Next phase to begin at Waikato Museum’s Exscite
28 March 2024
Waikato Museum Te Whare Taonga o Waikato will soon begin the final stage of the exciting redevelopment of Exscite, the interactive centre for science and discovery.
The upper area of Exscite will be closed to the public from Friday 12 April 2024 as construction and installation gets underway to refresh the space with a new narrative theme.
The ground floor remains open, and the cost of admission will be temporarily reduced by fifty percent during this time. Exscite will re-open to its full capacity, with new science interactives on the upper floor, in time for the July school holidays.
“We are very excited about what’s on the horizon. Our team have been busy with research and design behind the scenes, ensuring alignment with Aotearoa New Zealand’s school curriculum, focus on our place on the Waikato River, and providing an immersive and engaging space for learning outside the classroom,” said Liz Cotton, Director of Museum and Arts.
“Exscite is a lifelong favourite for many families and was the region’s very first science centre for children when it opened at Waikato Museum in 1996."
"This redevelopment project is ensuring that Exscite remains a relevant and engaging destination in years to come, for Hamiltonians and for visitors from further afield.”
The first phase of redevelopment was completed in March 2023 with the opening of Exscite: Home on the ground floor. Designed to appeal to curious young minds, the tactile and immersive space showcases how science is an integral part of everyday life in a fun and approachable way.
The harvest-ready garden includes a paataka kai for food storage which has been given a contemporary twist by artists Lissy and Rudi Robinson-Cole, whose recent exhibition Wharenui Harikoa drew more than 40,000 visitors to Waikato Museum over the summer.
Exscite is located at Waikato Museum, 1 Grantham Street, Kirikiriroa Hamilton and is open daily 10am to 5pm.
Exscite admission charges during partial closure
- Adult: $2.50
- Child aged three to 15 years: $5
- Child aged two years and under: Free
- Family Pass (two adults and up to four children): $14.50
Please note
For te reo Maaori, Waikato Museum uses double vowels (uu) in place of vowels with a macron (ū) to represent a long vowel sound. This spelling approach is the preference of tangata whenua in Hamilton Kirikiriroa and Waikato iwi for te reo Maaori words. Artists’ titles are shown in their original form.