Tūhura Otago Museum

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Reviews

1. Mitchell Hostiadi ★★★★★

   Went as an international visitor and I think I paid $35 for the whole experience. They have so many exhibit including NZ/Dunedin early history, Maori, "Animal Attic" (mostly animal taxidermy), Maritime (ship models) and People of the World (random assortment of cultures - they even have a mummy). The Planetarium was alright but I went to the Night Sky one which was rather boring to be honest. The science/kids section was fun but a lot of the exhibit needs to be refreshed as they have seen a lot of use. The butterfly garden was very interesting as it is something you don't see often. They also have a cafe onsite but I did not try it. I spent around 3hrs trying to see everything but this place definitely need a few visits if you want to experience everything. My only complaint is that the gift shop does not have many Otago Museum branded things -only magnets and postcard - I was ready to buy more souvenirs, had they had more!

   almost 4 months ago
2. NaSSeR S-S ★★★★☆

   I visited this museum during my stay in Dunedin and really enjoyed it! It’s a fascinating place with a wide range of exhibits — from natural history and science to cultural collections. The layout is modern and easy to explore, and the staff are friendly and helpful. A great spot to learn, relax, and spend a few hours discovering something new. Highly recommended for visitors to Dunedin!

   almost 5 months ago
3. Haley brown ★★★★☆

   Was a lovely museum and spent a good 3 hours here, you definitely need to pay if you have kids to get into the science area and butterflies as they were the. Ist interesting areas. We paid $81 for our family to get into that and also the planetarium as well. I wouldn’t say it was worth it for that amount and wouldn’t go again because of the price but worth it if you want to tick it off the list or need something to do indoors. Also has a cafe which was great.

   almost 5 months ago

1. Kim B ★★★★★

   I enjoyed my visit to the Dunedin Museum and Butterfly House. It's a fantastic place with a great mix of things to see. The butterfly house was a highlight — absolutely beautiful and calming, with so many colorful butterflies flying freely around you. I also really loved the photography exhibition, The museum overall was well-presented, interesting, and worth a visit if you're in the area. Highly recommend!

   almost 6 months ago
2. Soopd toojae ★★★★☆

   Our kids enjoyed the science centre, spent a fair bit of time here, the planetarium was ok would've more liked to hear about facts of the solar system and see more planets than just the astrology constellations. Butterfly house was nice with some birds also. Most I've paid for a museum before.

   almost 7 months ago
3. Janita Patrick ★★★★☆

   A great rainy day activity! The science centre & live butterfly rainforest is what you pay for and is worth it for the amount of time you will spend and the cool activities that are fun for the whole family! Excellent gift shop on site also! Parking is a bit of an issue so either be prepared to pay or walk a few minutes for a park. Got to see it & experience it to understand what it’s really like.

   almost 2 years ago

1. M Tawfique Rahman ★★★★★

   The planetarium and science center needs tickets all but is free. The Museum is a captivating blend of culture and architecture. Its modernist design with sleek lines and glass panels creates a visually appealing exterior. Inside, the exhibits are thoughtfully curated and arranged, taking visitors on a journey through time and showcasing the history and culture of Otago and the Pacific region. The exhibition design is meticulous, utilizing lighting, graphics, and multimedia elements to bring the displays to life. Sustainability is a priority, with eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient systems incorporated throughout the building. The museum actively engages the community through educational programs and interactive exhibits. Amenities like a café and gift shop add to the visitor experience. Overall, the Otago Museum is a remarkable fusion of culture, architecture, and sustainability. It offers an enriching exper

   almost 2 years ago
2. Sharna Meaclem ★★★☆☆

   10/10 customer service skills, fast service - no long line and all helpful information given and not to mention always greeted with a smile by the employee at the kiosk. We visit roughly 2-3 times a year. The big slide is our favorite thing to go on first for Mr5 Sadly the Butterfly house seemed really sad and A LOT less life like since we last visited 5+ years ago, my child was more concerned with the large amounts of dead butterflies on the ground and in the water ponds, Entry price for 1 adult + 2 children (1 under 5) was $46 for all access . The rest of the museum and science activities are fun and can keep the children busy the only downfall we can find is same stuff, different day and different year. Best place to go on rainy days!

   almost 2 years ago
3. Nikki Jones ★★★★★

   We loved the interactive centre but there are lots of awesome displays. The Pacifica one was amazing. We should've allowed a lot more time to get around to make the most of this great facility. The kids (20 and 22!) got distracted making dams, making up faces and other fun activities as well as finding unusual butterflies! Go in the morning just in case you get distracted!

   almost 2 years ago

1. Alexa ★★★★★

   This museum absolutely blew us away, we genuinely wish we could have spent all day here! If you have kids, like butterflies, or are young at heart and prefer interactive exhibits, you have to buy tickets for the science center! It is so much fun, completely engaging, and the butterfly exhibit is unreal, like we couldn't believe it was just there, hiding inside of a museum! It was seriously our favorite thing we did in Dunedin but even if you don't do the science center, the free access area is still so impressive! We ran out of time and had to rush the upper levels (a shame because the animal attic alone deserves at least 15 minutes) but we left happier and a lit bit more knowledgeable than we'd been before!

   almost 3 years ago

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