Out of New Zealand’s diverse range of museums and war memorials, one of the most significant ones definitely would be the Auckland War Memorial Museum. Resting atop the remains of a dormant volcano in the Auckland Domain, this gargantuan white building, in all its neo-classicist splendour, greets all those that enter it.

Home to a diverse collection of Maori and Pacific Island artefacts, most notably the Hotonui (a late 19th century carved meeting house) and Te Toki a Tapiri (an early 19th century war canoe), and also containing over 1.5 million specimens from a wide variety of natural history fields, this museum truly aims to educate and impress. The main event of this incredible place would be the detailed permanent exhibition showcasing the wars within New Zealand as well as the role of New Zealand in the many international conflicts that have occurred over the years. This exhibition is linked to the sombre war memorial encompassing the Cenotaph and the Court of Honour, to remember those that gave their lives in the first two World Wars.

On top of all this, this museum still doesn’t cease to amaze! It also holds special temporary exhibits - some of the most famed being the Da Vinci and Viking exhibits. This museum is truly a place of wonder, with something absolutely incredible just around each corner. With more than enough to keep you in a state of awe, spend a few hours opening your mind to worlds beyond your own.