National Transport and Toy Museum

This fascinating museum is one of the largest private collections in the world, with 4 major buildings housing over 600 vehicles, 16 aircraft and more than 50,000 toys and miscellaneous items. The museum is the result of one man’s dream and over 50 years of collecting; it’s a 20th century treasure-trove. The transport collection alone includes vintage and classic cars, fire engines, military vehicles, tractors, trucks, motorbikes, heavy construction equipment, buses, boats plus much more. The toys collection will make your child never want to leave. There are thousands of diecast models, meccano, dolls and teddy bears, tin, windup, clockwork and battery powered toys plus much much more. It is also home to New Zealand’s largest display of barbie and Star Wars merchandise. Take the adult-size pedal cars for a ride or have a go on the WWII Bofors gun and a Chinese Anti-aircraft gun, climb over a 52-tonne Centurion Tank and check out the children’s old arcade rides. This extraordinary collection leaves people amazed that one man has collected so much in one lifetime. The place is a real nostalgia trip, a must-see for all the family.