Western Bay Museum
Western Bay Museum
4.5
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Sunday
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
About
Inside the instantly recognisable historic Old Fire Station in Katikati, you will discover the only museum in the Bay of Plenty and one of Aotearoa’s hidden-gems. With high-quality interactive exhibitions and fun tour-experiences, we bring to life the pioneering spirit of the local Māori, Ulster Irish and all other settlers who together built this area. Welcoming and knowledgeable volunteer guides recount the tales of storm-ridden ocean voyages, adventurers and entrepreneurs and the determination and struggles that formed the foundations of the Western Bay of Plenty. Visit us today (we’re perfect for a quick stop) or book one of our unique and memorable tour-experiences that will take you on a journey back to the 1900s. Ideal for kids and adults alike. Come and discover why the Western Bay Museum is Aotearoa’s best small museum.
Duration: < 1 hour
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
24 reviews
Excellent
17
Very good
6
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Elizabeth W
2 contributions
Jul 2022 • Solo
The museum felt like a community hub for connecting with riverside plantings, rongoa garden, settler history, & Maori taonga from around the Western Bay. Knowledgeable staff made visitors welcome. Joined up with nice river walk through Haiku Park too. A great start to my visit to Katikati.
Written July 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FernAces6
Hamilton, New Zealand105 contributions
Jan 2021 • Family
Didn’t expect much when we walked in with 3 kids aged 9-16. However we spent over 90mins there. The volunteer who met us at the door was so welcoming & full of information. Told us all about the Maori artifacts in the front of museum & the history of Tuhua/ Mayor island. They left us to explore the museum. Kids practices morse code, saw the old typewriters work, the old gramophone & vinyl record players all in perfect working order. Such a pleasantly good morning spent walking down memory lane. Thanks 😊
Written January 17, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tess041
Tauranga, New Zealand213 contributions
Sep 2019
I have to admit to not thinking there would be much inside this museum as the town is relatively small. How wrong was I?! This place is a real gem. Very well laid out, clear and bright information panels & cases and excellent exhibits. The current Kauri one was brilliant - photos, saws, part of the dam, it was so informative. In the other side of the museum is where the school programmes are held. A new 'old fashioned' Aga stove where scones are baked, old telephones and exchange board linked to the telephone boxes outside so kids can understand and reinact how it all used to work. Microscopes, insects, rocks, farming, so much to see. This place is definitely worth a look and it is so nice to see how passionate the local volunteers are to keep the local history alive.
Written September 28, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HelenJG786
Lyttelton, New Zealand582 contributions
Jul 2017 • Couples
Full marks to lovely volunteer who welcomed us. Place is small but immaculately presented with little classroom for school children to have a taste of life in years gone by. Noticed the dominance of colonial pakeha life. Would like to see it balanced with more about tangata whenua.
Written July 26, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brain-Watkins House Museum
Tauranga, New Zealand1 contribution
Feb 2020
was welcomed very warmly by her and other Volunteer and because I was there is a somewhat official capacity as a member of a sister museum got the quick and free guided tour of the current exhibition . it was SO professionally done .
Written March 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hjmfly
Leogang, Austria12 contributions
Nov 2019
The manager and curator, Paula Gaelic, surprised us with a awsome tour through the exhibition with explanations to the history of the first immigrants and their relationship to the Maori. We enjoyed the museum and the conversation afterwards. Thank you Paula! Dearest regards Claudia & Hans
Written December 5, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jenny L
Katikati, New Zealand40 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
This museum changes it's displays every now and then. We called in to see & learn all about the cutting down of the kauri in the area back in the late 1800's. Found it very interesting and could not believe the size of the biggest kauri that they cut down. And the way one gentleman encouraged several families to come to Katikati, NZ to work on the kauri. He did this on several trips from England. Staff were most helpful and willing to show you things.
Written July 2, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tel8
Auckland, New Zealand178 contributions
Apr 2019 • Solo
Great little museum with some interesting collections. Inc some recent history ie in my memory. Several interactive items
Written April 22, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wendi and Nick
Cairns, Australia11 contributions
Dec 2018 • Family
Small local museum- great spot to visit. Locals volunteer, so knowledgeable and friendly - cute little town
Written December 14, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Adrian H
1 contribution
Oct 2018 • Solo
Helpful staff, professionally organized exhibits, with uncluttered displays of early Maori stone implements and displays of home-ware, technology and photographs from early European settlers. I am a volunteer at the information desk of the Auckland Museum.
Written October 22, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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