Top Things to do in North Island
Top Hotels in North Island
What to do and see in North Island, New Zealand: The Best Things to do Good for a Rainy Day
Discover the best top things to do in North Island, New Zealand including Faraday Centre museum, Bushmere Estate, Poppies Martinborough, Footwhistle Glowworm Cave, New Zealand Maritime Museum, Museum of Transport and Technology, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Auckland Museum, Mission Estate Winery, Church Road Winery Cellar Door.
Restaurants in North Island
1. Faraday Centre museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 148 reviews
Fuel your imagination as you walk around Hawkes Bay’s largest Hand’s-on Interactive Museum. It’s a fascinating, family-friendly place, a place where children of all ages can have fun while learning. You can immerse yourself in an Aladdin’s Cave of technology, science and history. Explore our large collection of vintage machines, gadgets, or simply take a trip down memory lane while playing in the arcade, or phoning a friend the old fashioned way.
Reviewed By 318sallyf
If you have a place in your heart for nostalgia, you will love this museum. From pedal cars to Horse drawn Hearse, or 1950s School Dental Clinic, you will find plenty to take you back to the "good old days"!
2. Bushmere Estate
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 79 reviews
Reviewed By BexMay_12 - Wellington, New Zealand
Came for lunch and a wine tasting and wow! Pork belly was amazing, wine was fabulous and service was great! Brought two bottles to enjoy at home. A must stop winery in Gisborne!
3. Poppies Martinborough
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 190 reviews
Poppies Martinborough is the tasting room cellar door for our wines we serve a simple but beautiful vineyard platter for lunch that we believe will enhance our wines
Reviewed By fionah108
Poppy and the staff were most welcoming. Our platter was the perfect lunch to have with our chosen wine
4. Footwhistle Glowworm Cave
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 69 reviews
We are a locally owned and operated glowworm cave tour based in the heart of the Waitomo Caves Village. Footwhistle Glowworm Cave is located on our private farm and was developed over many years. Our family run tour company ensures that your experience of Waitomo's unique ennvironment is a memory to treasure. We take a maximum of 11 guests per tour and we also allow photography
Reviewed By 84jeannetteb
‘Ross the Boss’ was our awesome guide for the Footwhistle Glowworm Cave experience. His mix of passion, knowledge and humour made this one of the best local sites to visit in Waitomo. A private family run business that is truly about making this a perfect, intimate experience. The visit is topped off with kawakawa education and tea. The caves themselves are a real delight and the family’s understanding and work towards the ecology of them is a credit to them. Highly recommended.
5. New Zealand Maritime Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,168 reviews
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.
Reviewed By TabNZ - Auckland, New Zealand
An absolutely unmissable museum. There is so much to do (and it's free to Aucklanders!). We enjoyed our guided tour, and the special America's Cup Tour, so much that we returned a week later to watch the fabulous Maori Cultural Performance (unmissable - catch it while it's on!) and sail out into the harbour on the beautiful Ted Ashby. There's also a stunning Photography Exhibition on at the moment. The story of the Polynesian settlers is brilliantly told and the boats and other artefacts on display are fascinating. We also particularly enjoyed the recreation of what it was like to sail to NZ from Europe in years gone by - it's horrifying! Well worth a visit.
6. Museum of Transport and Technology
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 827 reviews
The largest museum of its kind in New Zealand, MOTAT offers a fun, interactive, and educational experience. Explore our fascinating exhibitions telling stories of the history and development of New Zealand transport, technology and Kiwi ingenuity. MOTAT offers exciting School Holiday Experiences with a new theme and additional activities every school holidays. With lots of fun activities for kids to enjoy as well as the regular museum experience, MOTAT is a great choice for a fun day out over the school holidays to keep the whole family entertained. Visit the original Pumphouse, wander through our historic village or ride the heritage tram to our Aviation Display Hall which houses one of the largest aviation collections in the Southern Hemisphere. Kids are well-catered for with interactive examples, hands-on technology zone plus our Tinkering Tots gallery which is designed especially for under 5’s. MOTAT has something for everyone and is known as one of Auckland’s best value attractions. With regular events, school holiday experiences and monthly Live Days, visit our website to find out what is on at MOTAT for your next visit.
Reviewed By ewsa10 - Newburgh, United Kingdom
We visited with my cousin and his two little kids when out visiting in New Zealand and had thoroughly brilliant time at 'MOTAT'. The museum has loads of information, displays, exhibitions and lovely little cafes/places to stop & eat a packed lunch. There is a super tram (really old fashioned) that transports you between the main museum and the aviation wing, which is worth both the journey up and the visit - it's truly superb. The whole 'MOTAT' experience is perfect for families, couples, individuals, people of all ages and it's very interactive, with lots to see/read and discover. This is a must-see if visiting Auckland - it's very reasonably priced and there's so much to see and do!
7. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 14,040 reviews
Experience the whole of New Zealand in one building! Te Papa is New Zealand's bold, innovative and interactive national museum. Explore the great treasures and stories of this country, its unique natural environment, Maori culture and taonga (treasures), dynamic art heritage, and its fascinating history. Te Papa is located on Wellington's spectacular waterfront. Open 10am to 6pm every day except Christmas Day. General admission is free.
Reviewed By trishydishy
What a great museum - added bonus of seeing the terracotta warriors and Peter Jackson's marvellous and moving Gallipoli exhibition - saved our trip to Wellington which we found mostly CLOSED!!
8. Auckland Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,640 reviews
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.
Reviewed By justinwL3694KP - Auckland Central, New Zealand
Much prefer from Te Papa great fun more of a world range to look at really nice way to spend a day. Has cafe food and nice tours, never feel to crowded and have plenty of time to look at everything
9. Mission Estate Winery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 943 reviews
At Mission Estate, we have been perfecting our craft since 1851. By combining the traditional craft of winemaking with the latest technology, we are reaching out to a new generation of wine lovers across the globe.
Reviewed By Kitkatchunkytravels
My girlfriend and I visited Mission Estate when we were in Napier and were pleasantly surprised with the friendliness of the staff who did the wine tasting - Chris from Coventry you are amazing and you made our day! So much interesting knowledge considering he's new and a great laugh for us! Free wine glass is a bonus and the dessert wine was delicious! Thoroughly recommend
10. Church Road Winery Cellar Door
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 511 reviews
Reviewed By lizrag - Hastings, New Zealand
I returned to this wonderful cellar door to check out CRW's latest releases. Knowledgeable staff presenting superbly-crafted wines in every range, from the Classic, to the Gwen, to the McDonald Series, to the Grand Reserve, to the One and - of course - the stellar Toms. Whether you are partial to a refreshing Methode Champenoise, an elegant Chardonnay, a "Pinot Grigio-style" Pinot Gris, a ballsy Syrah, a Spanish or Italian red varietal, a stunning Bordeaux blend (or single varietal), or a refreshing, perfectly-balanced dessert wine................there's a wine here for you. Hawkes Bay should feel proud to showcase this winery to both the domestic and international markets !!
TAGS
