New Zealand's national museum, Te Papa (Our Place), faces the sea in the national capital, Wellington, at the southeastern end of the North Island.
It is one of the world's most comprehensive national museums and presents a vision of New Zealand's past, present and future, the strands of its nationhood, and the spirit that brings the nation together.
It traces the flowering of a rich culture, the growth of a people, and the weaving of a tapestry that encompasses not only the past but the future as well.
Exhibitions range from historic artefacts to modern interactive displays. A living Nature environment, Bush City, transports the visitor into a recreated habitat island which includes native trees and shrubs, a lagoon, stream and underground caves.
Take the Te Papa Virtual Highlights tour.
Where is it?
Te Papa is on Cable St on the Wellington waterfront, easily accessible on foot from the city's central business and retail district. (See map.)
It is clad in 14,500 grey and yellow stone panels.
Built on a site the size of three rugby fields, it has a total floor area of 36,000 square metres. The building has its own New Zealand-invented shock absorbers which isolate Te Papa from most ground movement during an earthquake. It took four years to build.
Opening hours
Te Papa is open every day of the year from 10am to 4.30pm and on Thursdays until 8.30pm. Foodtrain on Level 1 is open from 9am to 4.30pm.
Pre-booked international groups should be able to tour the museum outside normal hours.
Entry to Te Papa is free. Entry to its long-term exhibitions is free as well. Entry to temporary visiting exhibitions may require a fee.
