MOTAT

The Museum of Transport and Technology opened in 1964 on the site of Auckland's original pumping station, and grew out of a volunteer preservation movement rather than a government plan - which is why so much of the collection is working rather than static. The main site holds the pumphouse, a recreated colonial village, printing and engineering machinery, a rail yard and rotating technology exhibitions. The second site, Aviation Hall at Motions Road, holds the aircraft collection, including a Solent flying boat, a Lancaster bomber and a rare Short Sunderland. The two are about a kilometre apart and a restored electric tram runs between them along a dedicated line - the tram is included in the ticket and is a legitimate part of the visit. Much of the appeal depends on catching things in operation, and the operating schedule varies by day, so check what is running before you go.

History

MOTAT grew out of the Old Time Transport Preservation League, formed in 1957 by the tram enthusiast Graham Stewart and Merv Sterling to save one of Auckland's last trams. The museum was founded at a meeting on 6 July 1960 chaired by the mayor, Dove-Myer Robinson, the city gave it land at Western Springs in 1963, and it formally opened in 1964 (Wikipedia, Museum of Transport and Technology).

What you'll find

• The aviation hall - Solent flying boat, Lancaster, Short Sunderland.
• The working tram - restored electric tram linking the two sites.
• The pumphouse - the Victorian waterworks the museum began around.
• The colonial village - recreated streets and working trades.

When to go

Any season; mostly indoors. Weekends have more exhibits running. Check the operating schedule - the tram and machinery do not all run every day.

Practical notes

Two sites, so allow travel between them. Presentation is uneven - some halls are modern, others feel like a volunteer collection, which is what it partly is. Not everything runs on quiet weekdays.

Nearby

Auckland Zoo and Western Springs park are next door.

Key facts