While staying in Motueka for a few days we were exploring the surrounding area and stumbled on Higgins Heritage Park, might be interesting we thought! And it was – for $5 you can wander around this large complex full of interesting machinery and ‘stuff’.

Higgins Heritage Park is home to Pigeon Valley Steam Museum and several small museums and groups that are relevant to the local area.  They run Steam days and the park is open the first and third Sunday of each month from 10am – 3.00pm

It all started in 1970’s when a sawmill was moved to the site. Other clubs soon joined including The Rover Club, the Vintage Engine and Machinery Club, the Transport Museum, the Loggers Association and the military re-enactment group Army Group Centre.

The Rural Life Museum displays early household appliances, cooking utensils and other items used in the home. Also on display are hand tools, a manual telephone exchange and a small blacksmith shop. are also in this building.

New sheds have been built to house new collections over the years and apparently more sheds are planned. You are free to wander in and out of the sheds and there are steam engine trailer rides etc. kids of all ages will love it! A great afternoon!

Beautifully restored old commercial vehicles from around the area
 Beautifully restored old commercial vehicles from around the area  Inside the horse drawn St johns Ambulance  St John Ambulance  A Royal New Zealand Air Force truck  Military vehicles  You can take a ride around the complex 

Replica of an early garage complete with a collection of restored petrol pumps The Loggers Association displays A cool old boiler – would like one of these at home 🙂

Big Betsy – an old Marshall portable steam engineHow to get there:

From Nelson, follow SH6 south to the township of Wakefield (approx. 30 minutes). The park is located 2kms up Pigeon Valley Road from Wakefield.