Tūhura Otago Museum

The basics

While Tūhura Otago Museum’s extensive permanent collection will keep you busy for a while, there’s more to see here. The Perpetual Guardian Planetarium hosts daily shows about the planets and cosmos, and the Tūhura Otago Community Trust Science Centre is New Zealand’s largest science center. Other shows, talks, events, and special exhibits ensure there’s never a dull day in this museum. Most travelers visit the museum independently. Explore it in conjunction with the University of Otago, which is just across the road.

Things to know before you go

• The Tūhura Otago Museum is an ideal rainy-day activity in Dunedin and one of the city’s most popular attractions.

• General entry to the museum is free. The Tūhura Otago Community Trust Science Centre and the Perpetual Guardian Planetarium areas of the museum require a ticket.

• Free guided tours of the permanent collections are held every day in the afternoon; koha (a donation) is appreciated.

• The museum shop is a great place to pick up high-quality local souvenirs, art, and books.

How to get there

The museum is in north Dunedin, across the road from the University of Otago’s Central Library. You can catch a northbound public bus from the Octagon or George Street area, or the free museum loop bus that stops at several of Dunedin’s top museums and cultural sites. Alternatively, it’s an easy 20-minute walk up Dunedin’s main street, George Street, from the Octagon. It’s best to avoid driving as there’s limited parking around the university area.

When to get there

The museum is open every day (except Christmas Day) from mid-morning until late afternoon. The café opens a little earlier than the museum and closes in the mid-afternoon. Free guided tours typically take place daily in the middle of the afternoon.

Go back to college at the University of Otago

Dunedin is one of New Zealand’s most famous university towns, so visiting the campus is a must-do activity while in Dunedin. The Tūhura Otago Museum is conveniently located across the road from the university’s Central Library. From here, it’s just a 5-minute stroll to the beloved Clocktower complex, a photogenic late-19th-century building on the banks of the Water of Leith.