1 / 3Tairāwhiti Museum
📍 Whataupoko, Gisborne
Best for a wet Gisborne morning with school-age kids. The region's museum on Stout Street mixes taonga Māori, local history and an art gallery with a salvaged steamship wheelhouse and the town's oldest cottage. Children enter free.
A variety of exhibitions showcasing the rich culture and history of the region, each put together thoughtfully and beautifully. Engaging and informative. There's also an art gallery inside the museum with amazing local artist creations. So happy we came here and thoroughly enjoyed our visit!
🏆 Family Action Verdict
The best indoor hour in Gisborne for a family, and cheap: children under twelve are free and residents get in free every day. Primary-age kids get the most from the wheelhouse and the old cottage, which are reached by stairs, while the galleries suit those who like to read and look. Pair it with the riverside walk outside.
ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go
💬 What Families Are Saying
View all reviews →553 Google reviews
Jin Rong Zhang (Jin)
“A variety of exhibitions showcasing the rich culture and history of the region, each put together thoughtfully and beautifully. Engaging and informative. There's also an art gallery inside the museum with amazing local artist creations. So happy we came here and thoroughly enjoyed our visit!”
Tamatoru Alterator
“Most woderful beautiful and educational in reguards to geographical education here for historical reasons and purposes MUST see if you are visiting, Gisbourne visit 101”
Jonathan Jubida
“Pretty interesting museum that is much bigger than it looks. There’s a cafe inside for caffeine and pastry fix after you’re done walking around.”
James Hamilton
“Went here on a vacation the art work was amazing. The history is spectacular. This is a very good experience in gisborne when tour on holiday.”
Reviews from Google
Overview
Tairāwhiti Museum sits beside the Taruheru River a five minute walk from the town centre, and it is bigger than the front door suggests. Galleries cover taonga Māori, the region's social history, photography and a rotating art programme, but the two things children remember are outside the main building: the wheelhouse and captain's cabin of the Star of Canada, a steamer wrecked on the Gisborne reef in 1912 and later lived in as a house, and Wyllie Cottage, the town's oldest home from 1872.
