1 / 3Britten Museum
📍 Christchurch Central City, Canterbury
The Britten Museum on Cambridge Terrace in central Christchurch is a small museum dedicated to John Britten, the New Zealand engineer behind the Britten V1000 motorcycle. Displays cover his bikes, his engineering, and his biography.
This place is such an incredible tribute to the late John Britten. They have done a fantastic job capturing the amazing life that John lived, and the engineering marvels he achieved. Highly recommend!
🏆 Family Action Verdict
Best for older kids and teens who can appreciate biography and engineering — this is a sit-and-read museum rather than hands-on play. Reviewers note that motorcycle interest isn't required; the human story carries the visit. A good fit alongside other Christchurch cultural stops.
ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go
💬 What Families Are Saying
View all reviews →39 Google reviews
Caleb Cummings
a month ago
“This place is such an incredible tribute to the late John Britten. They have done a fantastic job capturing the amazing life that John lived, and the engineering marvels he achieved. Highly recommend!”
Ant
4 weeks ago
“You don’t need to be remotely interested in motorcycles or engineering to enjoy this remarkable and inspirational human story, fully recommend to anyone. An excellent museum and a must visit.”
Paul O'Donnell
a month ago
“Well laid out and beautifully displayed, informative, nostalgic and a bit sad. Well worth a visit, thanks to everyone involved in setting this up.”
Dylan Longley
4 weeks ago
“A remarkable display of Kiwi ingenuity and a fascinating peek into a slice of history. Well worth the time to visit.”
Reviews from Google
Overview
The Britten Museum is housed in Iwikau House on Cambridge Terrace in central Christchurch. It is a tribute to John Britten — the self-taught New Zealand engineer who designed and built the V1000 motorcycle in the 1990s — covering his motorcycles, his engineering process, and his life story. Displays are presented for visitors with no prior knowledge of motorcycles or engineering.
