Port Chalmers Maritime Museum
Port Chalmers Maritime Museum
Port Chalmers Maritime Museum
4.5
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4.5
42 reviews
Excellent
25
Very good
17
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
0
leerundle
Auckland Central, New Zealand48 contributions
Sept 2022
This has to be the best museum experience I have ever had. The curator has so much information and has lived in Port Chalmers for most of his life and can give first hand experiences around all the items in the museum. It was facinating to hear his stories and wonderful that he was so prepared to share this. A wonderfully personal experience
Written 16 September 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.
D W
Palmerston North, New Zealand16 contributions
Apr 2016 • Family
We visited late Dec 2015. This museum is fascinating, with a lot of great exhibits to appeal to a wide range of interests. One room was full of old appliances and gadgets, like the old-fashioned irons, early electric shavers, gramophones, typewriters etc. A great place to reminisce for older folk, and to get an insight into the daily lives of people living a century ago for the younger folk. We took along my cousin's daughter (12) and she had a great time dressing up in old-style women's dresses in the stateroom of an old ship. She even looked rather fetching in that get-up! There were also displays of sailing implements and tools with plenty of information.
Written 22 March 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.
John
11 contributions
Jan 2020
A lovely town with a great market and defientely a place to go. If you like the sea and a quiet walk this is on not to miss
Written 8 January 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.
Joan D
Wellington, New Zealand58 contributions
Jan 2019 • Couples
We recently went on a cruise around New Zealand. Well, I guess it was time we saw our country from the outside, but it did mean that we knew most of the ports already. However, we had never explored Port Chalmers, the port for the city of Dunedin, so we left the ship eager to see what we could find.
And we were immediately rewarded by the clean, charming, and very comprehensive Port Chalmers Maritime Museum, just a short walk from the wharf.
For a start, it is unique, in that it is surrounded on three sides by a working container port, Port Otago. The building is historic in itself, being the original post office, which dates back to 1877. And it is sited where the sailing ship John Wickliffe landed the first settlers, on 23 March 1848.
Though small, the building offers a surprising amount for the maritime enthusiast. Immediately striking is the number of very good ship models that are grouped near the entrance.
A connecting door leads to the Pioneer Room -- originally the dining and living rooms of the resident postmaster -- which is devoted to local history, and tells some fascinating stories.
Above, is the Port Otago Gallery, housed in the mezzanine floor, which documents the history of the very busy port.
For researchers, there is the Ian Church Archives, lovingly collated by my late friend, and maritime historian, Ian Church.
As well as a collection of ships' registers, it includes family and oral histories, shipping indexes, and school and cemetery records. There is also an electronic database. Access is by prior arrangement, by contacting one of the volunteer curators, at pcmuseum@xtra.co.nz to make an appointment.
So it is worth visiting Port Chalmers just for the museum. But we enjoyed exploring the picturesque village, too.
And we were immediately rewarded by the clean, charming, and very comprehensive Port Chalmers Maritime Museum, just a short walk from the wharf.
For a start, it is unique, in that it is surrounded on three sides by a working container port, Port Otago. The building is historic in itself, being the original post office, which dates back to 1877. And it is sited where the sailing ship John Wickliffe landed the first settlers, on 23 March 1848.
Though small, the building offers a surprising amount for the maritime enthusiast. Immediately striking is the number of very good ship models that are grouped near the entrance.
A connecting door leads to the Pioneer Room -- originally the dining and living rooms of the resident postmaster -- which is devoted to local history, and tells some fascinating stories.
Above, is the Port Otago Gallery, housed in the mezzanine floor, which documents the history of the very busy port.
For researchers, there is the Ian Church Archives, lovingly collated by my late friend, and maritime historian, Ian Church.
As well as a collection of ships' registers, it includes family and oral histories, shipping indexes, and school and cemetery records. There is also an electronic database. Access is by prior arrangement, by contacting one of the volunteer curators, at pcmuseum@xtra.co.nz to make an appointment.
So it is worth visiting Port Chalmers just for the museum. But we enjoyed exploring the picturesque village, too.
Written 17 January 2019
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.
Paul A
North Fambridge, UK465 contributions
Feb 2018 • Couples
This place is worth a visit if you are passing. It is easy to get around in a very short time, but will give you a chance to observe and read about the sea faring of this area.
Written 10 February 2018
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.
AlPotts
Appin, Australia97 contributions
Feb 2017 • Solo
Our Princess Cruise was delayed in leaving because of a fatal accident to a crew member so the writer used some of the time to explore the town.This Museum covers the seafaring and founding of the Port and the writer occupied himself for an hour. The exhibits are well displayed and there are one or two knowledgeable volunteers who are only too happy to chat about the town and its place in the founding of Dunedin. Well worth a visit. - There is also an interesting second hand shop in the town and the writer spent some time in there.
Written 27 February 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.
Catherine B
Christchurch, New Zealand387 contributions
Apr 2016 • Couples
This is a very well set out museum in the old Telegraph building in Port Chalmers, Dunedin. Port Chalmers is well worth a visit, even it is only to see the old buildings that remain. And, on the hill is a magnificent church. Nevertheless, I would take time to visit this museum, which is excellent. And, the entry fee is by gold donation. Apart from information about the early seafaring days, it also covers some of the local history for the area. For example, one part covers the the wars that local men fought in. Highly recommended.
Written 9 April 2016
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.
MartinBDevon
Devon238 contributions
Feb 2015 • Couples
This small museum hides away beside the cruise liner terminal and is probably ignored by the many passengers en route to explore Dunedin. This is their loss.
Entry is free or a small donation. Lots of maritime relics and photos and some models, make for an intriguing insight into the history of the port. Well worth an hour or so.
Entry is free or a small donation. Lots of maritime relics and photos and some models, make for an intriguing insight into the history of the port. Well worth an hour or so.
Written 26 May 2015
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.
pandd1946
Batemans Bay, Australia8,226 contributions
Dec 2014 • Couples
Port Chalmers Seafaring Museum is situated just outside the cruise ship dock and is only a short walk from where you disembark from your cruise ship. What an interesting Museum this is to discover, with many outstanding and historic items and artifacts on display. There is a ground floor and a second floor area for viewing. You can easily spend more than an hour here looking at all the interesting exhibits. Entrance is just a gold coin donation. The staff are friendly and helpful if you wish to ask any questions about the museum and are more than happy to avail you of their knowledge. Well worth a visit when visiting Port Chalmers.
Written 5 February 2015
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.
TravelingMomGrandma
Houston, TX1,093 contributions
Jan 2025 • Couples
There is ‘t much to see in Port Chalmers so this is just about it.
We spent about an hour looking around it.
The cost is free and located next to the port.
We spent about an hour looking around it.
The cost is free and located next to the port.
Written 18 January 2025
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.
Is the Port Chalmer's Seafaring museum open on Sundays (Feb 3rd to be specific)
thanks
Written 14 January 2019
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