If you’re planning your day out in Katikati, the Western Bay Museum has made your visit easier by offering Guided Tours at specific times, four times a week.
“The best way to experience the museum and to unlock the stories of our past is throughan experienced tour guide,” says Paula Gaelic, Museum Manager. “With more people travelling domestically and stopping at Katikati to experience all thatwe offer, we realised offering guided tours at specific times could help visitors get the most from their visit and enable them to plan their day.”
The Museum’s Tour Guides are knowledgeable local volunteers with a passion for the town, the museum and its rich history.
Tours are brief and informative – just 20 minutes long with the opportunity for visitors to stay longer and explore areas of interest or to ask the guide more, or to relax in the reflection area and listen to iconic songs from New Zealand’s past.
Included in the tour is the fascinating story of George Vesey Stewart, Founder of the Ulster Plantation settlements of Katikati and Te Puke and the background behind Samuel Middlebrook’s collection of Maori artefacts. Guides give an insight into the latest exhibition Music Music Music and the stories behind our first international singing stars and their songs.
Visitors have the opportunity to step back in time with a 1900s School Room and enjoy the ‘hands-on’ Technology Collection with a working telephone exchange and morse code machine. Outside, looking out over the Uretara Stream, visitors can explore a Maori Medicinal Garden (Te Rongoa) a traditional pioneers herb garden and the original jail/lockup from 1880.
Western Bay Museum is highly rated by visitors of all ages and ranked in the top five things to do in Katikati by Trip Advisor. The only museum in the Western Bay of Plenty, it’s bright and modern and well regarded for high quality exhibitions.
Tour times are Mondays 11am, Wednesdays 2pm, Thursdays 11am,Saturdays 12 noon. No booking required. Western Bay Museum is open Monday-Friday 10am-4pm, Saturday-Sunday 11am-3pm. Phone 07 549 0651.
Adults $5, Gold Card $4 - Western Bay residents and ratepayers free entry and tour.
