Te Papa, New Zealand’s national museum in Wellington, has been ranked among the top 1% of attractions in the world, according to the 2025 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards.
It was also named the best attraction in New Zealand and the fifth best in the South Pacific.
This global recognition is based on glowing reviews from visitors. Te Papa holds a 4.7 out of 5-star rating, with more than 11,000 five-star reviews out of over 14,000 total. Many visitors praised its Māori treasures, the Gallipoli war exhibition, and the Te Taiao Nature zone.
“This win proves Te Papa is a must-see for travellers from everywhere,” said Courtney Johnston, the museum’s chief executive.
Even after starting to charge international visitors aged 16 and over a $35 entry fee last year, the museum has stayed popular. Entry remains free for all New Zealanders.
“It’s amazing to still be number one after introducing the fee,” said Dr. Arapata Hakiwai, Te Papa’s Māori co-leader.
In the last financial year, over 1 million people visited Te Papa. Nearly 430,000 of them were from overseas, mainly from Australia, the UK, the USA, Germany, and France. On average, international visitors spent about two hours exploring the museum.
