Museum of Transport and Technology

MOTAT, the Museum of Transport and Technology at Western Springs, is New Zealand's largest transport museum: more than 300,000 objects across two sites linked by the museum's own heritage tramway, ten minutes from central Auckland.

For motoring visitors the anchor is Whakahohoro Accelerate: Driving New Zealand, a permanent gallery rotating more than 100 cars, trucks and motorcycles from the collection. Standouts have included the Cooper Climax raced by Bruce McLaren and Phil Hill, the New Zealand built Trekka, and the Massey Ferguson tractor Sir Edmund Hillary drove to the South Pole. Heritage trams, including an 1891 Baldwin steam tram now running on biofuel, rattle past the zoo to the 3,300 square metre Aviation Display Hall on Motions Road.

The award winning Te Puawananga science and technology centre (opened 2024) and hands on galleries make it a genuine family day rather than a static museum, and the whole site rewards half a day.

Two sites, one tram, half a day minimum; wear comfortable shoes and check the tram timetable.

Look out for:

• The Accelerate gallery: 100 plus rotating vehicles telling New Zealand's road story.

• The Cooper Climax with Bruce McLaren and Phil Hill history, when on the floor.

• The Trekka, New Zealand's only home grown production vehicle, and Hillary's Antarctic Massey Ferguson.

• The heritage tram ride between sites, free with entry.

• The Aviation Display Hall's aircraft on Motions Road.

• Te Puawananga science and technology centre for the kids.

Best way to experience it: start at Great North Road, tram to the aviation hall after lunch, and check what is running; some trams and demonstrations operate on scheduled days only.

• Open daily 10am to 4pm; check the site for maintenance closures and tram timetables.

• Entry NZ$19 adult, NZ$10 child 5 to 15 and NZ students (under 5 free), NZ$45 family; SuperGold card holders free, AA members 20 percent off.

• Two sites: 805 Great North Road (main) and 98 Motions Road (aviation), linked by the heritage tram.

• Parts of the site are outdoors on uneven ground; dress for Auckland weather.

• Ten minutes from the CBD via the North Western Motorway, St Lukes exit; buses serve the main entrance.

Last updated: 3 September 2026