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The museum's permanent and temporary exhibitions feature the rich cultural diversity of Otago's people. Visitors can explore themes of cultural interaction, technological innovation and developments in everyday life as Maori, European and other settlers adapt to changing conditions.

The Kai Tahu Display

The Kai Tahu display tells of Otago's first settlers, the Maori. This exhibition begins with the sale of land to the New Zealand Company in 1844 and explores changes in the Kai Tahu way of life since then. It features ten themes of Maori life including the iwi, food resources, the importance of the land and spiritual life.

Smith Gallery

Nearly a thousand photographic portraits are displayed in the Smith Gallery, part of a total collection of nearly 20,000 photos of settlers and their descendants. The collection is well indexed and staff are happy to locate family photos for the visitor.

The Chinese Display

Chinese immigrants have played an important role in Otago's history since the early gold mining days. The Chinese display tells the fascinating story of Otago Chinese from 1865 onwards, and includes photographs and artifacts from the gold fields.

Transport Gallery

The Transport Gallery illustrates the impact of changing technology from horse and bullock to the all-pervasive motorisation of the present. The Gallery features a bullock wagon used for haulage and a Cobb & Co coach similar to that used on the Central Otago gold field run from 1861 until the end of the century.

There are also early fire engines: 'Alice', a horse drawn fire unit; and a Dennis motorised unit.

A 1947 Buick Straight Eight and a hand-made streamlined caravan of the same era are featured, along with a blacksmith shop, a 1950s-style service station and a variety of bicycles including a penny farthing. There is a changing selection of classic cars and motorbikes adding to the interest of these permanent displays.

The museum also showcases two steam trains. 'Josephine', one of only five surviving double-ended Fairlies in the world, was first used on the Dunedin - Port Chalmers run September 10, 1872 and remained in service until 1916. The JA 1274 was built by the Dunedin based Railway Hillside Workshops 'from scratch' in 1956. It was the last steam locomotive to come out of Hillside Railway Workshops in Dunedin and was in service in Otago and Southland until 1971.