Hawera & Tawhiti Museum

Welcome Back! 

This post will be very short, as I mostly spent my time in Hawera lying in bed and watching series. However, I also had really bad weather and therefore couldn't do much outside. 

Nonetheless, I got the tip for the Tawhiti Museum from the lady at the information center. This museum was built by a private individual in all its glory and reflects the history of the Maori in this region. The museum is a truly unique place where the collector's enthusiasm of a New Zealander has taken hold, displaying an incredible number of items related to farm work. However, this New Zealander does not only love his tractors; he also has a special talent for wax figures and life-sized dolls. The largest 'attraction' in the museum is a boat ride through the history of the region with many battles and stories. Anyone who has ever been to Europa-Park would feel like they are in a much cheaper replica of a ride titled: The Maori in New Zealand. 

I enjoyed the atmosphere and the demeanor of all the staff, and it was a charming visit. Additionally, almost all the employees were retirees, and the effort put into the details and the buildings is truly astonishing. 

After the museum, I had some tea and then drove back to the campsite and watched a few more movies. 

The next day, with better weather, I finally headed towards Mount Taranaki and went on a few larger hikes. I was really looking forward to this, as my hiking urge was slowly returning. 

More about this in the next post. 

Your Britta