1 / 3Tairāwhiti Aviation Museum
📍 Elgin, Gisborne
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Best for plane-mad kids, on a Tuesday or Sunday morning. A small volunteer museum in the Gisborne Airport precinct with vintage aircraft including a restored wartime Avenger and a flying Tiger Moth, a play corner, and cockpits you can climb into.
🏆 Family Action Verdict
A short, cheerful stop for a child who loves planes, best combined with watching arrivals at the airport next door. Half an hour in a cockpit is the usual outcome for a six-year-old. It is small and volunteer run with limited mornings, so check before you go, and take cash in case the card machine plays up.
ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go
💬 What Families Are Saying
View all reviews →29 Google reviews
G Reviews from Google
Harry Crimmins
5 months ago
“Really cool museum. They have several old planes (e.g. from WW2) in good condition that you can get up close to and see, or even go inside of! The staff are very friendly and knowledgeable. Try to bring cash if you have a foreign card because the EFTPOS machine can be temperamental. A great way to spend an hour or two, especially if you are waiting for a flight.”
Dy de Denne
2 months ago
“Took my nieces son (6yrs old Nyxon who has a passion for planes) out for a look around. I then had a bit of a struggle to get him to leave. Staff were very friendly and interactive with the children. The area set aside specifically for children is awesome. Highly recommend this venue for children of all ages (this includes adults ).”
Trevor Mills
2 months ago
“This Aviation Museum would beaten as one of the best tourist attractions in the Gisborne District. Manned by a group of dedicated volunteers the Museum is situated at Gisborne Airport and is open on Tuesdays and Sundays. Makes this a must-see attraction and you will not be disappointed !!!”
📊 Commonly mentioned in Google reviews
Based on Google review tagsAircraft
5 reviews
Friendly staff
3 reviews
Old planes
2 reviews
Hidden gem
2 reviews
History
2 reviews
Overview
The Tairāwhiti Aviation Museum is run by the Gisborne Aviation Preservation Society from a hangar on Aerodrome Road inside the airport precinct. The collection includes a restored ex-RNZAF Avenger torpedo bomber, an airworthy Tiger Moth, a big Bristol Hercules engine, local aviation history and paintings and models by Gisborne artist Graeme Mudge. Children can get close to the aircraft and into some cockpits, and there is a play corner for the smallest visitors. It opens two mornings a week.
