Golden Bay Museum

Golden Bay Museum is a small community museum and District Archive supported by the District Council, with a rich collection and strong connection to the Netherlands, thanks to the first European landfall here by Abel Tasman in 1642. This first meeting between Maori (Ngati Tumatakokiri) and Pakeha ended in bloodshed but is today celebrated as first contact. The Museum sells a locally published book about this historic incident.

The Museum's collection tracks the region's settlement by the first desecendants of the Kurahaupo canoe, through to the arrival of Ngati Tumatakokiri, then early Eurpoean settlers, followed by Ngati Rarua, Ngati Tama and Te Atiawa, and those who came with the New Zealand Company to Nelson.

A Pilot whale skeleton is housed in a specially-designed 'whalery' at the front door.