Tūhura Otago Museum
Tūhura Otago Museum
4.5
Natural History MuseumsScience MuseumsObservatories & Planetariums
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Duration: 2-3 hours
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  • Kiwi1955
    Auckland, New Zealand44 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Museum visit on a Wet Day!
    A modern, well laid out and interesting museum with Butterfly House and awesome cafe when you need a break and a coffee fix. Well worth taking the time to visit during your stay in Dunedin. The science hall is a great place with interactive displays for both adults and children alike. :)
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 27 August 2023
  • TR82
    212 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    More like a fun park than a museum!
    We had not originally factored in the museum for our holiday with young kids as they usually get bored after 45 seconds but we were catching up with some local friends and they suggested this place. Downstairs the cafe is very good some amazing looking cakes and slices reasonably priced, inside there is the normal proper museum stuff which I would have liked to have seen but as previously stated the kids have flea sized attention spans. We instead went to the science centre which has heaps of interactive elements for kids and a slide of course, this flowed into a butterfly exhibit which is about 3 storeys high and very impressive, be warned it is very hot and humid in here and even as Queenslanders we found it warm so strip off this layers before entering. We also booked a virtual reality experience, this could only be described as a bit of an acid trip and maybe some of the imagery not suitable for kids? We also booked tickets to the planetarium which was a fun 45mins show that also included some science experiments. We spent about 3hrs there and could have easily spent another 1-2hrs. Well worth a look when in Dunedin.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 3 October 2023
  • Jon S
    World10 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Surprise museum trip
    Great museum and the science centre was good for the kids. Impressed that they could even fit a slide inside! Was running out of time so only spent a brief time with the butterflies but amazing that they can fit so many in there!
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 8 January 2024
  • afong138
    Sydney, Australia297 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    A nice museum to visit
    It is a very nice museum to visit, with nature , people & culture displays on 3 levels. And very well presented & it is free entry. However if you want to visit the Butterfly house there, you need to pay $20 for adult & $15 for senior. If you love butterfly it is worth it. If you have kids then they will enjoy more there. It is also near not too far from the Dunedin Botanical garden.
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written 19 January 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles1,154 reviews
Excellent
832
Very good
281
Average
35
Poor
4
Terrible
2

need2trvl
Miamisburg, OH471 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Couples
The most interesting part of the museum was the exhibits on the area and wildlife. Also really enjoyed the clothing exhibit. This is a great bathroom spot if you're out and about touring. Many of our tour folks sat in the cafe and had a cup of tea. I wouldn't go out of my way to this museum but I enjoyed my time there.
Written 16 March 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.

Elaine H
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Couples
Amazing VR exhibit, friendly staff. Great place to visit on a rainy summer day! We’ll be back soon to check out the indoor rainforest.
Written 27 January 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.

afong138
Sydney, Australia297 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Solo
It is a very nice museum to visit, with nature , people & culture displays on 3 levels.
And very well presented & it is free entry. However if you want to visit the Butterfly house there, you need to pay $20 for adult & $15 for senior. If you love butterfly it is worth it. If you have kids then they will enjoy more there. It is also
near not too far from the Dunedin Botanical garden.
Written 19 January 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.

D T
2 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Family
Tūhura Otago Museum provides a captivating blend of cultural, historical and family-friendly adventure. This unique museum strikes a harmonious balance, offering an enriching experience for both children and adults with a sound foucs on Māori and Pasifika history that adds a valuable layer of cultural depth with a local context.

The highlight of Tūhura is undeniably the Science Center. Thoughtfully designed with a diverse range of interactive displays, this space invites young minds to explore, learn, and unleash their creativity. Every corner is discovery waiting to happen. Despite being many of the educational activities being many years old, and in need of refreshment, they still keep my children entertained for hours.

The incorporation of Māori history throughout the museum is a commendable effort to honor and share the rich cultural heritage of Aotearoa New Zealand. The eshibits showcase a meaningful journey through time and place, shedding light on the traditions, stories and artistry of the Māori people.

There does remain room for improvement in the overall presentation and technological integration. Many of the exhibits are decades old and could benefit from modern updates to enhance the visitor experience. Interactive displays and multimedia elements, if integrated strategically, could breathe new life into certain sections, ensuring that the content remains engaging and relevant for future generations.

In conclusion, Tūhura Otago Museum stands as a commendable institution that successfully intertwines a fantastic child friendly Science Center with many other enriching displays. While the museum could benefit from some modernization and a more family friendly cafe, it remains a must-visit destination for families and historical enthusiasts alike.
Written 15 January 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.

Jon S
World10 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Family
Great museum and the science centre was good for the kids. Impressed that they could even fit a slide inside! Was running out of time so only spent a brief time with the butterflies but amazing that they can fit so many in there!
Written 8 January 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.

TR82
Brisbane212 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Family
We had not originally factored in the museum for our holiday with young kids as they usually get bored after 45 seconds but we were catching up with some local friends and they suggested this place.

Downstairs the cafe is very good some amazing looking cakes and slices reasonably priced, inside there is the normal proper museum stuff which I would have liked to have seen but as previously stated the kids have flea sized attention spans.
We instead went to the science centre which has heaps of interactive elements for kids and a slide of course, this flowed into a butterfly exhibit which is about 3 storeys high and very impressive, be warned it is very hot and humid in here and even as Queenslanders we found it warm so strip off this layers before entering.

We also booked a virtual reality experience, this could only be described as a bit of an acid trip and maybe some of the imagery not suitable for kids?
We also booked tickets to the planetarium which was a fun 45mins show that also included some science experiments.

We spent about 3hrs there and could have easily spent another 1-2hrs.

Well worth a look when in Dunedin.
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.

Kiwi1955
Auckland, New Zealand44 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Couples
A modern, well laid out and interesting museum with Butterfly House and awesome cafe when you need a break and a coffee fix. Well worth taking the time to visit during your stay in Dunedin. The science hall is a great place with interactive displays for both adults and children alike. :)
Written 27 August 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.

Jo W
Napier, New Zealand11 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Family
Lots of very cool things to see, I have been twice now and see different things each time, most of museum is free, but this time I paid to visit the science and butterfly exhibition- both are great, the science part would be especially great for children and the butterfly house for any age, even got to release some freshly hatched butterflies
Written 22 August 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.

Sophie
75 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023 • Couples
Great museum with some good exhibitions and a nice shop. Shame the cafe shuts so early but would recommend to anyone visiting Dunedin.
Written 16 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.

DoraTheExplorer
Christchurch, New Zealand21 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023 • Family
Amazing museum. A lot of hands on activity’s and perfect for the whole family. You can learn about illusions and forces. The butterfly room is a must do. Ten out of ten from me.
Written 19 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.

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TŪHURA OTAGO MUSEUM: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Tūhura Otago Museum

Tūhura Otago Museum is open:
  • Sun - Sat 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM