What‘s Included

What To Expect

Reviews

• You have to go to Omaka.

  Melissa M,

  Sep 24, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  We drove from Christchurch to Blenheim just to visit Omaka and we were not disappointed. The exhibits are brilliant and it is easy to see how passionate the museum is about their pieces. The design of the displays are first class and it was wonderful talking to the volunteers. Stay a while, see both WWI and WWII.

  

  

  

• This is a definite MUST DO when you are visiting South Island.

  Melissa M,

  Sep 24, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  We travelled to South Island and drove from Christchurch to Blenheim, specifically to visit Omaka. Boy were we excited. The exhibits are incredible. So much thought has been put into each display and plenty of information. See both WWI and WWII exhibits including staying for the short film which is so cleverly made. Great location, excellent for all ages. It also has a lovely cafe so you can stop for a coffee.

  

  

  

• A must Do

  debbietF837DU,

  Sep 13, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  The tour we did was just the shed for WWI as we didn't have time for the two sheds. It was a great exhibition the planes were amazing. The mannequins looked so real, they had the displays done so well that you thought it was real. Every detail to make you feel you were there was done, the snow and mud displays were so well done with the footprints in the mud and snow. Everyone was so friendly, the real people!!!.

• well worth visiting

  majnz,

  Mar 11, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  2nd time to visit for me, and the first time for my partner, who’s not in to “war stuff”, and we ended up spending well over an hour and half wandering around the excellent exhibits. As she said, 'the dioramas are so life like’. The information is concise and interesting; although please clean the screens as it’s hard sometimes to read what’s written under subdued lighting. At $30 per exhibition/per person it’s heading up there cost wise, but in all honesty, worth it. If you can grab a guide to accompany you.

• Outstanding museums allow plenty of time

  jennycP3959LV,

  Mar 2, 2024

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  One of the best museum experiences we have ever had. Informative, realistic. Incredible wealth of material and jam packed with human history to bring it all to life.

• Outstanding Museum a must for aviation enthusiasts

  776teda,

  Apr 14, 2023

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  Awesome museum with beautiful restored aircraft and displays. The scene is movie set worthy and you feel like you are on the ground in the Great War.

  

  

  

• Outstanding Exhibition

  trophywest,

  Feb 17, 2023

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  The museum features vintage WWI and WWII aircraft as well as many displays of the different "aces" during those conflicts. They just had time to see the WWI side, but wished we could have seen the other as well. The displays were very well done, including the downing of the Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen, who had 80 "kills". They were proud to note that it was an Australian machine gunner that brought him down. The first man to use a parachute was a New Zealander. The Kiwis and Aussies were used as cannon fodder by the Brits as 67% of New Zealander's and 61% of Australians who fought in WWI were killed. They also had a wonderful display of America's ace, Eddie Rickenbacker (26 kills), that the Smithsonian would covet.

  

• Amazing find in a small New Zealand town.

  David W,

  Feb 9, 2023

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  I visited the museum during a cruise around New Zealand on Princess cruises with my family, all of whom are keen on aviation. As Blenheim is a small town on the north of the South Island we weren't expecting the visit to be very exciting but we were so wrong. Sir Peter Jackson, the film director, established the museum and all the many, many exhibits using his own money. On display were authentic World War 1 aircraft, artefacts, documents, medals etc. which Sir Peter had acquired over the years. One German visitor was heard to remark that the extent of all the exhibits from Germany was unlike anything that he had ever seen in his home country and which included photos and letters from the famous 'Red Baron'. We were well and truly blown away with the exhibits and could have spent much, much longer there and we will most certainly return without the time restraints imposed by the cruise company. There is a combined coffee and souvenir shop with excellent coffee and snacks and some unique souvenirs for sale. If you are in this part of New Zealand I highly recommend a visit, even if you are not particularly keen on aviation as the background history of the conflict is well explained by the guides and the exhibits are beautifully presented.

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

• Worth a Visit

  Karen F,

  Jan 17, 2023

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  We did a double deal where we saw The Heritage Centre and then the other smaller exhibit. At $39 each for the adults, I thought it was good value. We stayed about 2 1/2 hours. It had been at least ten years since we had been here to the aviation centre. How it has changed. Now they offer flights in planes as well. (Maybe they did then, but I wasn't aware of it). The models and displays are amazing and I can appreciate the time and effort gone into making the details correct. Guides around the displays were knowledgeable, passionate about their job, and with a sense of humour. The shop had lots to offer and supported the RSA. The cafe had lovely coffee. We are lucky to be able to visit such a place and be educated.

• World class museum display

  JonBrownNZ,

  Jan 2, 2023

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  This exhibition was world class, large collection of planes displayed in dramatic ww1 scenes. Highly recommend

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