Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre
Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre
Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre
5
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
The Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre was established to provide a world-class destination for the appreciation of historic aircraft. Some of New Zealand's most respected cinematic and special effects craftsmen have created a dramatic aviation theatre in which original and full-scale replica WW1 and WW2 aircraft, both static and flyable, are presented in all their glory. The museum is home to two exhibitions, "Knights of the Sky" and "Dangerous Skies". The former is on long-term loan from film director Sir Peter Jackson and comprises one of the world's largest collections of World War One aircraft and rare memorabilia. Thanks to Sir Peter's generosity, the aircraft have been brought to life in a series of dioramas created by Wingnut Films and enhanced with lifelike mannequins by Wētā Workshop. "Dangerous Skies" utilised local talent and features stories from World War Two and takes visitors on a geographical as well as a historical journey.
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingAdmission tickets
from $25.00
All you need to step foot in the door.
Full view










What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
85 within 5 kms
Attractions
40 within 10 kms
See what travellers are saying
- HappyTravellersPerth90 contributionsGreat ExperienceLoved this place even though time only permitted us to visit the WW11 display. The center is well laid out overlooking an airfield with lots of comings and goings. Great little souvenir shop and restaurant. Would love to visit it again and see the other display.Visited December 2022Written 6 January 2023
- JEBLLB233 contributionsA great day outI visited here with my husband and son, all of us aviation buffs. We had talked about this place for a long time and to finally be able to visit was great. The total time we spent there was just over 4 hours. We toured the WW1 exhibits first, went to the cafe for some quick refreshments and then toured the WW2 exhibits. The detail in the displays was really good. An awful lot of work must have gone into the creation of the dioramas as well as the restoration of aircraft. .It was also very interesting to read about individual characters and see displays of personal effects etc We liked the bit near the end where there is a film about the siege of Stalingrad which puts the visitor at the centre of the action. All in all a great day outVisited November 2022Written 28 January 2023
- James HOceanside, California588 contributionsInteresting and informative.Lots of great information abou5 WW I and WW II aircraft. Skillfully prepared visual exhibitions. Included a great deal of information about the individual pilots, their backgrounds and their fate.Thank you for visiting James. Great to hear that you enjoyed the museum and appreciate you taking the time to post a review.Written 19 March 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited March 2023Written 5 March 2023
- ITRT38,566 contributionsDramatic DisplaysThe Omaka Heritage Center is in the Marlborough region of New Zealand. In the true definition of the word museum, Omaka does not fit. Rather, it would be better to refer to it as an interpretive center. Most of the aircraft on display are replicas and recreations of events of the world wars including aircraft. The only two original aircraft here is the Caproni CA22 and a deHavilland DH4. The “Knights in the Sky” displays scenes from World War I while the “Dangerous Skies” exhibit is dedicated to WWII. The sets include a plane replica and life-size figures representative of the soldiers. A side note: The sets were created by the WETA Workshop known for its figures in Lord of the Rings. In the center of the hall, artifacts from the wars are displayed and some old cars can be found in front of some of the sets. Among the things you will see here include a bomb shelter, German pilot Baron Manfred von Richtofen, a -P40 Kittyhawk, Curtiss Flying Boat, and a snow scene. There is an airfield offering flights in aircraft for a sightseeing tour of Marlborough. Prices for these so-called joy rides are $395 for 20 minutes and $275 for 10 minutes. Ideal for WWI and WWII enthusiasts and all history buffs.Visited December 2022Travelled with friendsWritten 31 March 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
5.0
1,604 reviews
Excellent
1,370
Very good
189
Average
36
Poor
8
Terrible
1
Marlaina C
New Plymouth, New Zealand2,757 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
WOW, this Museum is like the Tardise as in Doctor Who, larger inside than it appears on the outside. This collection has to be some of the best installation works I’ve seen worldwide. With some of the original planes. World war 1 is in its own hanger. World war 11 is in a seperate space. Don’t forget to watch the video at the end of WW 11 it’s mind blowing, especially how many human lives were lost. I took footage but I’m not sure if I can post it in here. This also has a cafe with cabinet food and delicious coffee. This is one of the best Museums I’ve seen Worldwide. Highly recommend X infinity.
Written 25 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alenagigi
Sydney, Australia20 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
Historical must see aviation museum; we stopped by and the museum had two sections and the displays and planes were really well presented. Highly recommend this museum. Guides were helpful and informative too.
Written 13 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
aw682018
Masterton, New Zealand25 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
Okay, so it’s not cheap to see both displays, however, it is so worth every dollar spent. It is the second time we have visited this fantastic museum and still worth seeing. The attention to detail is amazing! We spent 3-4 hrs there stopping for a lovely cup of coffee and snack before moving on to the second hanger. All the staff are so lovely and friendly, very helpful and informative too, so a big thank you to you all for making our visit today special.
Written 3 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jenny h
Langholm, UK2 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
A must see for all in Marlborough area.Detail,research and displays outstanding!Well informed,enthusiastic guides made our visit even more rewarding.History came to life, especially Stalingrad experience.
Written 21 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for visiting Jenny! So good to hear that you enjoyed the museum. We appreciate you taking the time to post a review.
Written 1 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kiwichick-NZ
Cambridge, New Zealand325 contributions
Dec 2022 • Couples
Amazing display! Very educational and realistic scenes. Very worth while visit, my husband is ex airforce and was blown away with the exhibits… especially the RED BARON DISPLAY”!.
Written 21 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you, Kiwichick-NZ. We are so pleased that you and your husband enjoyed the museum, especially ex airforce! We hope to see you both again one day and appreciate you taking the time to post a review.
Written 1 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kiwichick-NZ
Cambridge, New Zealand325 contributions
Amazing display, very interesting and well laid out and informative. Good range of aircraft on display and lots of other interesting things to see.
Written 30 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RachaelBrown29
Thank you for visiting Omaka! Great to hear that you enjoyed your time with us. We appreciate you taking the time to post a review.
Written 5 July 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Tara &Andy
9 contributions
Jun 2023 • Solo
Absolutely worth the visit..the display is like no other. It will impress understanding of the restoration work by locals
Written 26 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RachaelBrown29
Thank you for visiting Omaka. So great to hear that you enjoyed the museum. We appreciate you taking the time to post a review.
Written 29 June 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Miriam R
Cambridge, UK109 contributions
For WW1 and WW2 aviation buffs, this place is Mecca. I don’t fall in that category but my husband does! We changed our travelling plans so that he could visit and perhaps see the WW2 Avro Anson, the only one which is airworthy and flying. But it wasn’t on view as the aeroplane is owned by a private individual. However, the exhibitions were so very good it made up for the disappointment. We went out of season, so the museum was quiet and not busy. I would image during the holiday times, it would prove to be a popular destination. Whilst I would recommend a visit, I would suggest this is not a place to keep young children engaged.
The jelly sweets in the shape of an aeroplane are good. $2 from the coffee/ cafe counter.
The jelly sweets in the shape of an aeroplane are good. $2 from the coffee/ cafe counter.
Written 31 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RachaelBrown29
Thank you Miriam! Great to hear that you enjoyed the museum. Sometimes the Anson is out flying, and/or the hangar door is open so that you can at least see it. Or for the more adventurous, you can go on a joy flight in it! Thank you again for visiting, and appreciate you taking the time to post a review.
Written 1 June 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
cazkiwi
7 contributions
This is definitely a recommended stop when you are in Blenheim. The level of detail in putting these exhibits together is incredible. Allow a good couple of hours so you have plenty of time.
Written 28 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RachaelBrown29
Thank you, Cazkiwi. It is great to hear that you enjoyed the visit to the museum, and appreciate you taking the time to post a review.
Written 30 April 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Tony Law
Sydney, Australia160 contributions
Feb 2023
A must for aviation enthusiasts and history buffs of the two World Wars. Not a Museum but Dioramas of men and their fighting machines showing the major fighting aircraft (mostly replicas) of the period. Construction and lifelike figures by WETA Workshops (Lord of the rings fame). The finale is a bombed out building in Stalingrad with light and sound effects, excellent!
Written 23 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RachaelBrown29
Thank you for visiting Tony. It is great to hear that you enjoyed the museum! I just wanted to clarify that while Wētā Workshop was responsible for creating the incredible life-like mannequins, WingNut Films made the dioramas in WW1 and our creative team in the WW2 exhibition. While the replica aircraft outweigh the originals in numbers, the originals that we do have are extremely rare in some cases. The memorabilia in the Knights of the Sky exhibition is mindblowing! Thank you again for visiting and appreciate you taking the time to post a review.
Written 30 April 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Karen C
Jacksonville, NC9 contributions
Where it the Picton i-site in relation to where the cruise ships dock? What is the distance? Good to know about the Hop On Hop Off bus!
Rachael B
Blenheim, New Zealand5 contributions
If your ship is docking at Waimahara then it is a 1.8km drive to Picton i-Site. There are shuttles organised by the ship's ground handlers to take passengers directly to the i-Site unless you have already booked a shore excursion.
Karen C
Jacksonville, NC9 contributions
What is the best way to get to the Centre from the Picton cruise ship port? We will be in port just one day, Dec 27. Also, is there any need to buy our tickets in advance? Can't we just buy them when we show up? Thank you.
Rachael B
Blenheim, New Zealand5 contributions
There is a Hop On Hop Off bus service that operates from the Picton i-site. There are shuttles that will take you here to connect with this and other independent tours/transport providers. You do not need to buy tickets to the museum in advance as these can be purchased on the day. However guide services cannot be guaranteed. We hope to see you and in the meantime hope you enjoy your cruise. Safe travels.
Karen C
Jacksonville, NC9 contributions
We, too, have the same dilemma as Forstergadabout. Can we easily take a taxi from the cruise ship port in Picton down to Blenheim? We are just there for the day and would much like to visit the Omaka Aviation Centre on our own and not as part of a cruise ship excursion. We just need to have transportation down there. We will be in Picton on Dec 27. I checked the websites suggested in one of the answers and couldn't find anything about transportation that made much sense to me. I'm hoping there will be taxis waiting at the cruise terminal to take visitors where they want to go. Is this the case? Thank you.
Rachael B
Blenheim, New Zealand5 contributions
There is also a new Hop On Hop Off Marlborough bus service that operates that will bring you to Omaka. This departs from the Picton i-Site, shuttles will take you from the Port to connect with this and other independent tours/transport services.
Forstergadabout
Sydney, Australia99 contributions
We are arriving in Picton by cruise ship on 10 January for the day, & wish to visit the Omaka Aviation Centre near Blenheim. The full day shore excursion offered by our cruise line is very expensive & allows time for a visit to the WW1 display only - this particular excursion has received shocking passenger reviews for other attractions visited on the same excursion. Have looked at hiring a car for the day but also very expensive. And buses depart too early in the day from Picton (our cruise doesn't dock in Picton until 10am). I found only one bus that we could possibly catch, leaving Picton at 1pm (then taxi to Centre from Blenheim?), view the Centre, then back to Blenheim (taxi?), then return bus to Picton - $25 per head each way (there are 4 of us). I haven't found any other excursions that allow us adequate time at the Centre, most focus on wineries, with the Centre a sideline. Any detailed suggestions such as:
(a) efficient & not outrageous costs of transport Picton-Blenheim-Centre return?
(b) any suitable excursion to allow us plenty of time at the Centre?
(c) perhaps a personal guide including transport from Picton return?
Many thanks
Forstergadabout
RachaelBrown29
Blenheim, New Zealand
Hi Forstergadabout, thank you for your message. The best thing to do would be to contact the Marlborough i-Sites - they have a list of independent operators who will be able to assist with transportation and/or other places that you may like to visit while you are here. They can organise it for you and the best news is that it won't cost more than what it would if you were to book it all directl!
Please google Marlborough i-Sites for the web link for the email address - unfortunately TA won't let me do that in a message.
I hope this helps and we look forward to seeing you. Please don't hesitate to contact us again if you have any questions.
Best regards
Rachael
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listingOMAKA AVIATION HERITAGE CENTRE: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre
- Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre admission prices can vary. Entrance tickets currently cost $25.64, while a popular guided tour starts around $91.80 per person.
- According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre:
- Skip the Line:WWI & WWII Combo Exhibitions at the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre (From $50.25)
- Full-Day Omaka Aviation Heritage Center and Wine Tasting Tour (From $200.00)
- Private Wine Gourmet and Scenic Delights Tour from Picton (From $1,020.46)
- Private Wine Gourmet and Scenic Delights Tour from Blenheim (From $1,020.46)
- Cruise Ship Day - Marlborough (From $91.80)
- Hotels near Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre:
- (3.13 km) Ellena Court Motel
- (3.77 km) St Leonards Vineyard Cottages
- (3.36 km) 171 On High Motel
- (3.66 km) Two Tree Lodge
- (3.46 km) Blenheim Palms Motel
- Restaurants near Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre:
- (1.29 km) The Burleigh Gourmet Pies
- (1.14 km) Wither Hills Restaurant
- (3.65 km) Herb + Olive
- (4.27 km) Gramado's
- (3.45 km) The Tamarind 2017