Classic cars, horse carriages, bicycles & tractors are displayed at this transportation museum.
On the western edge of Christchurch, signposted just off State Highway 73 and only a short drive from the International Airport, you'll find one of New Zealand's most characterful windows into the past: the Yaldhurst Museum of Transport & Science. Established in 1968, it is Christchurch's oldest private museum collection, and for more than 50 years it has promised visitors a genuine trip down memory lane — while giving younger generations an insight into how things used to be.
The museum began with one man's ambition. In the 1960s, Christchurch-born Jake Cooper set out to build a museum of his own for public viewing. He bought the original family home, built in 1876, along with eight acres of land, and — with an eye for collectibles, the help of local builders and his network of associates — he opened the Yaldhurst Transport Museum on Boxing Day 1968. That personal, hands-on spirit still shapes the place today. The museum believes it is unique, and Christchurch Council has designated it a Cultural Heritage Scene.
Yaldhurst is spread across seven buildings set in lovely gardens, and the journey starts through Door 1. The collection is gloriously eclectic. It includes one of the largest and finest collections of horse-drawn vehicles in the country, covering 200 years of horse-drawn transport, plus a dedicated carriages room. Motoring fans get over 50 cars spanning a period of 100 years, from vintage to classics, housed in the museum's 1960s motor shed, with a Classic Racing room and an Engine Shed alongside.
Elsewhere you'll find vintage fire engines, an amazing print shop, computers from 1980 to 2015, vintage petrol pumps, typewriters, farm machines including a threshing mill, and thousands of items of memorabilia. Among the star attractions is the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang car from the British musical. Educational displays — including a look at the internal combustion engine — round out a collection covering style and technology from the last 100+ years. The displays reflect a real character and atmosphere that excites memories of the past.
You don't need a museum ticket to enjoy the on-site Garden Cafe. It is open to the public five days a week, Wednesday to Sunday from 10am to 3:30pm, serving barista coffee alongside a menu of wonderful hot and cold freshly produced food. There's a generous perk for cafe customers, too: entry into the museum's Fire Station is included with cafe purchases.
Yaldhurst is also a working home for cherished vehicles. The museum offers a full range of storage options for classic, vintage and modern cars — short or long term — either in its secure storage facility or, if you wish, in the display area. The premises are monitored 24 hours a day by Triton Security and CCTV, and everything from motorbikes and trucks to non-runners and concours cars can be accommodated, though spaces for non-runners are limited. The team can also arrange any work your vehicle requires, including WOF and routine maintenance. Notably, the car storage business has continued to operate even while the museum itself is closed.
Over the years the museum has also run events such as Blacksmith Forging at Yaldhurst and Rust in Peace, adding living craft and spectacle to the collection.
One important note: Yaldhurst Museum is currently closed until further notice. The team will update the website as soon as they know when it will reopen, so check the site — or the museum's Facebook and Instagram pages — before setting out. When the doors are open, you'll find the museum at 26 School Road, Yaldhurst, close to the centre of Christchurch and the airport. Whether you're interested in history, classic cars, vintage transport or simply something interesting and different to do, Yaldhurst's amazing private collection is well worth the drive.