you have the day to enjoy it.

The museum has always been a big hit for my family. I love the entire atmosphere of the place. There's something for everyone, from the interactive area for kids to the Spitfire planes for the dads.
My personal favourite is the Volcano house! Even waiting in line watching those inside who have never experienced it is fun enough let alone being inside the shaking house.
I love that there is a huge outside area for the kids to run riot while eating a wee picnic.
Food is decently priced and the entry fee is great at just $5.

We will always be back to auckland museum!

The ability to view the exhibits from all angles and even have a hands-on experience with some of the articles from a seasonal exhibit really made my whole day more fun. There was more than enough staff around who seemed to be more than willing to provide help or information should you need a helping hand. There is a great deal of things to see and do, whatever your interests may be.

As mentioned by the previous reviewer there was a problem with parking. I strongly agree with his summation that using a bus or other form of outside transport would be a better option than trying to park-your-own. I got a substantial boost up the hill to the museum but I found the trip down quite tough as I had to concentrate intently in order to not go 'outside the lines' and either down the hill on the grass or down a gutter onto the road.

I can't say I have visited a LOT of museums, but I have seen a few scattered around the globe, but for such a small country, New Zealand can hold it's collective head up, because it has a museum it should be proud of. With a number of permanent exhibits, which are supplimented by seasonal and touring exhibitions, there is something to be found in these halls to capture any imagination. For those who enjoy history, check out the War Memorial, or the historical background of the museum itself.

Located atop the Auckland Domain, one of the 48 active volcanoes that Auckland is built upon, you will find there is more than just the Museum itself to draw you in, but any visit to the Domain warrants a stop in, to see what's new. However, parking may be a problem, especially on a sunny day when the sportsgrounds and picnic areas are also in full use. Either get there early, or use the public transport system, is my suggestion. I had a travelling companion with me who is in a wheelchair. With all of the reserved space either in use, or blocked due to construction of the 'Grand Atrium' expansion, we had to park downhill... and it's a steep hill to push a wheelchair up to the door!

Speaking of which, though we were informed that "...this place wasn't specifically designed for wheelchair access..." it was obvious that the curator staff had made quite some effort when planning the exhibition layouts, because we had no trouble freely navigating the whole place, including the cafe, gift shop and toilets. This was a great relief, allowing us a smooth journey throughout... despite "...possibly the world's oldest and slowest elevators..." as one staff member put it... which gave us a laugh. They apparently have to take the elevators out of service a couple of times a day to avoid overheating the motors.

Overall, because the majority of the Museum's appeal is in it's contents, I can't say a huge amount about it... but I assure you, from the moment you look up at this impressive and imposing building's frontage, you will understand what a wonderful place this is to visit... Bookmark their website so you can keep up to date with what's new and coming up, and if you are not an Auckland resident, make sure you add a visit to the museum to your itinerary because there is bound to be something wonderful waiting for you there.