Te Hikoi Museum and Information Centre is a must-visit attraction located in the beautiful Riverton (Aparima) on the South Coast of New Zealand.
The museum is situated on the Southern Scenic Route, making it an ideal stop for tourists exploring the area. The museum is open seven days a week, from 10 am to 5 pm during the Labour weekend to Easter weekend, and from 10 am to 4 pm after Easter to before Labour weekend.
Te Hikoi Museum offers a range of services, including a gift store, historic research services, and a movie theatre that can be hired for events. The museum also offers guided tours in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, and Te Reo Maori. The museum's admission fee is $9.00 for adults, which includes an audio self-guided tour. Additional charges apply for guided tours. Children aged 14 and under can enter for free, and group discounts are available. Southland District Ratepayers and Library Card Holders can enter for free when they bring a paying visitor with them.
Te Hikoi Museum provides an immersive look at New Zealand's south coast, where a rich bi-cultural narrative pre-dates Riverton's 1836 establishment. The museum's interactive displays offer visitors a glimpse into the area's history and past way of life. The museum's exhibits include life-like scenes, complete with full-size models, depicting both early Maori and Pakeha activities in Southland. Visitors can also learn about the area's geologic history, which stretches much further back in time, and how it has influenced the landscape. The museum does an excellent job of marrying anthropological research to the geologic context of the area, with simple language and helpful graphics explaining why the landscape looks the way it does.
In summary, Te Hikoi Museum and Information Centre is an engaging and interactive museum that offers visitors a glimpse into the history and landscape of Southland and greater New Zealand. With its range of services, guided tours, and immersive exhibits, it is a must-visit attraction for tourists exploring the Southern Scenic Route.