Okains Bay Maori and Colonial Museum
Okains Bay Maori and Colonial Museum
Okains Bay Maori and Colonial Museum
4.5
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4.5
179 reviews
Excellent
122
Very good
50
Average
6
Poor
1
Terrible
0
Inspiration456650
Russell, New Zealand168 contributions
Feb 2021
This is an absolute treasure trove of colonial and Maori objects of interest. Privately collected the artefacts held here must be the envy of larger museums, it has the largest collection of korowai, many made with kiwi feathers. I really recommend that you don't miss this treasure.
Written 26 February 2021
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.
Mary E
Auckland, New Zealand18 contributions
Jan 2021
A fantastic museum of Maori treasures and history, along with the local European settlement history. Wonderful to walk around, touch, read and enjoy this interesting museum of both indoor and outdoor displays from both Maori and European culture. Well worth the drive.
Written 1 February 2021
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.
peperi
Auckland Central, New Zealand210 contributions
Jan 2023
For a journey into the Akaroa peninsula's past and an appreciation of Maori history the Okains Bay museum is a must see!! We spent the morning exploring the museum and savouring the history and exhibits that the museum's founder has invested in the community.
The collection is an amazing record of both Maori and colonial history that puts it alongside museums in larger cities, like Whanganui, that makes one appreciate New Zealand's past. Well worth the trip!!
The collection is an amazing record of both Maori and colonial history that puts it alongside museums in larger cities, like Whanganui, that makes one appreciate New Zealand's past. Well worth the trip!!
Written 20 January 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.
jmarkquinn
Christchurch, New Zealand12 contributions
Apr 2021
This museum at Okains Bay is so remote it’s hard to believe the collection. For Americans, think of the Smithsonian collection of priceless pieces in someone’s garage, out in the country. Really, this collection should be in a National museum. The most amazing Māori collection displayed in the casual understated way, that makes it even more incredible
Written 13 March 2022
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.
Ann T
Pascoe Vale, Australia1,397 contributions
Dec 2022
Absolutely worth the drive over the mountain from Akaroa to visit this extraodinary museum. Jam packed full of Maori and Colonial artifacts. This museum was clearly created by a passionate collector and lover of all things New Zealand.
Written 12 March 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.
rose j
Wellington, New Zealand18 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
Staying in Akaroa, we diverted off to Okains Bay one afternoon. The museum is a hidden treasure with a stunning collection of taonga including waka. Put aside 2-3 hours to do the collection justice.
Written 15 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.
Emma A
Wellington, New Zealand7 contributions
Apr 2024 • Solo
This museum has an extraordinary collection. Whaetever your area of interest - weapons, war, music, gardening, fishing, bushcraft, weaving, carving, building, smithing, colonial history, Māori history - you will find something to fascinate here. It is not uncommon to see an adze in a museum. It is uncommon to see the adze lashed to a wodden handle with a flax rope in a way that shows how it was held and how it worked, with an accompanying picture. The kereru snare is a highlight - it really shows you how they work. This museum is not flashy, but it is a gem. Worth travelling out of your way to visit. Good coffee and pie at the store, and a walk on the beach make a half day well spent.
Written 2 May 2024
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.
Clare W
Phuket, Thailand11 contributions
Feb 2020
This was unexpected as doesn’t seem to feature in many guide books of the Peninsula. An extraordinary lifetime’s collection of colonial and Maori aretefacts carefully curated by local residents. Great to see a waka on the water rather than under cover on dry land.
Written 7 March 2020
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.
william Y
Seneca, SC1,231 contributions
Mar 2017 • Couples
We were on our way back from Akaroa to Christchurch and decided to take a Side trip to see Okains Bay. It was a nice 5 mile drive over an impressive mountain down to the little village. The museum had displays of the early settlers to the region. It was a good way to learn about early life out on Banks peninsular .
Written 12 April 2017
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.
Alicia C
Mexico21 contributions
Nov 2014 • Solo
Many people travelling around the South Island visit Akaroa, a little quaint town with strong French influence. Many skip Okains Bay, very close by, and they are missing out! Okains Bay has a wonderful beach, a little village evocative of old times, and especially a most wonderful open air museum!! We had a lot of fun visiting and learning, admiring the old buildings (some of them transported from nearby towns, one of them reconstructed as it was destroyed by a huge storm). This museum has the most complete and awesome collection of Maori artifacts for daily life. It is a very good place to visit, and you can also see two huge Maori canoes, one that people went through a lot of trouble to re-built , brought from the Wanganui River in the North Island, and the other created by the museum's founder. Brilliant!
Written 17 December 2014
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.
Where can I buy tickets for 2 adults? We will be in Christchurch next week and want to visit.
Written 28 June 2018
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