Wellington Museum

Housed in an elegant 1892 Victorian bond store on the waterfront, this social-history museum tells the story of Wellington and its harbour through interactive galleries, maritime artefacts and personal accounts. Exhibits cover the 1968 Wahine ferry disaster, Maori legends of the region, and the everyday life of the port city. The heritage building itself, once used to store imported goods, is a highlight, with its timber floors and harbourside setting. The museum is free to enter and sits within the busy Queens Wharf precinct.