Travel & Tourism in Manawatu-Wanganui

12th January 2007
This place was fantastic and you don't have to be interested in the army or war to appreciate it. It's about the first place you come to when you leave the snow fields & head back to 'civilisation'. From outside it looks like a fortress, but inside it is just beautifully put together, with a comprehensive history of NZ's involvement in wars worldwide set out in order from the Maori wars to today. There are wonderful dioramas, with life-size and life-like models in real-life situations, eg a WW1 trench and a helicopter landing in Vietnam. There are superb sound effects and arriving at the Quartermaster store to be told to stand to attention and recieve your uniform was just hilarious. Make sure you visit the cafeteria as the food, prepared by army chefs, is the best and very reasonably priced, particularly the kiwi fruit tarts.