Tawhiti Museum

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Tawhiti Museum is a very impressive private heritage museum in the small town of Hawera about one hours drive north of Wanganui under Mt Taranaki. In what was the local cheese factory the owners, Nigel & Teresa Ogle have created a impressive visual history of the area.  Life size figures using friends and neighbours as models recreate life as it was during the tough times of european settlement.  There is also a re-constructed bush railway which takes you through a re-creation of some of the bush and logging activities of the area.

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The museum also features a cafe, souvenir shop and clean rest-rooms.  Admission is $10 with some concessions.  Opening days are restricted during off season. www.tawhitimuseum.co.nz

Colonial Farming History Comes to Life

A word of warning.  Dairy factories were built before refrigeration and were designed to be very cool.  Take a sweater.