One of New Zealand's great regional museums, set in a Victorian Gothic building at the edge of the university. The natural history collection is exceptional — moa bones and eggs, marine specimens, insects, and geological material from the Otago and Southland regions. The Pacific cultures galleries are among the best outside Auckland, with Maori and Pacific material spanning centuries.
The Discovery World Tropical Forest, a living butterfly house inside a glass dome, is a hit with children. There's also a planetarium, and the hands-on science galleries are genuinely interactive rather than the usual push-a-button affairs. Entry to the main galleries is free; the Tropical Forest and planetarium charge a small fee. Allow two to three hours. The museum sits at the top of the university quarter, within easy walking distance of the Botanic Garden.