Te Awamutu Space Centre — Attraction in Waikato

This place is AMAZING.. you'd be fogiven for driving right past it and not noticing as it looks like a small village hall but this is like a TARDIS when you head inside. Space Dave is just the most passionate person about space and space exploration you are ever likely to meet in NZ, there are so many things to see and do once inside that time just seems to race by. First trip you might wonder about the cost but don't, this is the stuff of dreams and imagination.. Whether it's putting on a VR headset and traveling quite literally out of this world, a ride in a space shuttle toy, landing a lunar module or genuinely learning about some of the men and women who have adventures into space, there is something here for everyone. For the kids there is rewarded learning, they can do quizzes and coloring, word searches and join the dots to earn points towards a space cadet badge, which have pride of place at home for my kids. Try on a space suit, see the view from the ISS, watch things blow up, learn the Maori names for the planets and stars, or get excitedly taken outside to look safely at the sun as the clouds have parted.. NZ still has to have their first person in space, but I'm willing to bet when we do they will have been here as a kid and just dreamed big. All Kids big and small should go here, but be warned one visit will not be enough. And thank you Dave for all the time and effort you've put in here to make this such an awesome experience, you are already a national treasure as far as my kids are concerned, and. if you'll forgive the awful pun... For those about to rockET, we...

After months of encouragement/pestering from my 7 year old space mad boy we decided to come here as a family ( he had been before and had always wanted come back with the rest us to show us around). It may not be as fancy as some museums but you can tell it has been put together with a lot of passion and imagination. There is a huge amount of relevant information that is really well laid out and easy to follow, which is an aspect that has been overlooked in many museums I have been to. There is also a lot of interactive screens, interesting space memorabilia and a huge array of space books (as a mechanic I fell in love with the collection of Haynes Manuals on the space equipment, I could have read them for days) The VR show is really well done and is a must do also. I loved the fact that there is a lot geared towards kids including the opportunity to earn badges for doing quizzes and other trivial type worksheets. Great way to spend a few hours with the kids if they are into space and a great place for adults to expand their knowledge and their minds. Really enjoyed this place and we will return. Booking in online isn't necessary but it is...

Stopped here with the kids to break up the trip to Taupo. Was really impressed with the whole setup, everything is super interactive so we spent about an hour and a half working our way through. Was cool to see 80's space Lego from when I was young, battle my son on the space landing to see who could use the least fuel. The VR experience was really awesome too. The kids never got bored and liked watching some of the videos from the space station on how they shave, brush their teeth and get a hair in space. There is a fair balance of info on all countries that have been to space, incl India, China and of course the Russian cosmonauts. Some cool and unique items from space travel trips incl a USSR sleeping bag. Dave is friendly and helpful, its really worth stopping and...