1 / 3Hokitika Museum
📍 Hokitika, West Coast
Is this your venue? Claim this listing →
Best for a rainy hour with older children who like a story. Hokitika's museum covers the town's pounamu heritage, the gold rush and Ngāti Waewae history, with a children's gallery built around play. Children enter free.
🏆 Family Action Verdict
A calm, well-presented hour that suits primary-age children who enjoy museums, with a play gallery to hold the younger ones, and the cost is nearly nothing for a family since kids are free. Not a whole-day place, so pair it with the beach and the glowworm dell.
ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go
💬 What Families Are Saying
View all reviews →94 Google reviews
G Reviews from Google
Antonia Trail
6 months ago
“Lots of great readings and artifacts too see learn so much History. Really enjoyed walking through this Museum, learnt a lot.. Very much recommended to visit only $10 per Adult which was worth it.. beautiful Greenstone alongside other items .. Interesting watching the Video playing .. Children's area was good for them.”
Carl Rao
3 months ago
“Really cute little museum featuring local history and interesting exhibits! The staff is extremely welcoming and this is definitely worth the visit instead of just visiting for the Hokitika sign!”
Scott Doherty
7 months ago
“Really interesting exhibits about Māori culture and the gold rush that brought the town in to what it is today”
📊 Commonly mentioned in Google reviews
Based on Google review tagsFriendly staff
4 reviews
Interesting exhibits
3 reviews
Volunteers
3 reviews
Exhibition
3 reviews
Jade display
2 reviews
Overview
Hokitika Museum lives in the town's restored 1908 Carnegie Building on Hamilton Street, a block from the famous beach sign. Its Mana Whenua gallery tells the story of Ngāti Waewae and Ngāti Māhaki and their bond with pounamu, the West Coast History gallery covers exploration, gold rushes and community life, and temporary shows rotate. Te Ara Tamariki is a dedicated children's gallery built around play and making. Children and Hokitika residents enter free; adults pay a small fee.
