Southward Car Museum — Attraction in North Island

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I had the absolute pleasure of visiting the Southward Car Museum in Paraparaumu, and I must say, it exceeded all expectations. From the moment I stepped through the doors, I was struck with awe at the sheer size, scale, and beauty of the collection. It truly felt like walking through a living timeline of automotive history.

The museum houses an extraordinary variety of vehicles—ranging from some of the earliest models that shaped the beginnings of motoring, through to iconic classics, racing legends, luxury cars, and even rare motorcycles. Each piece is immaculately preserved and displayed with care, and I was amazed at how close you could get to these works of engineering art. You don’t just see cars; you experience the innovation, stories, and history behind them.

What impressed me further was the thoughtful way the museum is organized. Every turn revealed something unique, whether it was a vintage Rolls Royce, a finely detailed American classic, or a quirky car with a fascinating backstory. There is a sense of wonder at every corner. The sheer diversity of the collection makes it enjoyable not only for car enthusiasts but also for anyone who appreciates history, craftsmanship, and culture.

The museum itself is spacious, well-lit, and easy to navigate. Staff members were welcoming, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about the collection, adding even more richness to the visit. It’s not just a car museum—it’s a celebration of human creativity and progress.

Southward Car Museum is a true treasure of New Zealand. I left feeling inspired and amazed, and I would highly recommend it to anyone—locals, tourists, families, or solo travelers. It is more than...

Never before had such rude service at the cafe by the older lady working there. She should not be in customer service and it spoilt the whole visit to Southward Car Museum. No coffee service at 10:15am on a Saturday, they said they would be serving in 5mins and to come back. I also wanted to order a t-shirt as did not have the correct size in the shop. I asked the younger girl when she was walking past about the t-shirt and she said come to the counter and I’ll take your details. Went the to counter and was ignored. Ater about 15mins still neither female was serving coffee to customers (just stacking cups for the machine) despite a queue with a dance competition on upstairs the place was busy. My partner respectfully asked the older lady about how the time was going (for coffee) and she simply replied unhelpfully with the word “fine”. No indication on...

From the sublime to the ridiculous - if you're even remotely interested in vehicles, you'll want to check out Southward Car Museum in Kapiti. Established by the late Sir Len Southward & his wife Vera in 1972, this started as a personal collection by the 1st man in Australasia to travel at over 100mph on water. It currently displays 400+ vehicles: One of a kind 1920 hand-beaten Copper Dodge Coupe, Mickey Cohen's 1950 gangster Cadillac with matchbox-thick bulletproof glass, Back to the Future stainless Delorian, Shelby Mustang GT500e Super Snake, NZ's oldest car 1895 Benz Velo, Indianapolis race car, Ed Roth customs, film prop cars, Rolls, Ferrari, McLaren, Model T, Hot Rod, Rat Rod, Lambo, Harley, Norton, boats, bikes, planes, firetrucks, popcorn carts, bicycles, numberplates, toys - you name it,...