Skip the Line:WWI & WWII Combo Exhibitions at the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre

Overview

Available languages

English

1 hour 30 minutes

Mobile ticket

The Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre presents two world-class exhibitions. The first is the original ‘Knights of the Sky’ exhibition, featuring film director, Sir Peter Jackson's own collection of WWI aircraft and artifacts. The story of aviation in the Great War is brought to life in sensational sets created by the internationally acclaimed talent of WingNut Films and Wētā Workshop.

The second is the new exhibition ‘Dangerous Skies’ features stories from World War II. These are tales of daring, valour and tragedy stretching from the British Isles to the forests of Germany, an embattled but courageous Russia and the steaming hot jungles of the South Pacific. Two of the star attractions are an original DeHavilland Mosquito, fondly known as the "Wooden Wonder" and a Griffon powered Mk.XIVe Spitfire. Women also feature more prominently in this exhibition and the Battle of Stalingrad is the stage for an immersive experience that is both entertaining and chillingly thought provoking.

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Service animals allowed

Specialized infant seats are available

All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Coffee, light refreshments and souvenirs available for purchase

All guests must be well and are required to sign in for contact tracing purposes.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What To Expect

Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre

The museum is open 7 days throughout the year with the exception of Christmas Day. Currently we are open from 10am and closing at 4pm. We recommend that you allow a minimum of 90-minutes to visit both exhibitions. In December 2006 the opening exhibition, Knights of the Sky was ground breaking, not just in terms of the historical importance, rarity and scale of the collection but in the innovative way it was presented. The generosity of film director Sir Peter Jackson, the owner of the collection, was integral in bringing the exhibition to life in a series of dioramas utilizing the formidable creative talents of WingNut Films and enhanced by mannequins by Weta Workshop. In 2016, Dangerous Skies a second exhibition was opened. Utilizing the talents of both homegrown and internationally based experts the resulting displays have evolved yet again. Omaka, is a world-class destination for the appreciation of historic aircraft and the magnificent men and women who flew and created them.

Admission Included

What‘s Included

GST (Goods and Services Tax)

Transportation to/from attractions

Guided commentary unless requested.

Food and drink.

Meeting points

Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre

14 Rosina Corlett Lane, Via Aerodrome Road Blenheim New Zealand

End points

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Options

Self-Guided Combo Entry Only

Includes entry to both the Knights of the Sky & Dangerous Skies Exhibitions.

Reviews

4.90

86 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

So Much More than Just an Exhibition
CWW190763,,Dec 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Heard about the Omaka Centre by chance from someone we we were talking to in Napier, and seeing how close the Centre was when we flew in to Blenheim, decided to visit. Both the WWI and WW2 exhibitions are impressive, but Sir Peter Jackson's WW1 collection is particularly engaging - the way the aircraft are displayed and the models used really bring the history to life. Very engaging and well worth a visit, even for a non-aviation fanatic like me - would definitely recommend.
Omaka for great WW1 and WW2 aircraft displays
John Y,,Dec 13, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
For aviation enthusiasts Omaka is a must visit.Fantastic displays of WW1 and WW2 aircraft. Peter Jackson has contributed to this display to add context and reality. Great value go to both displays.
History
stevensS4003UM,,Nov 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Both exhibitions were fantastic. The way it was laid out, it was easy to follow the different historical events. The prop displays were spectacular. There were bike groups that stopped by so you could mix exercise and a walk back in time together. Highly recommend visiting
Outstanding
dales786,,Nov 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Sir Peter Jackson’s WW1 collection is incredible with respect to diverse types AND many are flyable. Go past the radial engine Fokker Triplanes (nice replicas for air shows) and see some originals. The WW2 collection is sparse but contains many flyable examples. The full-scale dioramas are impressive. We did not see the automobile collection – heard it is excellent too.
What a great way to bring historic aviation to life!
277sandror,,Nov 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Ok, I'm a modeler and a history buff, so I could focus one the few bad pieces and incorrectly identified items that are mixd in with the good ones. But why would I if there is so much to enjoy here. What a truly great way to tell the story of 1908-1945 aviation and make it accessible to and bring it to life for a broad audience! Well done! The live-sized diorama's breathe life into a broad range of WWI and WWII aviation topics; there are many rare and exceptionally restored aircraft on display; and the personal items on display add a personal aspect to the exhibition that might otherwise be missing. Personally, I would have avoided displaying Gode (repro)awards on the von Eberhard tunic, especially since his actual awards were recently sold at auction; and would have handled some of the attributions and identification of specific individual items more carefully - but those are details, that do not distract from the presentation as a whole, or from the great effort the museum makes to bring history to life. Well done, and well worth a visit!
One not to miss. Omaka is worth the visit.
Melissa M,,Sep 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This place is outstanding. Words don't give it enough credit. We came to Blenheim just for this museum.Make sure to have a good couple of hours.
Even better second time around!
Barry T,,Sep 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
My son and I visited maybe 5 years ago and revisiting was as exciting and mesmerising as the first visit.All the displays had two informative boards, one telling the story of the time and general background while other outlined the history of the actual aircraft itself.
Fascinating and brilliantly curated
Lynn S,,Aug 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Both WW1 and WW2 exhibitions were exceptional. All the stories about the people who had flown during those wars really brought the exhibits alive , together with the incredible scenes the aircraft have been set in. We were there 4.5 hours in total - including time for tea and delicious cakes in the cafe between the two exhibitions.Even though there were no official tours on the day we visited the volunteers in both exhibitions were really friendly and informative. A great day out.
Fantastic place for Aviation buffs
GarthJ J,,May 20, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Great place for Aviation history enthusiasts. The WW1 displays are a credit to Weta workshops. The collection of rare planes ws a treat indeed. The WW2 displays were great as well, especially as I have seen most of these flying at some stage. It was fantastic to get up close and personal to some of my favourite aircraft.
A very special place full of history and magnificent displays. Make sure to visit!
Paradise16401295283,,May 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We visited the Heritage Centre by chance as we were already staying in Renwick and a friend had suggested we might check it out before leaving the area. It turned out to be one of the best exhibitions we saw during our time in NZ and we're so, so glad we visited. It was a beautiful day, so we watched the planes take off and land before heading inside the WWI museum. That was already a spectacle to see! The Peter Jackson dioramas of aircraft and mannequins in the museum were incredible and the volunteer working that day (we believe his name was Chris/Kris) couldn't have been kinder or more generous with his time. A big thank you to him for making our visit extra special. The WWII exhibition was equally enthralling. We thoroughly enjoyed our few hours at the centre and would encourage anyone to visit. A special place whether you're keen on WW history and aviation, or not.