A JOURNEY THROUGH AVIATION HISTORY
03 JULY 2023
Embracing Rainy Days At The Museum
Since we started travelling full time in July 2022, we have spent most of our time out and about hiking up mountains, through rivers and along coastal terrain. The weather in the North Island over autumn and winter was really mild but it's a whole different story down here in the South Island! So it's only natural that we're hibernating a little bit more than usual and spending time inside. It's been nice to see New Zealand in a different way and to slow down a little bit ;)
The New Zealand Airforce Musem in Christchurch showcases the country's aviation history, with a collection of aircraft (tiny to mahooosive!), personal stories and hands-on, interactive displays which makes museums FUN! Before travelling full time, we weren't big fans of museums, but we have enjoyed learning more about New Zealand's history, plus museums can offer a lot of entertainment on rainy days!
We couldn't believe that this museum is ABSOLUTELY free! When we first heard about it and did our research on it before going, we only saw a few photos of some aircraft and we thought it was one hangar with a few cool planes in it... but no, ladies and gentlemen, this is a full-on museum that's the perfect size for spending a few hours learning and interacting with all things aviation. Although the museum is free, they do accept donations either at the front desk or there is a self-pay area near the desk where you can pay whichever price you want, with a credit/debit card. The museum relies heavily on large donations from companies and they also get large amounts by hiring out the hangar for events such as weddings, school balls etc. We were so impressed with the museum that we gave a donation at the end so if you feel like you want to donate then any amount is accepted and we love how you can do it in private and there's no pressure to donate a certain amount.
The New Zealand Airforce Musem in Christchurch showcases the country's aviation history, with a collection of aircraft (tiny to mahooosive!), personal stories and hands-on, interactive displays which makes museums FUN! Before travelling full time, we weren't big fans of museums, but we have enjoyed learning more about New Zealand's history, plus museums can offer a lot of entertainment on rainy days!
We couldn't believe that this museum is ABSOLUTELY free! When we first heard about it and did our research on it before going, we only saw a few photos of some aircraft and we thought it was one hangar with a few cool planes in it... but no, ladies and gentlemen, this is a full-on museum that's the perfect size for spending a few hours learning and interacting with all things aviation. Although the museum is free, they do accept donations either at the front desk or there is a self-pay area near the desk where you can pay whichever price you want, with a credit/debit card. The museum relies heavily on large donations from companies and they also get large amounts by hiring out the hangar for events such as weddings, school balls etc. We were so impressed with the museum that we gave a donation at the end so if you feel like you want to donate then any amount is accepted and we love how you can do it in private and there's no pressure to donate a certain amount.
The girls with their air force penny souvenirs
Unveiling The Secrets
Not long after we arrived, one of the volunteers approached us to ask if we'd like to join in on a guided tour. At first, we were hesitant as we're not generally 'tour' type people as we prefer to explore on our own, in our own time, but when he said that the tour went to other areas not open to the public and that it was only $2 per adult and kids were free (yes, we paid $4 for a tour!! Unheard of in NZ!!)... we jumped at the opportunity.
Our guide was a lovely older gentleman who had all the knowledge and enthusiasm with everything he was showing us and we love the fact that he took the time to answer all our questions, no matter how big or small and even the ones the girls asked. We were in a small group, it was just us and another family on the tour which made it even better as it felt a lot more personal and we could take the time at each area without having to rush through quickly.
The first part of the tour took us inside an old cargo ship that's only accessible on the guided tour - it reminded us of the old cargo ship at the Runway Cafe in Blenheim, Marlborough that we visit every time we go to Blenheim. We thought it was pretty cool that we could go inside it and it's a great hands-on learning experience for kids!
The next part of the tour took us into the Reserve Collection which is essentially a workshop where volunteers are rebuilding old aircraft. One in particular was being made essentially from the bones of it and the hinges were being made from scratch as there are none in circulation anymore! We found this really fascinating as we had no idea how much work went into rebuilding a historic item like this. It will be interesting to go back in a few years to see the finished aircraft! The volunteers in the workshop were chatty and took the time to show us what they were working on and answer any questions we had. We were allowed to take pictures inside - I had to ask to make sure as a lot of New Zealand Airforce work goes on behind the closed doors so it was worth checking!
Before the tour ended, we went to one last area where there was more hands-on stuff that was fun to play with. Sienna was getting a bit bored by the end as it was around 1.5 hours I think we were looking around and talking for and we made the mistake of not giving her morning tea before we went in - oops! Despite this, the kids actually enjoyed it and learnt some aviation history and Lath and I were glad we joined in the guided tour.
Our guide was a lovely older gentleman who had all the knowledge and enthusiasm with everything he was showing us and we love the fact that he took the time to answer all our questions, no matter how big or small and even the ones the girls asked. We were in a small group, it was just us and another family on the tour which made it even better as it felt a lot more personal and we could take the time at each area without having to rush through quickly.
The first part of the tour took us inside an old cargo ship that's only accessible on the guided tour - it reminded us of the old cargo ship at the Runway Cafe in Blenheim, Marlborough that we visit every time we go to Blenheim. We thought it was pretty cool that we could go inside it and it's a great hands-on learning experience for kids!
The next part of the tour took us into the Reserve Collection which is essentially a workshop where volunteers are rebuilding old aircraft. One in particular was being made essentially from the bones of it and the hinges were being made from scratch as there are none in circulation anymore! We found this really fascinating as we had no idea how much work went into rebuilding a historic item like this. It will be interesting to go back in a few years to see the finished aircraft! The volunteers in the workshop were chatty and took the time to show us what they were working on and answer any questions we had. We were allowed to take pictures inside - I had to ask to make sure as a lot of New Zealand Airforce work goes on behind the closed doors so it was worth checking!
Before the tour ended, we went to one last area where there was more hands-on stuff that was fun to play with. Sienna was getting a bit bored by the end as it was around 1.5 hours I think we were looking around and talking for and we made the mistake of not giving her morning tea before we went in - oops! Despite this, the kids actually enjoyed it and learnt some aviation history and Lath and I were glad we joined in the guided tour.
Lights, Camera, Aircraft!
The aircraft hall is one of our favourite areas as it is HUGE and the light display is really beautiful! The room is dark and the lights gradually change colours, leaving the aircrafts on full display in the spotlights. The hall was originally built as a hangar during WW2 and houses a wide range of RNZAF aircraft, each with its own tale of valor and adventure. Some have joined the museum straight from their high-flying exploits, while others have been lovingly restored by the museum's team of aviation wizards over countless hours of tinkering.
Among the stars of the show is the VIP Douglas Dakota NZ3551, which chauffeured Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II during her majestic coronation tour of New Zealand in 1953-54 and the Avro 626 NZ203, a wise old soul and the oldest surviving complete RNZAF aircraft.
Towards the back of the hall is a huge projector screen playing newsreel films which you can watch from a bench seat. We didn't end up sitting and watching this as there was so much to see.
Also at the back of the hall is a WW2 bomber's gun turret where you can stand up inside it and spin the turret around - yet another interactive item to keep everyone entertained! There are stairs to get up into it, so even Sienna at 5 years old was able to get in and have a go.
The girls had a lot of fun in the hall with multiple hands-on experiences and their favourite was the interactive Balloon Busters game which involved standing near a screen and moving your arms up and down in certain movements to move the aircraft (the game uses motion sensor technology) around on the screen to see how many enemy balloons you can bust. There is a counter on the screen to show how many balloons have been busted and the best part is there are 2 screens to play on, so you aren't waiting in a huge line to play. We lost count of how many times they played this game!
The hall in this museum reminded us of the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre in Blenheim - it is worth visiting if you're in Marlborough and the displays are created by one of Peter Jackson's creative teams!
Among the stars of the show is the VIP Douglas Dakota NZ3551, which chauffeured Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II during her majestic coronation tour of New Zealand in 1953-54 and the Avro 626 NZ203, a wise old soul and the oldest surviving complete RNZAF aircraft.
Towards the back of the hall is a huge projector screen playing newsreel films which you can watch from a bench seat. We didn't end up sitting and watching this as there was so much to see.
Also at the back of the hall is a WW2 bomber's gun turret where you can stand up inside it and spin the turret around - yet another interactive item to keep everyone entertained! There are stairs to get up into it, so even Sienna at 5 years old was able to get in and have a go.
The girls had a lot of fun in the hall with multiple hands-on experiences and their favourite was the interactive Balloon Busters game which involved standing near a screen and moving your arms up and down in certain movements to move the aircraft (the game uses motion sensor technology) around on the screen to see how many enemy balloons you can bust. There is a counter on the screen to show how many balloons have been busted and the best part is there are 2 screens to play on, so you aren't waiting in a huge line to play. We lost count of how many times they played this game!
The hall in this museum reminded us of the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre in Blenheim - it is worth visiting if you're in Marlborough and the displays are created by one of Peter Jackson's creative teams!
WW2 bomber's gun turret
Balloon busters
The Great Escape
The Great Escape room is inside the Aviation Hall and it tells stories about the Great Escape in 1944, during WW2, where 70 POWs broke through a tunnel that had taken 750 air service men a whole year to dig! The room is a realistic room where prisoners were kept and there's a secret passage that you have to find so you can get out of the room. Don't worry - it's easy and obvious!
There can be some bombs going off and shouting, so keep this in mind with little kids who scare easily, but it was fine for our girls who usually get scared with these things.
There can be some bombs going off and shouting, so keep this in mind with little kids who scare easily, but it was fine for our girls who usually get scared with these things.
Picturing Progress, Pondering Quality
The Horizon to Horizon gallery is where the rich history of New Zealand's military aviation comes alive through captivating stories, fascinating artifacts, nostalgic photographs and even lifelike dioramas that transport you back in time.
The gallery is a place which guides you through significant dates and milestones that shaped the course of New Zealand's aviation heritage. It's more than just a chronicle of events; it's a tribute to the people behind the planes ... the brave men and women who have played instrumental roles in shaping New Zealand's military aviation legacy, from the courage displayed during WW1 to the ongoing endeavors today.
There is a lot to see and read about in the gallery and it's pretty fascinating looking at old items that were used 'back in the days' and to see how far we have come with technology but at the same time, how backwards we have gone with the quality of a lot of things! We didn't spend too much time in the gallery as there was A LOT of info to take in and we would have needed to spend all day there to get through it all.
The gallery is a place which guides you through significant dates and milestones that shaped the course of New Zealand's aviation heritage. It's more than just a chronicle of events; it's a tribute to the people behind the planes ... the brave men and women who have played instrumental roles in shaping New Zealand's military aviation legacy, from the courage displayed during WW1 to the ongoing endeavors today.
There is a lot to see and read about in the gallery and it's pretty fascinating looking at old items that were used 'back in the days' and to see how far we have come with technology but at the same time, how backwards we have gone with the quality of a lot of things! We didn't spend too much time in the gallery as there was A LOT of info to take in and we would have needed to spend all day there to get through it all.
Finally, A Mosquito That Won't Bite You
Now for one of the best parts of the museum... the Mosquito Mission! This exhibition showcases the exploration of the de Havilland Mosquito aircraft, known as the Wooden Wonder, which played a significant role in WW2 and is a tribute to the bravery and skill of those who flew these remarkable aircrafts.
This is an interactive element, where you sit inside a simulated cockpit of a mosquito (the aircraft, not the annoying buzz buzz that annoys you at night) and have a go at killing all the enemies on the large screen in front of you by shooting at them in a combat operation. There was a lot of noise and we got respawned A LOT and we all had a lot of fun! Sienna had to sit on Lath's knee as she was too short to press the pedals, but she got to steer the aircraft which she loved.
You get to choose from two scenarios:
Amiens Prison – Fly through the French countryside to the enemy-held prison and blow a hole in the wall to allow members of the Resistance to escape. Based on the legendary Amiens Prison raid of 1944, this mission features terrain modelled exactly after the landscape surrounding Amiens.
Norwegian Fiords – Search for enemy battleships in the Norwegian fiords and destroy as many as you can before you run out of time. Test your flight skills and reaction time as the ships return fire.
The experience was $8 per go (you can also purchase a concession card for $30 which gives you 6 rides - basically buy 5 and get the 6th one free) and we got 2 tickets and each had a turn at the halfway point as it was 5-minutes long and 2.5 mins was plenty of time for each of us to have a turn. You can sit inside the cockpit without paying, if you just want to get a feel for the simulator, but nothing will happen so it's worth paying the $8 at the front desk to give it a go! There was probably a lot of information in the room about the history of the pilots who flew these aircraft, but we were excited to blow things up that we didn't take the time to look around.
On the same floor as the Mosquito Mission, is the Caldwell Gallery which showcases photographs, medals of service and has a full-scale replica Sopwith Pup biplane hanging in the middle of the room! The Gallery is named in honour of New Zealand's most famous WW1 airmen, Keith Caldwell, who was a skilled marksman that had at least 25 accredited victories.
This is an interactive element, where you sit inside a simulated cockpit of a mosquito (the aircraft, not the annoying buzz buzz that annoys you at night) and have a go at killing all the enemies on the large screen in front of you by shooting at them in a combat operation. There was a lot of noise and we got respawned A LOT and we all had a lot of fun! Sienna had to sit on Lath's knee as she was too short to press the pedals, but she got to steer the aircraft which she loved.
You get to choose from two scenarios:
Amiens Prison – Fly through the French countryside to the enemy-held prison and blow a hole in the wall to allow members of the Resistance to escape. Based on the legendary Amiens Prison raid of 1944, this mission features terrain modelled exactly after the landscape surrounding Amiens.
Norwegian Fiords – Search for enemy battleships in the Norwegian fiords and destroy as many as you can before you run out of time. Test your flight skills and reaction time as the ships return fire.
The experience was $8 per go (you can also purchase a concession card for $30 which gives you 6 rides - basically buy 5 and get the 6th one free) and we got 2 tickets and each had a turn at the halfway point as it was 5-minutes long and 2.5 mins was plenty of time for each of us to have a turn. You can sit inside the cockpit without paying, if you just want to get a feel for the simulator, but nothing will happen so it's worth paying the $8 at the front desk to give it a go! There was probably a lot of information in the room about the history of the pilots who flew these aircraft, but we were excited to blow things up that we didn't take the time to look around.
On the same floor as the Mosquito Mission, is the Caldwell Gallery which showcases photographs, medals of service and has a full-scale replica Sopwith Pup biplane hanging in the middle of the room! The Gallery is named in honour of New Zealand's most famous WW1 airmen, Keith Caldwell, who was a skilled marksman that had at least 25 accredited victories.
Know Before You Go
- The museum has a cafe with hot and cold drinks plus some tasty food to fill hungry tummies (we enjoyed the coffee)
- There is a $2 'press your own pennies' machine which is always a fun souvenir to keep!
- Entry is FREE but donations are always welcome
- Private tours are $2 per adult and kids are free. They run daily (but are subject to availability of the volunteers)
- The museum is wheelchair accessible
- Opening hours are 9:30am - 4:30pm daily (closed Christmas Day). Click here for updated hours and more info
- There is a gift shop with lots of cool aviation things to buy
Mappy McMap Face
How To Get To The Air Force Museum Of New Zealand
The Air Force Museum of New Zealand in Christchurch is located at 45 Harvard Avenue, Wigram, Christchurch 8042. It's 15-minutes west of Christchurch City Central and 13-minutes south of Christchurch International Airport and there is PLENTY of parking on site!
Conclusion
We highly recommend visiting the Airforce Museum of New Zealand in Christchurch. From navigating the vast Aircraft Hall to embarking on the adventurous Mosquito Mission, we were whisked away on a flight of education and entertainment and really enjoyed ourselves. The staff's knowledge and enthusiasm made us feel like aviation experts (well, at least in our minds) and who knew learning about planes could be so plane-tastically fun?
The guided tour was so incredibly cheap and well worth it, so if you have the time to go on one and want to see behind the scenes, ask at the front desk when the next tour is running.
Check out our what to do in Christchurch with kids blog for more awesome activities to do in the area (all tested by us ;) ).
The guided tour was so incredibly cheap and well worth it, so if you have the time to go on one and want to see behind the scenes, ask at the front desk when the next tour is running.
Check out our what to do in Christchurch with kids blog for more awesome activities to do in the area (all tested by us ;) ).
Gallery of the Air Force Museum Of New Zealand
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