The 9 Best Museums and Galleries in Auckland

1.Auckland War Memorial Museum Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 293 reviews · 1 day · from $16Our pick

Spend a full day at Auckland Museum, Tāmaki Paenga Hira, exploring Māori and Pacific treasures, Polynesian voyages, natural history, Auckland communities, and war exhibits. General admission includes the museum only. Add a café stop, store visit, or optional guided tour.

“We were only interested in the war memorial exhibition not the rest of the museum. It was really different to the Australian war memorial and we found a lot of the exhibits very interesting and in the words of my 15 yr old really cool!”

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2.Explore gardens & galleries filled with incredible art, Matakana

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 186 reviews · from $40Top rated

At Sculptureum in rural Matakana, you can wander 1.4km of flat paths through three sculpture gardens and six galleries. Your $40 ticket covers admission to more than 800 local and international works, with time for on-site coffee, food, or vineyard wine.

“The artwork and glass art inside the building is fabulous. The gardens and the sculptures are beautiful. The driftwood sculptures of the horses and the whale are amazing. The bronze sculptures were just lovely. I loved the boy pushing the girl on the swing. The sculpture of the boy holding the dolphin is apparently an early work by Leonardo Da Vinci and is quite stunning.”

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3.Skip the Line: Auckland Museum General Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 183 reviews · from $16

Spend three to four hours exploring Auckland Museum, from Polynesian voyages and Māori treasures to Pacific culture, natural history, and New Zealand’s military past. General admission covers the main museum, while guided tours, cultural performances, and special exhibitions cost extra.

“Nice to be able to skip the line, but the line is actually not very long and the staff is a bit unfamiliar with the process of redeeming the tickets. The museum is good, with lots of references and artifacts related to Maori culture. Serve as a good introduction for someone to start delving into the very local part of New Zealand.”

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4.Māori Cultural Experience & Auckland Museum General Admission

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 92 reviews · from $38

At Auckland Museum in Parnell, indigenous artists and orators introduce you to Māori waiata, poi, storytelling, and the origins of the haka. Your ticket also covers general museum admission, though special exhibitions and the Māori Court and Pacific Galleries are excluded or temporarily closed.

“Wouldn’t recommend. Show went less then the allocated time. There wasn’t a Haka as advertised. No real Māori’s in the show. Even after the show the dancers had attitude when dealing with the guests.”

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5.Maritime Museum Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 29 reviews · 1 day · from $14Best value

At Auckland’s New Zealand Maritime Museum, you’ll explore Pacific migration, Maori traditions, trade, immigration, shipping, and America’s Cup design through galleries, objects, and hands-on displays. Allow 1 to 3 hours. Entry costs $14, and the museum is wheelchair accessible.

“Great museum and beautifully designed. We were lucky to be there while the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix was underway ~ so it was exciting and great location to watch the race.”

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6.Gallery Highlights Tour and General Admission

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 14 reviews · from $29

Spend about an hour with a museum guide across selected galleries at Auckland War Memorial Museum, then explore independently for up to three more hours. Learn about Māori culture, Polynesian navigation, New Zealand geology, natural history, and wartime experiences. The Māori and Pacific galleries are currently closed for maintenance.

“A perfect blend of culture, history, and natural science. The Māori and Pacific Island exhibits were beautifully presented and deeply moving, with stunning carvings and traditional artefacts that really brought the stories to life.”

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7.Private Night Tour of Auckland, Sky Tower Bar, Bridge & Museum

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · from $399

Spend 2.5 hours with a private English or Spanish-speaking guide, including Carlos when available, visiting Auckland’s waterfront sights after dark. You’ll cross the city by air-conditioned vehicle, stop at Devonport and Westhaven Marina, enjoy a cocktail at SkyBar, and view Auckland Museum from outside.

“Great personalised experience, Carlos remained flexible and we went and viewed some boats , as we discovered interests in chatting!”

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8.Auckland Museum and Highlight Sightseeing Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · from $111

See Auckland’s key sights in a small group of up to eight. Visit the Harbour Bridge, climb Maungawhau/Mt Eden for 360-degree views, tour Auckland Museum, and stroll the Domain Wintergardens. Guide Sam is known for clear local stories and taking photos for guests.

“I thoroughly enjoyed this tour. Sam was an excellent tour guide. He's very knowledgeable, personable, and friendly. He ensured I had a good experience and took pictures and videos along the way, which he sent me. I highly recommend this tour to anyone who wants to appreciate some of the true beauty and history of Auckland!”

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9.Auckland Full Day Attractions & Museums Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3 reviews · from $217

Spend about seven hours touring Auckland in a small group of up to 11 people, with pickup, a guide-driver, and an air-conditioned vehicle. You’ll visit Mount Eden, Auckland Museum, the Wintergardens, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Achilles Point, Auckland Art Gallery, and the Harbour Bridge.

“This is a wonderful city, and I felt like a queen being driven around from a place to place with a lovely tour guide who is a gentleman and very knowledgeable”

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