Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities
Christchurch
Part of the University of Canterbury, this petite, well-designed museum has an interesting collection of Greek, Roman and Egyptian antiquities.
Must-see attractions in New Zealand
Havelock
Inhabiting an old Methodist church, this cute, locally focused museum presents old colonial tales in a contemporary, easily digestible style.
Auckland
A great vantage point for gazing over Auckland Harbour and the Hauraki Gulf. Traditional Māori carvings honour important historical chiefs.
Fiordland & Southland
A former Māori whaling lookout, this grassy islet lies just metres off shore and is accessible at low tide. It's 4km southeast of Orepuki.
North Auckland
The Couldrey family were the original colonial settlers of the Wenderholm area, and their farmhouse dating from the 1860s is now a museum.
Dunedin & Otago
This small park offers a nice view over Ōamaru, with the ocean to the east and the snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps to the west.
Waiheke Island
This interesting little gallery showcases the work of local artists. It's worth dropping by just to scour the gift shop for treasures.
Banks Peninsula
Akaroa's Catholic church (1863) is a cute, frilly edged old dear, featuring richly coloured stained glass imported from Stuttgart.
Coromandel Peninsula
This small museum has a grand selection of Royal Albert porcelain and other pioneer and Māori artefacts – look in the drawers.
Napier
A 1936 art-deco fountain named after a local gentlemen's outfitter of the day. Best viewed at night when it's flamboyantly lit.
Banks Peninsula
Erected in 1858 near Daly's Wharf, this diminutive historic building helped to control the smuggling of alcohol into the town.
Parnell & Newmarket
Built in 1864 for a clergyman, this storybook cottage is an exceptionally well-preserved example of an early colonial house.
Nelson Region
Housed in an attractive 1913-built school building, this museum has a tiny but interesting collection of regional artefacts.
Taranaki & Whanganui
An archaeological site just off the Whanganui River Rd: what was once the centre of somewhere is now the middle of nowhere.
Coromandel Peninsula
A small but interesting museum focusing on local history – especially Whitianga’s most famous visitors, Kupe and Cook.
New Plymouth
Atop Marsland Hill (great views!) is this wee observatory, with one of the most powerful public-access telescopes in NZ.
Dunedin
Completed in 1886, Dunedin's bluestone Gothic-revival Catholic cathedral sits halfway up the hill above the town centre.
Bay of Islands
What it lacks in height this attractive waterfall makes up for in breadth. It's accessed from the Kerikeri River Track.
Waiheke Island
This hilltop tasting room showcases some of Waiheke's finest olive oils and also sells other artisan food products.
Gisborne
One of Gisborne's gaggle of Captain Cook commemorations, part of which is a globe etched with his roaming routes.
Ponsonby & Karangahape Rd
This reproduction of Michelangelo's Moses was made from marble from the same quarry as the original.
Bay of Plenty
On a hilltop behind town, this observatory offers abundant Bay of Plenty star-spotting when the sky is clear.
Parnell & Newmarket
Tiny St Stephen's Chapel was built for the signing of the constitution of NZ's Anglican Church (1857).
Fiordland & Southland
Get a selfie in this wacky collections of teapots and statuettes arranged in Graham Renwick's garden.
North Auckland
Ten hectares of native bush with labelled trees, a pā site, a lookout and easy short walks.
Gisborne
Built in 1934, this art-deco clock tower is the undisputed highlight of Gisborne's main street.
North Auckland
Tells the story of the hardship and perseverance of the original Bohemian pioneers.
Napier
Napier's closest swim spot (the main beach in front of the town centre isn't safe).
Parnell & Newmarket
A marvellous Carpenter Gothic house (1862), sitting amid lush, landscaped grounds.
Fiordland & Southland
This wooden church has perched on a knoll overlooking the bay since 1904.
Waikato & the Coromandel Peninsula
The 7m-high, 7.5-tonne Big Shearer statue is at the southern end of town.
Waiheke Island
'Waiheke's most awarded winery' serves excellent pizza among the vines.
Waiheke Museum & Historic Village
Waiheke Island
Displays islander artefacts in six restored buildings.
Tauranga
Located on a nondescript suburban street, this marae (traditional meeting place) has a sensationally carved wharenui (meeting house). This is the private…
Waiheke Island
At the eastern end of the island, privately owned Stony Batter has WWII tunnels and gun emplacements that were built in 1941 to defend Auckland’s harbour…
