10 ‘Must See’ Museums & Collections | South Island | New ZealandGuest post by Jennifer Branje | Southproud.co.nz

Our South is steeped in history. The ‘breaking in’ and settling of this wild, untamed land was undertaken by the hardiest folk who endured severe challenges to triumph over adversity. Our regional museums and collections tell their eduring stories.

National Transport & Toy Museum – Wanaka

This fascinating place houses one of the largest private collections in the world! With over half a century of collecting and preserving pieces from the past, the museum boasts rare and unusual aircraft, cars, trucks, motorcycles, fire appliances, military vehicles and tractors. The nostalgic collection of toys has something to fascinate the child in everyone, such as clockwork and battery powered toys, porcelain dolls, teddy bears, pedal cars and money boxes. The museum offers indoor and outdoor playing areas with pedal tractors and trucks for the kids. The museum shop has thousands of models and gifts. Light refreshments are also available.

Te Hikoi Southern Journey – Riverton
Take an interactive journey through 'Te Hikoi', featuring authentic displays, adventurous characters and engaging stories. These reveal how our Maori and European ancestors adapted to survive on nature's edge. Te Hikoi is like walking through a storybook. You truly get a 'feel' for the history, people and relayed experiences. 

Hokonui Moonshine Museum – Gore
The Gore District's colourful history of illicit whiskey making and consumption is celebrated in this unique museum, located in Gore heritage precinct. By recreating the scenes from old with static displays, audio, visuals and artefacts, the museum brings to life the characters and key events of the prohibition era that spawned the moonshine industry. Find out how adventurous many local moonshiners became in the face of police opposition, and how kiwi ingenuity often foiled the Customs men. Old Hokonui whiskey, made to the original recipe, is among a range of merchandise available to buy.

Ashburton Aviation Museum – Ashburton
Housed at the Ashburton Airport, this delightful collection of antiquated airplanes, models and historical records are a must view. Ashburton was a training base for WW2 pilots, with more than 50 Tiger Moths based there. The history still remains with more than 20 different aircraft housed in two buildings. This museum full of excellent information, historical records and memorabilia. A new replica control tower compliments the grounds. The team of volunteers at Ashburton Aviation Museum have excellent knowledge and will show you around with great enthusiasm for this remarkable collection.

Okains Bay Maori & Colonial Museum – Banks Peninsula
A large and extensive collection of Maori and Colonial artefacts and treasures located in Okains Bay, a beautiful town in Banks Peninsula, Canterbury. This special and unique Museum sits surrounded by beautiful rural backdrops between rolling hills. It boasts one of the most extensive collection of Maori artefacts in New Zealand. Acknowledged by people from all over the world who come to see this remote Museum, they find it hard to believe that it operates entirely without funding, but with the shared hard work of locals, volunteers and the Founder's vision.

Steampunk HQ – Oamaru
Steampunk HQ is a modern art museum and gallery featuring retro futuristic sci fi art, sculpture, movies and sound. Steampunk is a quirky and fun genre of science fiction that features steam-powered technology. It is often set in an alternate, futuristic version of 19th century Victorian England. The Steampunk future is driven by unusual steam powered devices – the ‘world gone mad’ as Victorian people may have imagined it. Examples are machines like those in the writing of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne, and in tv shows such as Dr. Who.

Geraldine Vintage Car and Machinery Club – Geraldine
Geraldine Vintage Car and Machinery Club boasts 125 Vintage Tractors, along with 56 Veteran to Classic Cars. This collection is the finest of its type in the Southern Hemisphere. On display are vintage cars, vintage tractors, vintage farm machinery and plenty of other interesting things. Some of the exhibits are unique and won't be found anywhere else in the world.

Rakiura Museum – Stewart Island
The Rakiura Museum houses over 5000 items and is of vital importance to the present and future generations of Stewart Islanders and to those whose families have links with the Islands past. Situated in the township area of Halfmoon Bay, Stewart Island, the Rakiura Museum houses an extensive collection of items and photographs of Stewart Island's early history, including Maori settlement, mutton birding, whaling, fishing, timber milling, mining, boat building, transport, schools and churches. Established and run entirely by volunteers, the museum attracts thousands of visitors each year, relying on small door charge revenue and donations to carry out its important work of collecting and preserving historic articles from Stewart Islands past.

Tuapeka Goldfields Museum – Lawrence
Don’t be fooled by the understated frontage of the Lawrence Information Centre & Tuapeka Goldfields Museum. Beyond is a Tardis filled with the history of New Zealand’s first Gold Rush town. Learn about Gabriel Read and his discovery of gold in Otago and the settlement that ensued. This is an excellent and authentic account of the discovery of gold and how it affected the families that came to find & lose their fortunes.

Kaikoura Museum – Kaikoura

This ‘state of the art’ modern museum displays several marine specimens & Maori Taonga (treasures). It’s even got some dinosaur bones! Currently displaying the ‘New Normal’ exhibition, the recollections of locals who experienced the Kaikoura Earthquake come to life in an outstanding display of authentic storytelling. Displays are tactile, diverse and very well presented.