Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa: Introducing Te Papa Tour
Overview
Available languages
1 hour
Mobile ticket
Discover the best of New Zealand’s premier museum, Te Papa, with a guided tour that provides an excellent introduction to this must-see attraction in Wellington.
Beginning over one hundred million years ago, join your guide on a journey through New Zealand's rich history and cultures. Hear stories of our adaptive wildlife, the resilience of the Māori people, and artistic interpretations of life in the South Pacific.
This tour includes the international visitor entry charge. Domestic tour pricing is available on our website.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Small-Group tour limited to 15 people
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Make your way to Te Papa, located in a distinctive modern building that sits on the waterfront in Wellington’s city center. You can choose from several times throughout the day for the 60-minute guided tour. Your guide introduces the museum's collections of art and design, photography, history, Maori and Pacific cultures, and natural sciences. Walk through parts of the impressive galleries and check out high-tech interactive features that enhance many of the exhibits. Among the amazing displays, you'll explore New Zealand's diverse natural environment, experience Maori culture and learn about New Zealand's art and colonial history. Your ticket includes the tour and admission. After your tour, stay as long as you like to browse the galleries; one can easily spend several hours looking around the museum. A gift shop and two cafes are also on-site.
What‘s Included
60-minute guided tour
International visitor admission fee (two-day entry)
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Entry fee to any short term paid exhibitions
Options
Introducing Te Papa
Introducing Te Papa
Reviews
105 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
.....visit
Ann Mark C,,Jan 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Te Papa Museum is an outstanding place to experience the heart of New Zealand’s history and culture. The exhibits are interactive, well-designed, and suitable for all ages. Māori heritage, natural history, and modern art are presented beautifully, making the visit both educational and enjoyable. The museum is spacious, well maintained, and located in a perfect waterfront setting. Staff are friendly and informative, and entry is free, which is incredible for such a world-class museum. A must-visit attraction in Wellington.
Worth seeing
Kristina g,,Dec 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Well worth a visit where you find out the facts about Maori culture and much about nature in NZ plus art exhibitions and exhibition about migration etc.
Overwhelming –
dales786,,Nov 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Everything you ever could want to know about New Zealand’s indigenous people and subsequent European settlers. There are so many artifacts that it can be an overwhelming amount of content for a casual visit. A docent lead tour is a good way to get the major content and without spending a full day in the museum. The serious visitor will need a full day to absorb the content.
ONe hour was the perfect way to catch the spirit of Te Papa!
Linda F,,Oct 21, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00We highly recommend this ONE hour tour during your visit to Te Papa- but you need many more hours to see it all! We were tired but Aoife brought our experience to life- showing us things we had missed in our first 2 hours - sharing her passion for New Zealand and the people! She did such a great job of explaining the treaty, the relationship Maori and immigrants! Thank you for sharing!
Great information, give...
Melissa J,,Sep 21, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Great information, give extra time because there is a lot of ground to cover inside. It is a fantastic experience.
An Inspiring and Fun Mandarin Tour at Te Papa!
K3822ZDsummerh,,Aug 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I joined the Te Papa Highlights in Mandarin tour today and absolutely loved the experience! It was a fantastic way to explore the stories behind New Zealand’s land, people, culture, art, and history—all delivered in fluent, engaging Mandarin. Our guide, WenBin, was incredible. He was warm, professional, and so knowledgeable—not just about the museum itself, but also about native birds, planets, politics, and Aotearoa’s rich history. You could tell he genuinely loves sharing knowledge and connecting with people. I left feeling both inspired and a little smarter! If I had one wish—it would be for a longer tour! The 60 minutes went by far too quickly. I’d love to see a 90-minute version offered in the future, or I might just book a private tour next time with friends to dive in even deeper. Highly recommend this for anyone who speaks Mandarin and wants to experience Te Papa in a deeper, more meaningful way! If you do not speak Mandarin, no worries! I am sure the English introduction tour would be as great as the Mandarin tour. Te Papa does have a great team here to offer fantastic opportunities to both domestic and international visitors an unforgettable experience. No wonder it is ranked #1 via TripAdvisor Award 2025
Great place to spend a day a more
Jeffrey M,,Apr 3, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The 1 hour tour is well worth the price. It gives a great overview of what the museum has, and provides deeper insight into many of the exhibits.
Excellent Museum- 3 Hours of Entertainment and Learning
timinbrentwood987,,Mar 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The content of the museum is varied and set out in a spacious building. It never felt crowded on the visit. Staff are friendly and informative. Tip we received: don’t bother with top floor, it’s just old pottery. Would recommend for a half day visit.
Admission price for Museum of New Zealand, Wellington
101davidj,,Mar 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
2.00The Museum of New Zealand has an interesting charging policy. Free for New Zealanders but $35 for international visitors. I've bern to many museums in different countries and never experience a charging policy that discriminates between visitors and residents.
Excellent museum - a must see!
suedela,,Feb 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We spent 4 hours looking round the museum, learning about the geology of the islands, the unique animal and plant life, the maori culture and the battle at gallipoli. We didn't have time to view the Vivien Westwood fashion and jewellery exhibition. Each part we attended was excellent, there were interactive elements designed for children but equally good for adults. The information was interesting and we found ourselves emersed for hours! The gallipoli exhibition was particularly moving.
From NZ$75.00
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Operated by Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa