Te Whare Taonga o Te Awamutu Museum

Hours of operation

10am-4pm, Mon-Fri and 10am-2pm, Sat. Closed Sun. Open Public Holidays except Christmas and New Year. Closed 19 Dec 2025 and reopening at 10am Monday 5 January 2026.

Months of operation

All Year

Phone number

A doorway to Waipā’s past is open once again. Step inside and uncover the stories, taonga, and memories that have shaped our Waipā District. Our museum on Roche Street has reopened with a stunning new look and inspiring spaces to explore.

Te Whare Taonga o Te Awamutu Museum is situated in Waipā district, within Waikato. A touchpoint for visitors to learn local history, social development and bi-cultural collaborations between Māori and settlers from 1823, through amazing objects and engaging stories. Understand the reasons why British soldiers invaded the Waikato 1863, the locations, who was involved, and its impact on the Waipā communities that are still being felt today. Do you know about Te Ara Wai Journeys? Start your journey with us. We also have our collections online.

Pricing

Free

Proximity to Airport:

25 min drive to Hamilton Airport.

Proximity to Town:

5 min walk to Te Awamutu main township.

Proximity To Coach Terminal:

20 min walk from bus terminal in Te Awamutu.

Activity Duration:

Open Mon - Fri 10am-4pm, Sat 10am-2pm. Closed Christmas Day and New Years Day.

Parking:

Bus parking if needed, free Museum carparks located at back of building, bike parking onsite.

Bus parking if needed, free carparks located across the road.

Hamilton Gardens

Hamilton Gardens

From ancient Egypt to a 21-century Concept Garden. Admission to the enclosed gardens requires a paid entry fee for visitors who live outside of Hamilton, with children under 16 years of age free. Unlike any botanical garden, our unique attraction is rated among the top 3 things to do in New Zealand and is in the top 1% of attractions globally on TripAdvisor. Discover the magic of Hamilton Gardens with one of our tours. Whether you're a first-time explorer or a returning visitor, this immersive journey unveils fascinating tales, discovering the cultural significance woven into every petal and pathway.  Or opt for an Audio Guide to enjoy a narrated journey through the ages and across the continents, exploring at your own pace. 

Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery

Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery

Haere mai! Welcome to Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery. Perched above the mighty Waikato River, this world-class museum and art gallery is the artistic and cultural heart of the Waikato. Visit us to experience visual stories and guided activities that bring our art, history, culture and science to life through an inspirational programme that aims to challenge and inspire you.

Te Papa Museum

Rūaumoko: Restless Land

Exhibition on now until Monday, January 26, 2026. Rūaumoko: Restless Land is our new and exciting interactive touring exhibition from Te Papa. Experience elements from Te Papa’s Te Taiao Nature zone that combines cutting-edge science with mātauranga Māori (traditional knowledge) to explore the powerful, natural forces that continuously shape Aotearoa. Te Papa and the Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake have teamed up to promote natural hazard awareness and preparedness through this exhibition. It introduces Rūaumoko to illustrate the forces of nature and presents a wero (challenge) for visitors to learn about natural hazards and ways to be prepared in our communities and at home.

Malcolm Photography

Aerobatic Flight Experience

Play in 3D! Loop, Roll, Slide and Experience the edge-of-the-envelope flying that is aerobatics. Can you handle 30 minutes of adrenaline rush? FREE Youtube in-cockpit video of your flight experience to share with friends.

Te Whare Taonga o Te Awamutu Museum

Commemorating Rangiaowhia

Our latest focused exhibition invites visitors to explore the remarkable life of Rahapa Te Hauata — a woman whose courage, resilience, and voice continue to resonate through Aotearoa’s history. To commemorate and remember the events at Rangiaowhia on 21 February 1864, this small focused exhibition is on show until 20 March. Discover her powerful first-hand accounts of the sacking of Rangiaowhia and the extraordinary ways her whānau endured and survived this devastating moment in Aotearoa’s history.

Nature and Nosh Tours

Nature & Nosh - 'Heart of the North' Hiking and Food Tour - 6 days

Get a group of 4 to 8 people together and walk our secret back country trails away from the crowds. Visit picturesque farms and take in all their rugged seclusion on private walks. Explore the lands that time forgot on some tracks even the locals don't know about. Walk through the forests of the largest mainland ecological island in the world, where the air is filled with bird song in a forest alive with some of our rarest native birds. Meander along a river that leads to a pure spring and sample some award-winning cheese produced from the rich pastures of the Waikato region. Admire the limestone bluffs that line the gorges of middle earth like lands and admire the rural resilience and beauty that is the heart of our North Island.

All things to do

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