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Not every motorsport day out involves a race. New Zealand’s attractions category spans world-class motorsport museums, supercar and race car experiences, sim racing centres, mini golf on a race circuit, and live stunt shows — all without a competition licence in sight.
Voted the #1 Thing to Do in Cromwell on TripAdvisor, Highlands is 45 minutes from Queenstown Airport on SH6 and packs more into one venue than anywhere else in NZ motorsport. The full experience lineup on site:
Bill Richardson Transport World — Invercargill: The largest automotive museum of its type in the world, on Tay Street in Hawthorndale. More than 300 vintage vehicles — from Henry Ford letter cars to Volkswagen Kombis to 1930s V8s and classic trucks — alongside a movie theatre, LEGO room, NZ’s largest display of retro McDonald’s toys, and quirky themed bathrooms. Something genuinely for everyone. Adults NZ$35, 65+ NZ$30, Children NZ$20, Under 5 free. Open daily 10am–5pm. Web: transportworld.co.nz
Southward Car Museum — Paraparaumu (Kapiti Coast): The Southern Hemisphere’s largest private car collection, about an hour north of Wellington on SH1. Over 400 vehicles and three aircraft across two showrooms, including Marlene Dietrich’s 1934 Cadillac, a 1915 Stutz Indianapolis racer, a bullet-riddled 1950 Cadillac “gangster special,” and an 1895 Benz Velo. Conference and function facilities, a café, theatre with pipe organ, and 6 hectares of park grounds. Adults NZ$23, Children 5–15 NZ$6, Under 5 free. Open daily 9am–4:30pm (closed Christmas Day and Good Friday). Web: southwardcarmuseum.co.nz
The Kiwi Steel Rodeo Tour brings monster trucks, freestyle motocross (FMX) and stunt performers to speedway ovals around the country — one-night shows built as family entertainment. Typically loud, pyro-heavy, and family-ticketed from around NZ$25. Web: kiwisteelrodeo.co.nz
These are the lowest-commitment entries on the whole site — no licence, no prior experience, no gear to buy. Just book and turn up.
Every Highlands experience is walk-in-friendly with advance booking. The Museum Entry is the lowest-barrier option (from NZ$30 adults) and includes the Young Guns VR room — a genuinely impressive virtual hot lap on the Highlands circuit with real NZ motorsport figures. The Supercar Fast Dash is the one bucket-list add-on most first-timers leave wishing they’d booked: one lap as a passenger in a 610 HP Lamborghini Huracán on the 4.1km main circuit, from NZ$204. The Radical SR3 or V8 Mustang U-Drive lets you take the wheel yourself with a pro driver alongside. All Highlands experiences are bookable on Bookme, often with discounts from the gate price.
Southward Car Museum (Paraparaumu) and Bill Richardson Transport World (Invercargill) are both open daily and require no advance booking — pay at the door and go at your own pace. Both are genuinely worth a half-day. Highlands’ museum entry is date-specific and needs to be booked in advance.
Buy a ticket to a Kiwi Steel Rodeo Tour date and you’re done. Turn up, find a seat, watch monster trucks and FMX riders work. No motorsport knowledge needed. Tickets from kiwisteelrodeo.co.nz or at the gate on the night.
Attractions aren’t a competitive category — no licence is needed to visit a museum, ride in a supercar, or buy a ticket to a stunt show. The Supercar Fast Dash and U-Drive experiences at Highlands are passenger and instruction experiences, not competition events. Nothing here requires MSNZ, KartSport NZ, or Speedway NZ licensing of any kind.
The Supercar Fast Dash and U-Drive at Highlands are often people’s first real circuit exposure — and several NZ drivers have traced their motorsport start to a Queenstown trip that detoured to Cromwell. If that’s you, the natural next step is a Track Day (no licence, your own car on a real circuit) or a Driving Experience (see the NZShift Driving Experiences category). From there, ClubSport via a MotorSport NZ-affiliated car club is the first rung of proper competition. See the How to Start Racing guide on NZShift for the full pathway.
Watching FMX at a Kiwi Steel Rodeo event and want to actually ride motocross? That’s a Motorcycling New Zealand (MNZ) pathway — see the Motorcycle Racing category.
Nothing specialist required — that’s the point of this category.
Come as you are. Comfortable walking shoes are worth wearing at Bill Richardson Transport World and Southward given the size of both collections. Highlands Museum includes outdoor areas (mini golf, playground, circuit viewing terrace) so dress for the weather in Central Otago, which can swing significantly.
Helmets and hair nets are provided for all driving experiences — you don’t need to bring anything. Closed footwear is compulsory for all self-drive activities (go karts and U-Drive). The Supercar Fast Dash is a passenger experience only, so no footwear restriction applies, but closed-toe is sensible. Note the U-Drive experiences require a NZ$2,000 damage bond held on a credit or debit card for the duration of the session.
Ear protection is strongly recommended for younger children — monster truck engines and pyrotechnics at close range are genuinely loud. Most shows run outdoors on a speedway oval in all weather, so dress accordingly and bring something waterproof. Closed footwear is sensible for grass and gravel spectator areas.
New Zealand’s premier motorsport attraction. Home of the National Motorsport Museum, Supercar Fast Dash, Radical and V8 U-Drive, go karts, mini golf, café and playground.
Address: Corner SH6 & Sandflat Road, Cromwell, Otago (approx. 45 min from Queenstown Airport)
Hours: Daily 10am – 4pm
Web: highlands.co.nz
📲 Book Museum Entry, Supercar Fast Dash, Go Karts, and U-Drive via Bookme — often at a discount from the gate price.
The largest automotive museum of its type in the world. 300+ vintage vehicles, movie theatre, LEGO room, McDonalds toys collection, quirky themed bathrooms. Also home to Classic Motorcycle Mecca next door (combination ticket available).
Address: 491 Tay Street, Hawthorndale, Invercargill 9810
Hours: Daily 10am – 5pm
Phone: 0800 151 252
Email: info@transportworld.co.nz
Web: transportworld.co.nz
The Southern Hemisphere’s largest private car collection. 400+ vehicles, three aircraft, licensed café, conference facilities, and 6 hectares of park grounds. About 1 hour north of Wellington on SH1.
Address: 250 Otaihanga Road, Paraparaumu 5036
Hours: Daily 9am – 4:30pm (closed Christmas Day and Good Friday)
Phone: +64 4 297 1221
Email: e.admin@southwards.co.nz
Web: southwardcarmuseum.co.nz
Monster trucks, FMX and stunt performers touring NZ speedway ovals. Family tickets from NZ$25.
Email: info@kiwisteelrodeo.co.nz
Web: kiwisteelrodeo.co.nz
NZShift is affiliated with Bookme, New Zealand’s leading activity booking platform. Highlands Motorsport Park experiences — Museum Entry, Supercar Fast Dash, Go Karts, and the Radical/V8 U-Drive — are all bookable through Bookme, often at discounted rates from the gate price. Bookme also lists Game Over Karting (Queenstown), Highlands Go Karts, and other motorsport-adjacent activities nationwide.
Web: bookme.co.nz
Off-track entertainment for motorsport fans — museums, simulator centres and family activities connected to NZ's racing culture.
The Highlands National Motorsport Museum at Highlands Motorsport Park (Cromwell) is NZ's leading dedicated motorsport museum, home to rare race cars, a Young Guns VR experience and driving simulators.
Yes — Bill Richardson Transport World in Invercargill is one of the largest automotive museums of its type, and Southward Car Museum near Wellington has an extensive vintage and classic collection.
Yes — dedicated sim racing venues operate independently of physical circuits, in addition to simulators found at venues like Highlands.
Definitely — most are designed as family day-out experiences, with hands-on exhibits, playgrounds and activities that don't require any racing knowledge.
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