Top Things to do in South Island
10 History Museums in South Island That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in South Island, New Zealand including The Plains Vintage Railway & Historical Museum, Whitestone City, Denniston Heritage Trust, Higgins Heritage Park, Geraldine Historical Museum, Canterbury Museum, Hokitika Museum, E Hayes and Sons - The World's Fastest Indian, Edwin Fox Maritime Museum, Hokonui Moonshine Museum.
Restaurants in South Island
1. The Plains Vintage Railway & Historical Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 14 reviews
The Plains Railway & Historical Museum was founded by the Ashburton Railway & Preservation Society in 1971 to preserve the Mid-Canterbury regions past. This is home to Historic Steam Loco's: Ja1260, K88 and A64 plus a collection of shunters. A 2.5 kilometre vintage railway features amongst a recreated village, complete with replica and authentic buildings and a vast rural history display ranging from horse drawn gigs and wagons to tractors. Open days commence from September to May, check our Website or Facebook page for operating days/hours and prices. Entry to the Complex is via Donation. Working Voluntary Members are onsite 6 days a week, and will show you through the complex if its not an official operating day. Also onsite is The Ashburton Fire Museum which has the largest Private Collection of Vintage Fire Vehicles/Equipment and more in NZ. Find us on Facebook: The Plains Railway & Historical Museum
Reviewed By MrBubbles07 - Christchurch, New Zealand
Great little heritage railway with beautiful locomotives, lots of other machinery and displays to see
2. Whitestone City
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 144 reviews
Learn about our history by taking part in it. Take a tour of the visual tale of our town from the rough-sawn Whitestone beginnings to the polished and finely worked grandeur of our facades that still exist today. Partake of Victorian pastimes or boldly go beyond the curtains to encounter our colourful past. Leisurely repose oneself in the sumptuous surrounds of our parlour.
Reviewed By 13Sue - Auckland, New Zealand
My daughter and I decided to do the Grand tour in Whitestone city. This involved getting dressed up in victorian clothing and being guided around the building by Sandy who provided us with some interesting history of Oamaru as well as snapping photographs of us on our phones. Sandy was very passionate about Oamaru and the history of the area and she spent time ensuring we looked the part which we certainly did! We even attracted a bit of attention as we had our photos taken outside. I loved how we could touch things as we walked around and they even had a Penny Farthing carrousel. I would highly recommend this to dress up fans and history buffs, even those who arent would enjoy this I'm sure. Suitable for all ages.
3. Denniston Heritage Trust
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 52 reviews
Reviewed By Jemmux96 - Wellington, New Zealand
Our trip to Denniston was surrounded in cloud due to the wet weather. Fortunately, none of the ambiance was taken away, if not enhanced by the mist covered ruins and step cliffs. Such intriguing history and such a dangerous environment for the miners to work in back in the early days of West Coast mining.
4. Higgins Heritage Park
5. Geraldine Historical Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
The Geraldine Historical Museum is based around the historical town Board office building. We record and display the history of the Geraldine area, with an emphasis on personalising the area’s history through life-sized photographs and feature boards highlighting the deeds of pioneers and those who made history in the area. We also undertake family research and record oral histories.
6. Canterbury Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,769 reviews
Free entry (donations appreciated) where you can experience New Zealand's rich cultural and natural history. See rare Maori artefacts and more than 1,000 paua shells adorning the walls of the famous Paua Shell House. Walk down the Christchurch Street and be transported back in time with the sights and sounds of the city's pioneering days. Discover one of the world's most significant collections from the heroic age of Antarctic exploration and discovery. Regular temporary exhibitions.
Reviewed By pancj2018 - Lima, Peru
This is a terrific local/regional museum. It has one of the best Maori exhibits in all of New Zealand, which in itself is enough to justify a visit. They have an excellent discussion of jade/nephrite, which can be very helpful for future shopping, as well as wonderful presentations of Maori art and material culture. They also have traditional natural history exhibitions of NZ birds and wildlife which we found highly informative. I spent my career working in a natural history museum and found the Canterbury Museum a good representative of the type. Admission is free!
7. Hokitika Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 183 reviews
Originally closed due to seismic concerns, the Carnegie Building (front of museum) has been reopened and is currently managed & staffed daily from 10am to 2pm and has a number of Museum displays. Hokitika Museum staff are as busy as ever, working behind the scenes to care for the vast collection of treasures belonging to the people of Westland, including new items that have recently been donated. Staff are involved in planning new exhibits for the Museum once it reopens.
Reviewed By KiwiTravellers18 - Cambridge, New Zealand
Kids loved doing the activities and there really is something for everyone. Hokitika has a fascinating history, and it's well documented here. Don't try to rush your visit.
8. E Hayes and Sons - The World's Fastest Indian
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 829 reviews
E Hayes and Sons is a hardware, homeware, giftware and engineering supply store and visitor experience like no other. We’ve built a reputation for PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST serving the Invercargill and Southland region with an unmatched selection of quality goods, services and advice since 1932. Our entire store is also home to the unique E Hayes Motorworks Collection representing one of the finest private collections of classic motorcycles, automobiles and engines in New Zealand proudly built around our centerpiece - Burt Munro’s Authentic, Original and Legendary ‘World's Fastest Indian' motorcycle. The E Hayes Motorworks Collection and World's Fastest Indian is 100% FREE TO VIEW during our normal store opening hours.
Reviewed By brittneywhittinghamx - Hamilton, New Zealand
Wow, this is a 'must do' if ever visiting Invercargill. The shop is incredible to say the least! Obviously Burt Munro and the Worlds Fastest Indian was our reason for visiting but I did not realise how many other awesome items were on display. It is incredibly fascinating if you are in to seeing how objects, items, machinery and more have all evolved and changed over the years. With the shop being so large there is so much to see. You could spend hours here and buy almost any household item + more whilst you're at it. There is also a cafe and gift store inside. This was a great visit and amazing to have great NZ history on display all for free. They have done a brilliant job at this setup.
9. Edwin Fox Maritime Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 393 reviews
We are open! Every day from 9am! The Edwin Fox is a great example of NZ Maritime History, 161 years old this year and currently listed as the 9th oldest ship in the world, the oldest surviving merchant ship, last surviving convict ship that took convicts to Australia and last wooden NZ immigrant ship and was also used to transport troops to the Crimean war.Come step aboard, go into the hull of the ship and visit the dry dock to get a real feel of the size of the ship and indeed what voyages would of been like!Open everyday group bookings and guided tours by arrangement.
Reviewed By samifido
This was a last minute decision to do as we just got off our cruise ship to walk around Picton and found this marvellous museum. Extremely interesting and informative and loved walking around the actual ship to see and touch the original wood and imagine what life would have been like. For $15 it’s definitely worth a short visit.
10. Hokonui Moonshine Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 63 reviews
To reduce the risk of Covid-19 and due to planned renovation, the Eastern Southland Gallery is closed temporarily. A trip to the Illicit Past... Gore’s colourful past as a centre for illicit whisky distilling and bootlegging is brought to life at the Hokonui Moonshine Museum. The adventures of the Scottish settlers and their exploits to avoid run-ins with the law are kept alive through dioramas, audio-visuals and artefacts. You can taste Old Hokonui made to the original recipe at the end of your visit, or even take a bottle home with you.
Reviewed By CK61 - Ballina, Australia
Lovely young lady on the desk greeted us cheerfully and put on the film to give us an overview of the moonshine industry history in the district. The museum itself is well laid out, the story well told in pictures and words and exhibits. Following on into the local history museum we were impressed with the quality and extent of the exhibits. A shot glass of “hooch” or moonshine, as we left was fun. Tip: have the one with honey.
