Bringing you face to face with our heritage

With exhibits about the Polynesian navigator Kupe, Maori artifacts, the Endeavour and James Cook, HMS Buffalo (sunk 1840), kauri timber and gum, the old dairy factory in which the museum is housed, early settlers’ records, natural history, fishing displays and a wonderful photographic collection.

Admission price:
ADULTS $5.00 and CHILDREN under 14 are FREE with an accompanying adult.

Come Visit Our Amazing New Exhibition!

In Our Backyard

In Our Backyard takes visitors on a tour through our backyard space highlighting the animals and creatures that reside here.

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Current & Upcoming Events

Murder at the Museum

22 May 2021 from 6-8pm The Mercury Bay Museum is hosting a: Murder Mystery Night Fundraiser Tickets will be limited so be in quick. Duration 2 hoursPrepaid tickets are $30.00 each Tickets on sale now Dress up as your your character which will be given to you on...

NZ Archaeology Week – DIGGING DEEP

30 April 2021 from 11am Duration 2 hours Come and join us for a fun session of digging deep to find the artefacts! Archaeologists discover sites that need to be "dug". The process is very pain stakingly slow but these archaeological sites can tell us a lot about...

NZ Archaeology Week – “Archaeology Is Rubbish!!”

28 April 2021 from 11am Duration 2 hours Come and join us for a fun session of archaeology detective work!! Archaeologists can learn a lot about who was living in places by the rubbish that they find in archaeological sites. Food scraps, tools & clothing can...

NZ Archaeology Week – “Going Potty!!” kids activity session

27 April 2021 Duration 2 hours Come and join us for a fun session of going potty!! Archaeologists can learn a lot about pottery fragments found in archaeological sites. Shape, material and decoration can reveal a vessels construction, function and age! Join us to...

Follow us on our latest Project!

The HMS Buffalo Re-examination Project aims to complete a detailed site survey to provide an accurate interpretation of the HMS Buffalo shipwreck site located in Whitianga, New Zealand.

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