From the portraits lining the walls of its Smith Gallery to the double ended Fairlie locomotive named Josephine the Otago Settlers Museum exhibition galleries have much to entertain and delight its visitors.

With around 1670m2 of gallery space dedicated to telling the stories of Otago's past and its people, the Otago Settlers Museum is the ideal place to investigate the region's journey from the earliest days of settlement to the present day.

Step into its Hall of History and be transported back in time. Our museum exhibits let you catch a glimpse of the ways of life of local Maori, discover tales of adventurous pioneers and hardy gold-seekers, and unravel the stories that make up Otago's colourful past.

Check out the Smith Gallery with its portraits of the earliest pioneers and its collections of keepsakes and treasures from the days before gold turned a trickle of immigrants into a flood.

Take a stroll through the Cooke Howlison Gallery in the former NZR bus station that today showcases the history of transport in Otago. A voyage through this hall of transportation history is sure to be one of the highlights of your visit.

Be sure to also fossick your way through the Hudson Gallery's latest offerings in the museum's temporary exhibitions programme (see below for details).

The Otago Settlers Museum offers a unique celebration of the heritage, culture and community of the city of Dunedin and the Otago region that we trust you will find both entertaining and informative.