Otago's special natural history is highlighted in our Nature Galleries which include impressive displays of bird and insect life. Get a close-up view of the royal albatross and the endangered Hoiho (yellow-eyed peguin) and see recreations of insects in their natural habitats. Come face to face with the giant moa in the Extinction & Survival area and see one of the few complete moa eggs in the world.

Dive into the world of some of the most amazing resident bird species in our Bird Gallery. Learn about the courtship behaviour of the northern royal albatross. Discover how biologists learn about their movements and those of other birds. Find 12 out of 16 penguin species in the world, watch a blue penguin dive in a diorama and learn about the fascinating life of migrating birds like shining cuckoos and silvereyes.

The Extinction and Survival gallery at Otago Museum tells the story of life and death of unique New Zealand animals over the last 1000 years. Many extinct birds were preserved and are on display as part of this exhibition. This gallery points out some of the conservation challenges Southern New Zealand faces today and provides insights into the behaviour of introduced mammals. Did you know that every night 70 million possums eat 22,000 tonnes of vegetation? Learn why the grey duck recently became extinct and how some lizards, as well as kakapo, kiwi and takahe are stuggling to survive. Test your knowledge of the yellow-eyed penguin, tuatara, kiwi and the hector’s dolphin by playing the ‘Survival and Extinction’ game.

For enthusiasts of smaller creatures, the Larger than Life Gallery will get your heart racing. Giant reproductions of insects including beetles, ants, flies and a praying mantis on a manuka branch are truly amazing. Did you know what life looks like inside the depths of a cave? Did you know that glow worms are actually not worms at all? Come and find out more and take in the variety of local habitats that have been reconstructed in astonishing detail. Species from Otago Museum's research collection are also on display. Many common local species are represented, including the nursery web spider, white-tailed spider and the only poisonous spider to humans - the red katipo. Visit this outstanding gallery and discover the intriguing creatures that live in the leaf litter of our forests and perhaps in your very own backyard.

Downloadable Children's Activity
Frog Puppet