1 / 3East Coast Museum of Technology
π Makaraka, Gisborne
Best for curious kids and their grandparents on an open Saturday. A volunteer-run museum of everyday technology at Makaraka: fire trucks, cars, farm machinery, radios and household gadgets across several sheds, plus a boat to climb into.
Grab your parents and enjoy a trip down memory lane with them. I learned so mu h sharing this place with my dad as he recounted his memories or those of his parents and grandparents. Such a young history yet so vibrant!! Rob the curator was fantastic adding local knowledge to bring the buildings to life as he filled us in on their lifespan. Only 10 each and over two hours spent here. Enjoy!!
π Family Action Verdict
A rare museum where the grown-ups talk as much as the kids, and children get to open doors and climb into cabs rather than look through glass. Best from about five up, with a hand on toddlers around the machinery. Check the open Saturdays before you drive out, and bring the grandparents if you can.
βΉοΈ What to Know Before You Go
π¬ What Families Are Saying
View all reviews β75 Google reviews
Sarah Hearfield
βGrab your parents and enjoy a trip down memory lane with them. I learned so mu h sharing this place with my dad as he recounted his memories or those of his parents and grandparents. Such a young history yet so vibrant!! Rob the curator was fantastic adding local knowledge to bring the buildings to life as he filled us in on their lifespan. Only 10 each and over two hours spent here. Enjoy!!β
Maheesha Dashantha
βWe visited the museum on Easter Sunday, and it was a truly pleasant experience. The atmosphere was calm and peacefulβperfect for a relaxing outing with family and friends. I noticed many parents bringing their children along, sharing stories and experiences with them, which added a lovely, heartwarming touch to the visit. It's definitely a place worth exploring with your loved ones.β
Amber Kabbabe
βFantastic place to visit , very insightful. Harrison and the team do an amazing job.β
Donna George
βGreat place to look around. You need at least an hour to have a quick look.β
Reviews from Google
Overview
The East Coast Museum of Technology is a volunteer collection on the main road at Makaraka, ten minutes from Gisborne, and its charm is that it is deliberately unpolished. Sheds and yards hold fire engines, vintage cars, farm machinery, washing machines, radios and early computers, some restored and some not, with a boat children can explore inside. The curators are locals who fill in the stories behind the machines. Entry is cheap, under-fives are free, and it opens on selected Saturdays.
