Experience Sharks at your own pace, and in your own way - Relaxed Sessions provide a calmer environment with fewer visitors and a big welcome to comfort items.
Adult $22, Child 5-15 $11, Under 5 free
Concessions (students & seniors) $20
Free for Museum Members
One support person free per booking
Our Relaxed Sessions have fewer visitors, pre-visit guides, and may involve reduced sensory elements, depending on each exhibition. These events are open for all, but may be especially welcoming to autistic and neurodivergent people, people with sensory sensitivities, and those who enjoy a calmer Museum visit.
SUN 18 JAN 3.30PM - 5PM
SUN 15 FEB 8.45AM - 10AM
SUN 15 MAR 3.30PM - 5PM
SUN 12 APR 8.45AM - 10AM
Sharks is an exhibition that contains projections and digital screens with open sound, as well as large scale models of sharks. We won't modify the exhibition for Relaxed Sessions, other than to quieten some volume levels slightly.
For more detail on the exhibition experience you can read through our 'What to Expect' Guide, which will be emailed to all ticket holders the day prior to your visit.
If you need more detail on any aspect of the exhibition prior to booking, please email bookings@aucklandmuseum.com.
When you arrive, please enter the Museum via the Te Ao Mārama South Atrium entrance, which has two large granite vases on either side of the door (also pictured) or from the underground car park. Once you enter the South Atrium, the entrance to the DIVA exhibition can be found on the far side of the atrium.
Please feel free to bring any comfort items that you wish to, including noise cancelling headphones, stim toys, soft toys or sunglasses. Comfort items are always welcome at Auckland Museum.
A note for our Morning sessions:
As a Relaxed Sessions ticket holder, you can avoid the crowds and enter the Auckland Museum and the Sharks exhibition at the slightly earlier time of 8.45AM. The Auckland Museum opens to the general public at 9AM. Sharks opens from 10AM to the general public, so the exhibition is likely to get busier from then on.
A note for our Sunday afternoon sessions:
Sunday afternoons can be quite busy at Auckland Museum, especially if it is raining, or in the school holidays. Please select this time slot if you are comfortable moving through Te Ao Mārama South Atrium when it is busy.
One free ticket for a support person
If you require a support person to attend as part of your booking, this person is welcome to attend the Relaxed Session for free, whether they are a companion, whānau member, or paid assistant. Please ensure you have booked in this free ticket, as all members of your group will require a ticket to enter. We offer one free support person ticket per booking.
Exhibition ticket and general entry
Your Relaxed Session ticket provides entry to the Sharks special exhibition only. Your ticket does not include General Admission to Auckland Museum, however, General Admission is FREE and available for all Auckland residents and for Museum Members.
A donation is welcomed for visitors from the rest of New Zealand. Auckland residents, get your free MyMuseum card here for quick and easy general admission access.
Frequently asked questions
You are free to leave the Special Exhibition galleries during the Relaxed Session for any reason, and welcome to return at any point before the Relaxed Session ends.
The Museum is usually at its quietest on Twilight Tuesdays (5PM - 8.30PM), and on weekdays from 3PM to 5PM (during school time). We are often quieter on good weather days too. We can't guarantee low visitor numbers at these times, but these are generally quiet times.
Great question - no you do not! You are welcome to speak and make noise freely. However, we ask that you are considerate of the experience of other visitors around you, just like any time at the Museum
We do not have a break-out space set up specifically for Relaxed Sessions, but our Special Exhibition galleries themselves have low lighting and comfortable seating, and you are welcome to stay as long as you like in any part of the galleries.
We have a number of spaces outside the Special Exhibition galleries that are great for taking a break, such as the Kai Room, and Orientation Space, which are both located in the South Atrium. Our staff are on-hand to direct you to these spaces at any time.
We offer free entry for paid assistants to ticketed exhibitions, events and programmes at all other times. Unfortunately at this time this does not extend to unpaid support persons, companions and whānau members.
To make a booking for you and your paid support person please contact the Bookings office +64 9 306 7048
Click through to our Access page to learn more about accessibility at the Museum.