Wairarapa Museums

Aratoi Wairarapa Musem of Art and History

The Wairarapa is filled with rich museums showcasing everything from vintage planes or classic cars, to the only remaining Fell locomotive in the world.


Check out this list of excellent museums in the Wairarapa:

Wairarapa Heritage Association is a trail of Wairarapa museums running from Featherston to Mount Bruce. Check out some of the fabulous places you can visit!
The Wool Shed is a glimpse into the farming history of the Wairarapa located in Masterton.
Fell Locomotive Museum in Featherston houses H199, the only locomotive of its type in the world!
Cobblestones Museum in Greytown is an historic village with an old schoolhouse, public hospital, colonial cottage and much more.
There's always something fascinating to discover at the Wairarapa's largest museum. 
Just north of Masterton is Middleton Model Railway, one of the largest model railways in New Zealand!
Norsewood is just outside of the Wairarapa region but is a fantastic Norwegian, tourist village.
Papawai Marae, located a few minutes from the centre of Greytown, has been a home to Wairarapa Māori for hundreds of years.
This self guided tour follows the story of two brothers and a sister who each saw very different sides of World War I. You will need to allow at least 60 minutes.
This self guided tour follows the story of a tradesman who headed off to World War 1. You will need to allow at least two hours.
This self-guided tour takes you to many of the Wairarapa’s towns and villages on a scenic tour of the region. The itinerary is best done over a couple of days but you could squeeze it in with a busy day.
Mt Bruce Pioneer Museum is a treasure trove of rural relics, just a few kilometres from Masterton.
Take a tour of Brancepeth, one of Wairarapa's grandest and most treasured historic sites. This colonial homestead and gardens near Masterton is still owned by the family who settled on the land in 1856.
Visit their unique museum of natural history or take an unguided freedom paddle down the scenic Ruamahanga River
Visit Featherston Heritage Museum to see evocative original photos, modern audio visuals and historical artefacts from the Featherston Camps during World War I & II.