MOTAT - Museum of Transport and Technology
MOTAT - Museum of Transport and Technology
MOTAT - Museum of Transport and Technology
4.5
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
With changing exhibitions and school holiday experiences, unique events and live activities, MOTAT is a great place to explore, discover and spark imaginations. MOTAT has a broad collection showcasing technology and ingenuity of Aotearoa New Zealand. Loved by families and an intergenerational experience, there is something for all to enjoy. Experience past, present and future technology and ingenuity through interactive exhibitions, see the original Pumphouse, stroll through the historic village and enjoy a ride on a heritage tram. Our Aviation Hall houses one of the largest aviation collections in the Southern Hemisphere. MOTAT is known as one of Auckland’s best value attractions. A Family pass is just $45 for two adults and up to 4 children aged 5-15 years. Under 5s enter for free. Entry to both our museum spaces is included in your ticket purchase and our free heritage tram service transports you between the two. Go to MOTAT.NZ to find out what’s on and help to plan your visit.
Suggested duration
2-3 hours
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See what other travellers are saying
- CiderMonkeyCornwall, United Kingdom254 contributionsAnother good day outSpent a full afternoon just wandering around looking at and learning of all the exhibits on the site. It was a scorching hot day so we were glad of the shelter. A lot has changed in 6 years so needed to have a look at those changes and was really impressed. The site has more touchy feely things as well as looking at some both Auckland and NZ history. Included in the entrance fee is a ticket for the tram to go to the aircraft museum. It is approx 10 mins away and is out passed the zoo.⁰ inThanks for your fantastic review! It's great to hear that you enjoyed your visit to MOTAT.Written July 13, 2020This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited March 2020Travelled with friendsWritten March 22, 2020
- Peter20 contributionsGood for College GroupI went MOTAT with my collage friends🙆🏻🤷♀️🙎♂️ and really love the experience there, first I saw the maze there but it was finish so early then my told me it designed according for kids🧒. Cafe available inside the Museum but you need to pay extra for your meal as food is not included in Museum ticket🎫, then we had Lunch🥙 there - after a while we waited outside for Tram🚃 and when tram arrived we all were settled down and visit to the another section of the Museum. Good place to get informationℹ️ about New Zealand🇳🇿 History.Thanks for visiting us and for amazing review, Peter! Glad you enjoyed your experience at MOTAT.Written March 9, 2020This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited March 2020Written March 1, 2020
- MikeAKLAuckland Central, New Zealand72 contributionsAn interesting collectionMOTAT has an interesting collection of aircraft and NZ aviation history displays. (Did a kiwi beat the Wright brothers to powered flight?). My kids prefer MOTAT 1 (trains and cars), I like MOTAT 2 - aviation. Would be great to see the Lancaster flying though. Static displays always seem a little depressing to me. NZ Warbirds have a couple of hangars of interesting aircraft at Ardmore Airfield, which actually fly, so I highly recommend taking a look at their collection also.Thank you for your review, Mike. We are happy to hear you and your kids loved the trains, cars and aviation. You are correct, Richard William Pearse bet the Wright brothers to a powered flight. Witnesses interviewed many years afterward claimed that Pearse flew and landed a powered heavier-than-air machine on 31 March 1903, nine months before the Wright brothers flew. Thank you for your recommendations regarding the aircraft's.Written March 9, 2020This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited December 2019Written February 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
842 reviews
Excellent
421
Very good
292
Average
93
Poor
25
Terrible
11
Crazyfornewzealand
Palmerston North, New Zealand108 contributions
Jun. 2023 • Family
Very cool place with lots to look at from a tram ride to the aircraft hanger, old technology, interactive stuff for the kids, working steam engines etc. Very enjoyable
Written July 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
2CAtravelers
Brattleboro, VT823 contributions
Mar. 2023
This museum houses some nice collections of transport and technology and is the main location. It's a large outdoor setting with numerous building which house the collections and exhibits. There is plenty to do and see for both children and adults. Off to one side is a collection of old wooden buildings surrounded by grass and with many picnic benches in the shade. There are plenty of rest rooms and food is available as well. Don't miss taking the old train line up to their other building which houses their airplane and helicopter exhibit. Just pay attention to the train schedule.
FYI, a taxi ride from our hotel in the CBD to the museum was about NZ$22.
FYI, a taxi ride from our hotel in the CBD to the museum was about NZ$22.
Written June 1, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ITRT
Virginia38,544 contributions
Dec. 2022 • Friends
As the name implies, the Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT) has exhibits on transportation and technology. It’s the largest such museum in New Zealand. If you are interested in vintage, trains, planes, cars, and technology, then this is a must visit. The Pumphouse, historic Village, model railway, firehouse, and autos are some of the interesting areas. There are many hands-on experiences for children. One of the favorites of the children seemed to be using the working rotary phones. Code Breakers exhibit celebrates women who were involved in the development of the gaming industry. The steam engine on display was once used to supply clean water to residents. Once you have finished this part of the transportation museum, a tram goes from MOTAT to an aviation warehouse to see all types of planes. A great family activity.
Written April 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Roger E
62 contributions
Dec. 2022
Brilliant facility, with a number of exhibuition halls - one for a wet day, certainly.
We parked out near the aviation hall and spent ages in there - the Bomber Command display is very informative and they have a complete Lancaster bomber as well as a number of other aircraft.
We caught the tram to the main site and spent another couple of hours in there - we didn't see it all, by any means. The telecoms, IT and Motoring halls are very interesting, as is the pumphouse. It was great to see the examples of personal computing/gaming all laid out.
We parked out near the aviation hall and spent ages in there - the Bomber Command display is very informative and they have a complete Lancaster bomber as well as a number of other aircraft.
We caught the tram to the main site and spent another couple of hours in there - we didn't see it all, by any means. The telecoms, IT and Motoring halls are very interesting, as is the pumphouse. It was great to see the examples of personal computing/gaming all laid out.
Written January 9, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Martin B
Exeter, UK45 contributions
Jan. 2023
The history and real life living experience is amazing. Bringing the past back to life, is so important that we undserstand how things used to be and the great creative inventions that have helped create the world we live in today
Written January 9, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dave h
Penarth, UK120 contributions
Jan. 2023 • Family
Different museum with two aspects and more!!
The children loved it.
Interesting travel museum for me.
Also a cafe for refreshments.
Train and tram ride for children.
Worth a trip if in Auckland.
The children loved it.
Interesting travel museum for me.
Also a cafe for refreshments.
Train and tram ride for children.
Worth a trip if in Auckland.
Written January 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
aleekwa
Asia84 contributions
Dec. 2022 • Couples
The museum is located on two campuses, connected via a tram. The tram is an enjoyable and immersive ride, with a tram boy offering free sou enir tram tickets. The exhibtions on campus 1 is interesting and fun for kids, but some of the interactive are broken. Exhibition on campus 2 is a collection of planes. Design of some planes are jaw dropping or "bizarre", do check them out if you have time
Written December 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HopeJasmin
Tauranga, New Zealand2 contributions
Dec. 2022 • Family
3 generations spent day at MOTAT. Maybe could do with more food options, but otherwise excellent day out. Intermediate aged children loved it as much as Grandad. Well organised and interactive for all.
Written December 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kathleen S
Ashburton, Canterbury, New Zealand285 contributions
Oct. 2022
Its good that the staff are refurbishing many of the buildings, but the number of things closed, or in the interactive areas broken, made us feel as it wasnt really open. Even the cafe was semi functional. We were there on a Friday and there was little food (we were there before lunch so guess that was the case all day) and although it was hot the milk shakes and smoothies werent available, In situations like that maybe it was better to not open at all. Certainly we should not have had to pay full price.
Written October 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter R
Auckland, New Zealand19 contributions
Oct. 2022 • Couples
After being delayed due to the months spend building a new bike lane at the museum, finally got to the aviation section. A very sad and disappointing day. Aircraft presented in a dark hanger, little explanation, few stories, not linkage of the planes to interesting stories. Very very sad. Not a touch on international museums I have been to or the Blenheim museum or Ardmore warbirds. Perhaps gift these planes back to museums that actually care about these aircraft rather than poorly run by the city council.
Written October 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
looking to bring a bus load of 40 seniors, what is of interest for women?
Crazyfornewzealand
Palmerston North, New Zealand108 contributions
Broad range question as it depends on the interest of the women. Has a range from a working steam and old technology(cars, computers etc) to modern innovation. Also has a tram ride to an aircraft hanger with old aircraft including war planes. My wife and I are in our 50's and enjoyed it. Memory lane for a lot of things.
Shona B
Cambridge, New Zealand7 contributions
Hi, could you recommend a nearby motel to stay for planning a trip to motat.
Matt B
4 contributions
my advice would to not bother finding a motel specifically near motat, rather look into the best motels in central auckland . it's not very far from the central city
topsy723
Auckland Central, New Zealand
hi i would just like to ask you a its my husbands 60th bithday on friday 9th june and was wondering if you do anything special thankyou he loves cars old planes
MOTAT
Auckland Central, New Zealand
Hi, the Museum is open on 9 June however we do not offer special experiences for birthdays. We have a very large collection of old aircraft at our MOTAT 2 site on Meola Rd, and you can find out more about what is on at the Museum by visiting our website.
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Frequently Asked Questions about MOTAT - Museum of Transport and Technology
- MOTAT - Museum of Transport and Technology is open:
- Sun - Sat 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- Hotels near MOTAT - Museum of Transport and Technology:
- (1.94 km) Hotel Fitzroy curated by Fable
- (2.19 km) Eden Park Bed & Breakfast
- (0.58 km) Western Springs Villa
- (2.47 km) Verandahs Parkside Lodge
- (3.74 km) Eden Villa Bed & Breakfast
- Restaurants near MOTAT - Museum of Transport and Technology:
- (0.07 km) Araroa Tearooms
- (2.41 km) Farina
- (2.66 km) Paris Butter
- (2.68 km) Sidart
- (3.53 km) Sails Restaurant


































































