We go to Motat once or twice a year and love it. It is a mixture of old favourites you remember from past visits and new bits (this time the new aeroplane exhibit area and an ice-cream parlour I had never encountered before!) Run by a mixture of paid staff and hard-working volunteers who help bring technology and history to life, MOTAT is great for a family outing. There are special days when the Steam trains run and special MOTAT Mates passes that give you unlimited visits for a year at very reasonable prices. The tram rides remain a favourite and the staff (paid and unpaid) are unfailing professsional and add to the great experience.
We took the kids here a few weeks ago & had a great time. All of us had something that we needed to be dragged away from! There really is something for everybody. Master 8 loved the black room (adults arnt allowed in, so my understanding is that…) it’s a black room with stuff in & you do stuff & it’s cool. Madam 2 liked the little tractor & trailor type ride. Plus the interactive noisy toys in the kids room. We (the big kids) liked the old cars & toys etc. All in all, it was a great idea! We ran out of time to take the tram over to the aircraft section - but will no doubt do that soon!
MOTAT is one of those places I always drive past and always think 'Hey I should go to there'. Today I finally did. And it's fantastic. As it's the middle of the school holidays the blacksmith was onsite and the pumphouse was in operation. There are some fantastic exhibitions - my personal favourite was the mini Auckland from the 1950s. Also, I finally went down to the Sir Keith Park aircraft hall. Informative and interesting, even if you are not into planes - a great exhibition on Jean Batten especially!
MOTAT keeps getting better and better. The new aviation hall is fantastic, and the Lancasters and flying boats really are something to behold. Take the tram back past the zoo, and you can easily lose yourself in the main museum for a few hours. My favourite place, and has been since a kid, is the Victorian village, my oldest son's favourite is the science activities room and my youngest is enchanted by the big, black train. Look out for the free months (advertised in your local news), as that makes a great time for a family outing, as you can't get much cheaper than free. But to be fair, the entry fee is reasonable for such an enjoyable family outing. Well worth a trip, enjoy a wander down memory lane.