Taranaki single collections, unusual objects
Taranaki is home to a collection devoted to single toy manufacturers, agricultural machinery for jobs you didn’t even know existed, stuffed horses and ELVIS. Taranaki rocks to the beat in Hawera. Quirky stories and hidden gems found in small towns are part of our KIWI TOWNS series. Often the towns are on one of our road trips creating a one of a kind holiday experience.
FUN HO! TOY MUSEUM – INGLEWOOD
From foundry furnace to Fun Ho! sandpit, slot cars, intriguing displays, over 3,000 Fun Ho! toys are displayed. and hay barn style theatrette, Fun Ho! is a genuine Kiwi Icon and the Fun Ho! The National Toy Museum is an experience not to be missed.’ The collection can be purchased online yet there is nothing like touching and feeling the shape of your newly acquired toy.
TARANAKI AVIATION TRANSPORT AND TECHNOLOGY MUSEUM – INGLEWOOD
Hands on and interactive with kids encouraged to push buttons and turn switches on.
- Operate a telephone exchange and manually transfer calls
- Experience early radio and recording techniques
- Follow the evolution of computers and communications technologies
- Play cashiers with vacuum and wire monetary transfers across the museum
The roadside museum has farm equipment to massive industrial equipment in full working order.
MIKES MUSEUM – ELTHAM
Pease Building is the home of an interesting collection of everything. Farming equipment, chainsaws, World War II memorabilia, searchlights and more, lots more. Mike’s Museum is a childhood wonder with things that tick, click and tock together. A collection that reflects the owner, an oddity or perhaps better described as fascinating. The move from Mike’s Okoki farm.
Check out Mike’s details on his facebook page for up to date information, Mike Coil’s Eltham Taranaki museum. Full… – The Shed Magazine.
HAZLEWOOD’S HORSE MUSEUM – KAPONGA
Kaponga is approximately 10 minutes from Eltham. Shirley Hazlewood opened the Hazlewood Horse Ornament Collection at her home in Kaponga. Horses on ornaments, pictures, puzzles, scarfs, cups and saucers, vases and there are even several stuffed animals. There are approximately 1800 ornaments in Shirley’s home. The home is open to tour parties and the public upon request. Check beforehand to avoid disappointment. Hazlewoods Horse Ornament Museums 2 Dawson Street, Kaponga,Taranaki. Tel: 06-764 6476.
TAWHITI MUSEUM – STORY OF TARANAKI
The Tawhiti Museum is a truly unique enterprise. The creation of artist Nigel Ogle, where the passion to create displays narrating the story of Taranaki are wrought in life size exhibits and scale models. The displays and models are built on the premises with visitors encouraged to pop into the Body Shop to view the process. A bonus is the extensive collection of farm equipment and logging memorabilia situated outside. There is an outside Bush Railway from the region’s logging past that runs through the bush on repurposed tracks.
K.D’S ELVIS PRESLEY MUSEUM – HAWERA
Pop on your blue suede shoes and rock to the beat. For something special check out K.D’s Elvis Presley Museum. This private collection owned by Kevin D Wasley displays Elvis Presley memorabilia collected since 1959. The devotion to the classic rock star is pliable and you can’t help but be impressed with the level of research and sheer effect to add to the extensive collection.
Entry is by appointment and donation.
MUSEUM OF SOUTH TARANAKI AOTEA UTANGANUI
A world class museum is a brilliant custodian of the stories of the district and an ambassador for past narratives. The glorious identity as a museum in Aotearoa NZ is an excellent example of the care and attention to detail. Dairying is integral to the New Zealand economy, “From its pioneering beginnings to its domination on the world-stage; this exhibition showcases items from our collections and the unique stories behind them.
ODDBALL WALLS AND FENCES – TARANAKI
Oddities, quirky collectables turned into visual displays
- Toy Wall in Eltham with toys cemented into the ‘wall of toys’
- KRAFTY CUPS HOUSE OF CUPS. Rahotu is festooned with coffee cups. Jan’s collection now graces the fence, the trees and garage. Thousands of them created a sightseeing attraction in the small town.
Part of the series of oddities, collections…
Northland quirky cool collections, oddities, museums places to go
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Waikato quirky cool collections, oddities, museums places to go
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