Dargaville Museum
Dargaville Museum
4.5
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
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4.5
181 reviews
Excellent
112
Very good
53
Average
14
Poor
2
Terrible
0
whosemother
Nelson, New Zealand279 contributions
Jan 2020
I had been hearing about the Dargaville Museum for years, many years, so I was keen to go and have a look. The siting is superb, perched on a hill overlooking the town so I had high hopes.
The entry fee is a bit steep for a very local museum. I cannot imagine that works well for locals and would put more than a few families off. However, I guess they need to pay for the facility somehow, and it is a very nice facility.
What was so disappointing for me were the displays themselves. There is so little pre European and early European material, yet this was a region rich in the early history of both Maori and European. There is only one small gallery with anything resembling Maori, and very little on the early European times in the area/Kaipara. There is heaps on gum digging, which is great, but then so many of the displays degenerate into someone's personal collection of bottles, dolls, salt and pepper shakers etc.
So NOT what I was expecting and so little has been made of some really significant items in the collection. It is as if an artefact does not fit an accepted theme, it deserves little or no interpretation.
The entry fee is a bit steep for a very local museum. I cannot imagine that works well for locals and would put more than a few families off. However, I guess they need to pay for the facility somehow, and it is a very nice facility.
What was so disappointing for me were the displays themselves. There is so little pre European and early European material, yet this was a region rich in the early history of both Maori and European. There is only one small gallery with anything resembling Maori, and very little on the early European times in the area/Kaipara. There is heaps on gum digging, which is great, but then so many of the displays degenerate into someone's personal collection of bottles, dolls, salt and pepper shakers etc.
So NOT what I was expecting and so little has been made of some really significant items in the collection. It is as if an artefact does not fit an accepted theme, it deserves little or no interpretation.
Written 6 February 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.
Ails.
12 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
This Museum celebrates everyone who made Dargaville the great place it is. The Museum has information about Dalmatian gum diggers, Maori, farming ing/fishing families etc. Spend time here and go on the self directed historical walk too.
Written 7 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.
Been around
4 contributions
Mar 2021
All of it. It had displays of all sorts of periods from early Maori to Dally gum diggers to swamp kauri recovery to world wars displays to the french terrorists in NZ. A great museum. Well worth the entry fee. Allow a good bit of time--it is much bigger than you might think !
Written 24 March 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.
Davy900
Auckland Central, New Zealand58 contributions
Jul 2021
Good variety of exhibits from the local area. Marine section was my favourite with excellent exhibits related to the many shipwrecks and local marine industry. Excellent forestry and gum digging exhibits. Easy to spend 1 to 2 hours.
Written 21 July 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.
Grant N
Hastings, New Zealand1,516 contributions
Sept 2022
Starts with a few videos about the history of the area which are extremely interesting. The physical museum is well organised and has a great deal of displays - the early history, the settlers, the kauri and gum diggers and more recent history. Really worth the visit - and the Rainbow Warrior masts are an interesting addition. Recommend a visit
Written 30 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.
FourTravel2013
Auckland, New Zealand158 contributions
Feb 2024 • Family
A fantastic museum with plenty of local history well displayed including some great working models.
The past kauri industry and maritime stories were very interesting and well told.
Top marks and thank you to Ron Halliday for the excellent guided tour and well done to the other volunteers for ensuring the history of this area is preserved for future generations.
You also get a marvellous view of the surrounding area from the museum.
The past kauri industry and maritime stories were very interesting and well told.
Top marks and thank you to Ron Halliday for the excellent guided tour and well done to the other volunteers for ensuring the history of this area is preserved for future generations.
You also get a marvellous view of the surrounding area from the museum.
Written 18 February 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.
StaceyCheer
Arapuni, New Zealand160 contributions
Apr 2024 • Family
What a great spot to spend a couple of hours. Surprisingly big, with a huge amount of items to see. The museum was split into many different rooms with nicely arranged "rooms". The staff were very friendly and welcoming and we really enjoyed our visit. We did get a bit confused when leaving the museum - the driveway could do with a bit better "exit" signs!
Written 31 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.
Robert M
Tauranga, New Zealand2 contributions
Apr 2021
Probably the best small museum I've ever seen. Wonderfully arranged and presented. Kauri, kauri gum, local boating history, local history from early days to now. Excellent staff. Deceptively bigger than it looks. Lots to look at and read. Fascinating memorabilia to muse over. Something for everyone. Makes Auckland Museum seem somewhat boring in comparison, perhaps its too big.
Written 13 April 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.
smcgaw
New Zealand58 contributions
May 2021 • Couples
Great to go up tho the museum, view over Dargaville, seeing the sweeping river. Gave a good look at the early history of the area with the large import of Dalmatians into the area mining the kauri gum and harvesting the kauri trees. Then showed the development of the boat building and shipping in the area. Fascinating. Great walk back to town.
Written 9 May 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.
Kiwi Lara
Ngongotaha, New Zealand77 contributions
Jan 2021 • Couples
What an incredible place to visit. Friendly, helpful staff. So much interesting, historical stuff to check out. A few benches around the place were great because of the size of the museum.
A must see!!
A must see!!
Written 3 January 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.
The museum is quite big and has many exhibits. You can talk to the volunteers who staff the museum. They can tell you a lot about the area and its history. A short walk away is the Vintage Machinery Museum (open Wednesday and Saturday).
Written 20 October 2018
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