Opened to the public in 1979, the massive Southward Car Museum has two showrooms displaying cars of all kinds, including a wide range of vintage vehicles by iconic car manufacturers, including Maserati, Porsche, Ferrari, and Bugatti. Many of the vehicles have their own stories, whether they were a gift to Hitler, a gangster’s ride riddled with bullets, or a DeLorean DMC-12 like the one in Back to the Future.
Beyond the cars, there’s Redhead, the boat that Sir Len drove at 101 mph (163 kph) in 1953, making it the first boat in Australasia to travel faster than 100 mph (161 kph). And the 14-acre (5.5-hectare) museum grounds, aka the Dell, offer a lovely pond, tranquil bushwalks, and ideal picnic spots.
The Southward Car Museum is a must for car lovers and motorheads.
Children under 15 years old receive discounted museum admission.
The museum is close to Paraparaumu Beach and Queen Elizabeth Park, making it the perfect place to start or finish your day trip to the Kapiti Coast.
The museum is fully accessible for wheelchairs and strollers.
The Southward Car Museum is in Paraparaumu, on the Kapiti Coast of New Zealand’s South Island. It’s a 1-hour drive north from Wellington: turn off of State Highway 1 into Paraparaumu just before the Kapiti Expressway begins; there is on-site parking. Alternatively, take the Kapiti Line train to Paraparaumu and walk about 1.4 miles (2.3 kilometers) to the museum.
The museum is open from 9am to 4:30pm daily. It’s fully indoors, making it a perfect destination in all weather. Though it often hosts vintage car meets in its parking lot, plus there’s plenty to see in the Dell and along the Kapiti Coast, so it’s best to visit between November and May. Check the museum’s website for a schedule of events.
The museum is home to many old cars, including the 1915 Stutz Indianapolis Racer (which is strapped down with leather belts) and the copper 1920 Dodge Coupe. But the oldest cars in the museum are two turn-of-the-century open-air motorcars, the 1905 Darracq Roadster and the 1895 Benz Velo. The latter is the oldest car in New Zealand.