Nelson Provincial Museum is located in the heart of Nelson City on the corner of Trafalgar and Hardy Streets. Our Museum rests on the same town acre block that the Museum occupied in 1842.  

The Regional Gallery leads visitors through an exploration of Te Tauihu, the top of the South Island from Tasman Bay to Golden Bay. This treasure-filled exhibition focuses on the region's fascinating history and identity, offering an opportunity for hours of discovery.

The Upper Gallery is home to our short-term and touring exhibitions, as well as our teaching classroom and a rooftop garden. A vibrant stained-glass window featuring of the unique creatures and plants of Aotearoa may be admired from the top floor.

We recommend setting aside an hour or more to enjoy the galleries.

Nelson Provincial Museum
Trafalgar and Hardy Streets
Nelson Central, Nelson
Tel. +64 3 548 9588
Email. enquiries@museumnp.org.nz

Postal Address

The Nelson Provincial Museum
Pupuri Taonga o Te Tai Ao
PO Box 853, Nelson 7040, New Zealand

10:00am - 5:00pm weekdays

10:00am - 4:30pm weekends / public holidays

The Museum is closed Good Friday and Christmas Day

Sweet As Café: Sweet As Café is connected to the Museum and is accessible via Trafalgar Street or through the Museum.

Coat and bag Check-in: For the comfort and safety of visitors and collections, large bags, backpacks and tripods cannot be taken into the galleries. These can be left safely with Front of House Staff who will give you a numbered tag.

Eating and Drinking: No food or drink is allowed to be taken into the galleries as eating or drinking in the galleries is not permitted.

There is no admission charge to the Regional Gallery for Nelson Tasman residents. 

Fees may apply for temporary exhibitions.

The general admission fee for non-Nelson Tasman residents is:

• Adults $7

• Concession (Gold Card) $5

• NZ Tertiary Students (with ID) $3

• Children* $3

• Preschoolers (under 5 years of age) FREE

The Museum also has koha donation boxes situated in the downstairs and upstairs foyers, should you wish to support us in this way.

*Please note that all children under the age of 14 must legally be accompanied by an adult to visit our Museum

The Museum Shop features a curated collection of Kiwi-made products, arty objects, exhibition inspired merchandise, books and stationery, retro-cool gift-ware, plus items that are thought-provoking or just plain gorgeous.

Hāpai Access Card accredited: Our staff are trained to understand accessibility barriers and provide appropriate support. Learn more.

Wheelchair access: All exhibition spaces are accessible by wheelchair.

Hire a wheelchair: We also have a wheelchair for hire which can be pre-booked if required.

Lifts: We have exhibitions and galleries on two levels which are accessible by a lift.

Accessible toilets: There are accessible toilets located on both levels.

Mobility parking: A mobility parking space is available on Hardy Street near the Museum Entrance.

Assistance dogs: We welcome certified assistance dogs when assisting a person with a disability. Please ensure the dog wears the appropriate coat and carries a valid ID card.

For visitors with hearing impairments: We are in the process of captioning the videos we have on display.

For visitors with vision impairments: We are in the process of creating specific tours for low vision and vision impaired visitors.

Exhibition Social Story: For a guide to visiting our new exhibition including what to expect on a visit, click here to download the social story.

In the case of an evacuation, our trained staff will follow procedures to assist visitors with impairments or special needs.