Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery

Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery Nau mai, haere mai ki Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery. Open from 10am to 5pm every day (except 25 December). General admission is free.

✨ Celebrate Matariki with us these school holidays!Looking for a fun and creative way to keep tamariki engaged? Join us ...
25/06/2026

✨ Celebrate Matariki with us these school holidays!

Looking for a fun and creative way to keep tamariki engaged? Join us for our Matariki School Holiday Programme, featuring two unique hands-on experiences inspired by nature, culture and creativity.

Week One – Eel-y Good Fun!
📅 6th & 8th July 2026
🕘 9am–3pm
👧 Ages 8–14
$55 per child, per day

Discover the fascinating life of freshwater eels through science, art and play, then create your own unique soft-sculpture tuna.

Week Two – Taonga Puuoro
📅 13th, 15th & 17th July 2026
🕘 9am–3pm
👧 Ages 8–18
$55 per child, per day

Immerse tamariki in music with a hands-on introduction to taonga puuoro and discover the sounds of traditional Maaori instruments.

✨ Limited spaces available! Register online or at our front desk.

22/06/2026

Send this to the friend you’re taking to the museum. 👀

21/06/2026

Sundays are for museum strolls 🖼️🏛️

18/06/2026

You don’t have to ask me twice 🏛️🪲


16/06/2026

It’s all in the details ✨

📍 Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery

Open daily, 10am–5pm.

What was happening 50 years ago at the Fieldays? Let's throw back to June 17th to 19th in 1976 with this poster from our...
11/06/2026

What was happening 50 years ago at the Fieldays?

Let's throw back to June 17th to 19th in 1976 with this poster from our collection. The Mystery Creek Events Centre was buzzing with the tractor pull and fencing competitions still going strong. Innovation was still a core part of the Fieldays, with "farmer inventions", "prototypes", and "new equipment awards".

Were you or your whaanau at the 1976 Fielddays?

What an incredible Fossil Fest! 🦴✨A huge thank you to everyone who joined us over the weekend.From the Penguin Party wit...
11/06/2026

What an incredible Fossil Fest! 🦴✨

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us over the weekend.

From the Penguin Party with Junats and fossil tours to expert panels, to meeting fossil hunter Kerr Sharpe-Young (Get Your Rocks Off) and even uncovering rare crab fossils during What’s In That Rock? Live!, it was a weekend full of discovery, curiosity, and fun.

Missed out, or wondering what’s on next? Join our newsletter to discover what's coming up: https://tewharetaonga.nz/subscribe

Fossil Fest is officially underway!We kicked things off with the Penguin Party last night, but the weekend is just getti...
05/06/2026

Fossil Fest is officially underway!

We kicked things off with the Penguin Party last night, but the weekend is just getting started.

Here's what's happening today and tomorrow at the museum 👇

🪨 Ask a Fossil Hunter
Today (Sat) 1pm – 3pm | FREE
Got questions? Fossil hunter Kerr Sharpe-Young from Get Your Rocks Off is here to answer them. See real fossils up close and find out what it actually takes to find fossils.

🦴 Weird & Wonderful: Fossils of Aotearoa | Public Talk & Panel
Today (Sat) 4pm – 6:45pm | FREE
Scientists, geologists, and fossil hunters on one panel talking about why NZ's fossils are unlike anywhere else on earth.

🚶 He Koorero Maataatoka – Fossil Tours
Today & tomorrow at 10:15am | FREE
A guided tour through millions of years of prehistoric Waikato. If you haven't seen the Fossil Finds exhibition yet, this is the way to do it.

💥 What's In That Rock: LIVE!
Tomorrow (Sun) 1pm – 3pm | FREE
You've seen it online, now watch it happen in real life. Kerr Sharpe-Young is cracking open rocks right here in Kirikiriroa. No idea what's inside. That's the whole point.

🔍 Fossil Finders Scavenger Hunt
All weekend | FREE
A giant penguin's fossilised bones are hidden across the museum. Can you find them all?

05/06/2026

🦴 Fossil Fest is underway, but there’s still two days of fossil-filled fun to come!

Meet fossil hunter Kerr Sharpe-Young, join a guided fossil tour, hear from expert speakers, and discover the stories hidden beneath our feet.

Watch Kerr in this video, then head to the link in our bio to check out the full programme and plan your weekend.

📍 Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery

04/06/2026

This weekend, we’re bringing ancient Waikato back to life.

Fossil Fest brings together remarkable fossils, giant penguins, fossil hunters, expert talks, guided tours, and hands-on experiences across three days of discovery.

Whether you’re a lifelong fossil enthusiast, a curious explorer, or looking for a unique family day out, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

5th – 7th June 2026
Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery

Check out the full programme: https://tewharetaonga.nz/whats-on/events/fossil-fest

Address

1 Grantham Street
Hamilton
3204

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+6478386606

Website

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