What to do and see in Auckland Central, North Island: The Best Specialty Museums

Part film-set. Part creative workshop. But all is not what it seems… Explore an immersive walk-through experience from five-time Academy Award-winning Weta Workshop. Inside these paint-splattered walls, fantastical worlds are brought to life with resident monsters, an alien robot and wildly realistic giants. Enter if you dare. Journey through Weta Workshop’s creative process like you never have before! Step into this fantastical film effects workshop and explore the worlds of horror, sci-fi and fantasy in-the-making. Explore a fantastical film effects workshop inspired by Wellington’s Academy Award-winning Weta Workshop. Featuring monsters, giants & robots – oh my! From surreal environments and interactive experiences to massive miniatures and monsters-in-the-making, Weta Workshop Unleashed brings together film effects, theatrical design, makers’ craft, and conceptual world-building.

Dive deeper into our maritime history and discover the genius of early Pacific navigators, their great voyages of exploration and the discovery Aotearoa New Zealand. Cruise Auckland’s sparkling Waitemata Harbour in one of our heritage vessels - sailing twice daily. Help the crew hoist the sails or sit back and take in the city skyline. Find out what it takes to win the America’s Cup - from backyard boat-builders to teamwork and race-winning technology. Plus, see one of only seven replicas of the America’s Cup. Immerse yourself in early European immigration and test your sea-legs in the replica 1840s rocking cabin. Bang! Watch from the concourse as our replica cannon fires every day at 12pm into the marina. Soak up our stories of the sea with a complimentary guided tour departing from our ticket desk 10.30am Friday - Sunday.

Discover and experience Maori culture, with daily cultural shows and an internationally significant Maori and Pacific collection to explore, the Auckland Museum is a must see attraction. Housed in an Iconic building within the grounds of a tranquil park, the Auckland Museum is a place to discover and learn about New Zealand's culture and its natural history. Since 1929, the Museum has served as place of remembrance for the many Aucklanders who have sacrificed their lives in war.

Te Toi Uku – Crown Lynn & Clayworks Museum specialises in the history of commercial pottery from West Auckland Our collection includes many of the iconic wares made by Crown Lynn which could be found in almost every New Zealand household from the 1950s to the 1980s. The Museum is also home to many of the tools and equipment that were used to manufacture Crown Lynn wares, as well as documents, photographs and designs relating to the company. Come in and see examples from the clay industry that came before Crown Lynn. These were the items that built early Auckland including bricks and salt glazed pottery and pipes.