Waiheke Musical Museum

On Waiheke Island, the Waiheke Musical Museum displays more than 100 antique instruments collected by Lloyd and Joan Whittaker over 30 years. You can hear staff play the instruments and explain their history, and try some yourself, including pianos, accordions and xylophones. Look for the oldest Steinway in New Zealand, a table grand built in New York in 1873, as well as a colourful German fairground organ. The collection also tells the story of the couple whose shared passion brought it together.

A collection built over 30 years

Lloyd and Joan Whittaker collected more than 100 instruments over three decades. The museum brings together working antique instruments, from case pianos and pedal organs to xylophones, glockenspiels and spinets. Compact pianos made for ships and piano accordions are also part of the collection.

The collection’s story is tied to the Whittakers’ shared interest in music and collecting. Staff explain how the instruments work and share the history behind them, giving the objects context as you move through the displays.

Instruments to listen to and play

Some of the instruments are played during demonstrations, and visitors can try selected ones, including pianos, accordions and xylophones. Among the collection’s notable pieces is a table grand Steinway made in New York in 1873, described as the oldest Steinway in New Zealand. A colourful German fairground organ adds a different sound and scale to the display.

You can also see a clavichord made in 1976 by early-music specialist Alec Loretto. Its wooden keys are described as satiny, and the instrument is a replica of a 15th-century keyboard. Allow around an hour if you want time for both the displays and demonstrations.