New Zealand’s Auckland War Memorial Museum blew us away today. This is another magnificent museum with world-class collections. We’d allocated today as the day to return to the museum so we’d have more time, and were we glad we made that decision.
The Auckland War Memorial Museum has three floors of exhibits. On the ground floor there are exhibits about the Maori showing their history and migration. The story of this seafaring people, who formed small tribes and conducted all fighting in hand-to-hand combat is one that is similar throughout Asia and Polynesia.
On the first floor (which we’d call the second) there are art exhibits, a volcano exhibit, and much more. The second floor (which we would call the third) includes the war memorial. One of the amazing things—or rather, two of the amazing things—were the two complete planes inside the museum. There’s a Spitfire and a Japanese Zero. Our guide told us the Spitfire had been brought into the museum through the roof! I doubt it will be leaving anytime soon.
The trip back to the ship was a bit of a challenge because we decided to take Uber, but lost our Internet connection before we connected with the ride. We connected with another driver on the second attempt. I don’t recommend moving from the spot where you’ve got Internet connectivity when you’re trying to use Uber, the results are not good!
Want to follow along on our journey? Here’s a link where you can find all the entries in our travel journal.
Photos from Auckland’s War Memorial Museum
This is an example of a Maore double-hulled canoe
We think this towel animal is a sloth. At least Ariel like it!
This was part of the view of Auckland from our balcony.
The emblems around the edges of the stained glass signify the countries involved in the conflict. The center commemorates the New Zealand military branches.
Thousands of names are inscribed on the walls in this room.
This is a real airplane that they brought in through the roof.
This memorial serves to remind visitors of war's devastation.
The views from the museum are spectacular and fitting for the monument
New Zealand was once a land of birds and no mammals.
That is one big bird. The moa once flourished in New Zealand, but the Maori and other forces brought it to extinction.
The puka is the sticking out of the tongue - in times past, different expressions meant something - kind of like a separate language.
This canoe could carry about 100 warriors, most of whom were paddling.
If the canoe was to be used for transporting something other than warriors, the bow and rear could be replaced with something appropriate.