Plan your visit
Get directions, museum entry information, download the museum map, find out about our parking facilities, reserve a wheelchair, and more.
Tickets: International visitor museum entryTīkiti: Te kuhunga whare taonga mā ngā manuhiri o te ao
Welcome to Te Papa – Aotearoa New Zealand’s national museum.
Discover why we're rated #1 on TripAdvisor for attractions in Aotearoa New Zealand. Explore world-class exhibitions, Māori and Pacific taonga, our famous colossal squid, the national art collection, and the stories that shaped Aotearoa New Zealand – all on Wellington’s stunning waterfront.
International visitors
Entry to Te Papa is NZ$35 for international visitors aged 16 years and older. Your ticket is valid for 48 hours, so you can return the next day at no extra cost.
International visitors under 16 years of age enter free.
Museum entry tickets can be purchased at the ticket desk on Level 2 in the museum, or online.
Avoid the queue!
Buy your museum entry tickets online now and skip the queue, or book ahead for your preferred visit time.
What’s included in your ticket
Your NZ$35 entry includes access to our permanent exhibitions and galleries. Most visitors spend 2+ hours exploring our collections, and many stay longer. Special paid exhibitions and experiences, parking, guided tours, StoryPlace, and paid events require separate tickets.
Your ticket helps us care for over 2 million collection items and continue delivering the experiences that earn us a 98% visitor satisfaction rating.
New Zealanders or people living in Aotearoa New Zealand
Entry to the museum remains free for all New Zealanders and people living in Aotearoa New Zealand – as it always will be. This includes visitors from Niue, Cook Islands, Tokelau, and New Zealanders living overseas. It also includes those living in Aotearoa New Zealand on a visa that allows you to study, work, or live in New Zealand.
Charges will still apply to paid exhibitions and experiences.
FAQs
Who will be charged?
I live in New Zealand on a visa, do I need to pay?
Will my family visiting from overseas need to pay?
I am visiting from Tokelau/the Cook Islands/Niue, do I need to pay?
What about New Zealanders who live overseas?
How will you decide who is an international visitor and who is a New Zealander?
Do I need to show someone my ticket?
What do I need to bring to prove I live in New Zealand?
Are paid exhibitions included in museum entry?
Can I get a refund?
Do Te Papa Guided Tours include entry to the museum for international visitors?
How long is my ticket valid for? Can I leave the museum and come back in?
Where does the money go? What does it contribute to?
I'm an international visitor that requires a companion to support me on my museum visit, do they also have to pay?
Do you accept ICOM cards?
If you would like to donate to a campaign or make a one-off contribution of any amount, visit our Make a donation page. Every dollar donated helps fund Te Papa’s core work of telling the stories of Aotearoa New Zealand, and caring for and providing access to the taonga and collections.
Further information
Read the museum entry ticket terms and conditions.
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Guided tours
Get even more out of your visit to Te Papa by letting our guides bring the stories of Aotearoa New Zealand’s people and landscapes to life.
What to expect at Te Papa – in NZSL
Here’s what you need to know before you visit us – from opening hours to car parking.