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There are four Museums in the Banks Peninsula district. These are located at Akaroa, Lyttelton, Magazine Bay, and Okains Bay.
The Council funds the Akaroa Museum and supports the Lyttelton Museum by a rates remission, a cash grant as well as building and insurance maintenance. Support is given to the Okains Bay Museum Trust Board by way of a rates remission and cash grant.
Akaroa Museum
This museum reflects the varied and colourful history of Akaroa, Banks Peninsula and New Zealand.
The museum includes three historic buildings, two of which the Langlois-Eteveneaux House and the Court House are incorporated into the museum complex. The third historic building is the Custom House (1852) situated within walking distance of the Museum.
Contact Details
- Phone: (03) 304 1013
- Fax: (03) 304 1013
- Email: akaroa.museum@ccc.govt.nz
- Post: P.O. Box 35, Akaroa 8161
- Address: Cnr Rue Lavaud and Rue Balguerie, Akaroa
Opening hours
- Summer (From Labour Weekend): 10.30am - 4.30pm
- Winter (From Easter Weekend): 10.30am - 4.30pm
Admission
- Adult: $3.50
- Child (16 and under): $1.00
- Family (Max 2 adults and four children): $8.00
- Students (Over 16): $3.00
- Senior citizens (65 and Over): $3.00
- School groups per head: $1.00
- Family history enquiries: $5.00
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Lyttelton Historical Museum
This museum features the many aspects associated with Lyttelton history. It includes colonial, maritime and Antarctic relics, photos and models.
- Phone: (03) 328 8972
- Address: Gladstone Quay, Lyttelton
Opening hours
- Summer: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday 2-4pm
- Winter (June-August): Saturday, Sunday 2-4pm
- Admission: Free, donations appreciated
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The Thornycroft Torpedo Boat Museum
 Housed in the category 1 powder magazine building (1874) at Magazine Bay, Lyttelton, this museum primarily exhibits the remains of Thornycroft Torpedo Boat No. 168.
A 36 minute documentary film is shown on request.
 The film sets out the political context of the Russian scare as it affected New Zealand and Australia and relates the history of torpedo boats in general with specific regard to No.168. It displays historic photographs of the vessel, her crews, exercises and shows graphics of how the spar operated. The 1999 recovery of the Torpedo boat and its subsequent restoration as well as the general history of Magazine Bay as a military reserve are also covered.
As well as the partly re-constructed bow and stern of the Lyttelton torpedo boat, the museum features a scale model of the vessel and an example of the steam engine that once powered it; in pristine working order obtained from one of its long scrapped sister ships.
| Click on pictures to view enlargements. |
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| Bow section |
Bow view |
Stern section |
Thornycroft Torpedo Boat No.168 - A brief History
One of four Torpedo boats purchased by the NZ Government in 1883 in response to the possibility of an invasion by Russian forces.
| 1883 |
Built in Chiswick, London by John I Thornycroft & Co |
| 1884 |
Commissioned at Lyttelton. |
| 1899 |
Decommissioned and sold. |
| 1900 |
Towed to Purau. |
| 1909 |
Pulled into sandhills by Mount Herbert County Council traction engine and broken in two. |
| 1958 |
Remains Buried. |
| 1999 |
Excavated and remains conserved for display. |
Particulars of No 168 -Thornycroft Spar Torpedo Boat
| Length |
63' |
| Beam |
7'6" |
| Draught |
3'4" |
| Crew |
5 |
| Armaments |
30' Spar torpedo
35lbs gun cotton charge |
| Hull |
Constructed of 1/16inch galvanised high tensile steel. |
| Powered By |
Coal fired steam engine giving a maximum speed of 17.5 knots; 650rpm |
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All Dimensions are in Feet / Inches |
Magazine Bay is situated within a former 5 acre Military Reserve, which was gazetted in 1885 at the time of Russian expansionist threats in the Pacific. The torpedo boat formed part of the coastal defence system for Lyttelton Harbour which included strategically placed gun batteries.
 A gun was established on the headland above the magazine building. A slipway and shed for the torpedo boat was built in the bay and also caretaker's and gunner's cottages. The reserve reverted to local Council control in 1984. Interpretative signs are provided.
The sandy beach and reserve are popular places for swimming and picnics in summer and the area has good all season walking tracks.
View the Museum Location Map [PDF - 28KB].
Opening hours
- Summer: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday 1pm - 3pm
- Winter: Saturday Sunday 1 - 3pm
Admission
- Adult: $2.00
- Child: $0.50c
Group Tours: - by arrangement, refer to the Lyttelton Information Centre (below)
Contact Details
Lyttelton Information Centre
20 Oxford Street
Lyttelton 8082
Phone: 328 9093
Email: lyttinfo@ihug.co.nz
Open 9am-5pm daily
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 The Okains Bay Maori and Colonial Museum
The Okains Bay Maori and Colonial Museum offers visitors a wonderful look at the life and material culture of the Maori people as well as beautifully preserved examples of early Colonial Life in New Zealand.
The collection includes over 20,000 Maori and European artifacts. There are also cottages, stables, a print shop, a blacksmith shop, stationary engines and a saddlery. Two Maori Waka are used for Waitangi Day Celebrations each year, one of which dates to 1867.
The Museum has recently acquired the Akaroa Grandstand which has been completely reconstructed on site. Most of the carving on the magnificent Meeting House were done by John Rua, a well-known New Zealand master carver, all traditions and tapu were observed. There are also 11 small wooden boats including some dating from the late 1800s, such as Whalers, rowing quads and Clinker Builts. These boats are currently undergoing major conservation and restoration work.
Contact Details
- Phone: (03) 304 8611
- Email: Okains.Museum@xtra.co.nz
- Post: P.O. Box 35, Akaroa 8161
- Address: Main Road, Okains Bay, Banks Peninsula
Opening hours
- Open Daily 10am-5pm (except Christmas day)
Admission
- Adult: $5.00
- Child: $1.00
Facilities
- Wheelchair access cafe - guided tours gift shop membership subscriptions - parking
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