Tiki Touring New Zealand Travel
One Tree Hill in Auckland

Visit Tiki Touring for the best ideas of where to stay and what to do in New Zealand

 
- Visitor Information -
Map of New Zealand
Currency Converter
Car Hire
Distances Between Cities
City & Street Maps
Inter City Coachlines
City-by-city Events
City Hotel Search
City-by-city Hotels
Where to Eat Guide
Latest Tour Deals
NZ Duty Free
- Major NZ Cities -
Auckland
Where to Stay
What to Do
AA Map of Auckland
Street Maps
Transport Journey Planner
(Bus and train timetables)
Inter City Bus Timetables
Climb Auckland Harbour Bridge
Latest Tour Deals
Auckland Airport
Flight information
Wellington
Wellington Suggestions
Wellington Sights & Events
Wellington Hotels
Christchurch
Christchurch Suggestions
Christchurch Sights & Events
Christchurch Hotels
Dunedin
Dunedin Suggestions
Dunedin Hotels
Dunedin Tours
 
- Regions of NZ -
Bay of Plenty
Rotorua Suggestions
Rotorua Sights & Events
Rotorua Hotels
Tauranga Sights and Events
Tauranga Suggestions
Tauranga Hotels
Mt Maunganui Suggestions
Mt Maunganui Hotels
Canterbury
Akaroa Tours
Kaikoura Hotels
Coromandel
Coromandel Suggestions
Coromandel Hotels
Thames Hotels
Hawke's Bay
Hastings Hotels
Hastings Tours
Napier Hotels
Napier Suggestions
Napier Tours
Manawatu
Palmerston North Hotels
Marlborough
Blenheim Hotels
Blenheim Tours
Nelson Hotels
Nelson Tours
Picton Hotels
Picton Tours
North of Auckland
Bay of Islands Ideas
Bay of Islands Hotels
Bay of Islands Tours
Russell Tours
Paihia Tours
Whangarei Hotels
Far North Hotels
Otago
Arrowtown Hotels
Cromwell Hotels
Fox Glacier Hotels
Fox Glacier Tours
Franz Josef Hotels
Franz Josef Tours
Queenstown Suggestions
Queenstown Hotels
Queenstown Tours
Te Anau Hotels
Te Anau Tours
Wanaka Hotels
Wanaka Tours
Poverty Bay
Gisborne Hotels
Taranaki
Taranaki Hotels
Taranaki Suggestions
New Plymouth Hotels
Wanganui Hotels
Taupo/Ruapehu
Taupo Hotels
Taupo Suggestions
Ohakune Hotels
Waikato/Waitomo
Hamilton Hotels
Hamilton Tours
Waikato Suggestions
Waitomo Caves
Waitomo Hotels
Waitomo Tours
Other Links
Travel Links
 
 

Waiouru

The Desert Road and Army Museum


The Desert Road and Waiouru Army Museum

Central Plateau Pictures
TikiTouring review of Chateau Tongariro
Book a stay at the Chateau Tongariro
Pictures of the Chateau Tongariro
Taupo Highlights
What's to do in Taupo
Rotorua Highlights
Adventure in Rotorua

Photos of Rotorua

Adventure Photos of Rotorua
Sightseeing, Tours, Attractions and Events in Rotorua
Hotels and Accommodation in Rotorua

By Richard Moore

WaiouruThe central plateau of New Zealand's North Island is famous for its proximity to some terrific ski fields - such as Turoa and Whakapapa - and the wild terrain of the Desert Road.

The rugged nature of the central plateau makes it the perfect place to have a major training area for the army and there are plenty of signs around telling you it is dangerous to get off the main road at certain places.

Speaking of the New Zealand army there is an excellent museum at the town of Waiouru on the Desert Road. If you are driving to or from the snow slopes, or are on your way to somewhere else, then a few hours spent at the Waiouru Army Museum is recommended for those who like history.

WaiouruThe army museum is located in an imposing building that gives little idea as to what is inside, however, the tanks and artillery pieces surrounding it offer a pretty good clue as to its raison d'etre.

Within its walls exhibits and displays cover the entire range of New Zealand's participation in war, from the Maori Wars through to the peacekeeping operations Kiwi troops are currently engaged in.

The Waiouru Army Museum is laid out in a chronological order of conflict and this guides you through the military history of a nation that has spent a lot of time fighting side by side with Australian troops.

But New Zealand had its own major war when the local Maori tribes fought back against European settlement in what was known as the Maori Wars, but is now the more PC Land Wars.

WaiouruThe Maoris gave one heck of a good account of themselves militarily and used not only guerrilla tactics to great effect, but also perfected the art of trench warfare a generation before the slaughterhouse of World War One.

From there it is the Boer War in South Africa where, like Aussies, Kiwis fought overseas for their first major conflict. Next up it's World War One and Gallipoli, the Second World War - the campaigns in Greece, Crete, North Africa and the Pacific - Korea, Malaya, Vietnam and service with the United Nations.

The various displays include militaria, dioramas, weapons, uniforms, personal stories and large scenes using life-size models and military hardware such as tanks and armoured cars.

One of the most impressive, if not the best collection on show, is the Army Museum's medal alcove where they display many top ranking awards including Victoria Crosses the highest Commonwealth award for bravery in the face of the enemy cast in the metal of Russian cannons captured during the Crimean War.

WaiouruThe most poignant part of the museum is the Tears on Greenstone waterwall that represents every New Zealander who has died in war.

It is a wall - the largest jade structure in the Southern Hemisphere - with a veil of water representing grief and new life. The names of those killed are spoken in alphabetical order.

On a more commercial aspect, the Army Museum has a cafeteria and gift shop on site, as well as a military archive and research library.


The Army Museum Waiouru is open 9.00 am - 4.30pm every day, except Christmas Day.

Admission Prices

 

Copyright Richard Moore 2009 | Contact Us | Currency Converter | About Us | Privacy Policy |