Classic Flyers

Classic Flyers in Tauranga is a family-friendly aviation hub where historic aircraft, hands-on displays and energetic activity come together in one place. Created by a group of aviation enthusiasts in the early 2000s, the attraction was built to safeguard New Zealand’s aviation history and share it with the wider community

Today, it remains a non-profit trust, with all proceeds from the museum, café, shop and events going back into restoration work and heritage projects.

Classic Flyers Museum

The Classic Flyers Museum was designed to be a lively, working space rather than a static exhibition. Set on the edge of Tauranga Airport, it includes several display areas such as the Main Legacy Jet Hangar, Restoration Hangar 3, the Flight Operations Hangar and an outdoor apron filled with aircraft of different eras.

Visitors can see classic aircraft that still operate today, antique engines brought to life by volunteers, and an assortment of models and memorabilia. Get up close and personal with many of the exhibits,  giving the kids and adults alike a clearer understanding of how these aircraft worked. Volunteers are often on hand to explain restoration projects or answer questions.

Families can tour the museum at their own pace or join a guided visit. School groups, pre-schools and clubs are also welcomed, with tailored sessions available for educational trips. These can include themed activities, storytelling and opportunities to learn about local aviators and important moments in aviation history.

Admission is reasonably priced, with family passes making it affordable for groups of all sizes.

Classic Flyers Aviation Museum

The aviation museum’s layout makes it easy for families to move through the different zones. The open hangars allow children to spot aircraft wings, engines and cockpit features without feeling crowded.

Highlights include:

Restoration areas – where volunteers work on aircraft and explain the process.

Vintage training equipment – showing how pilots once learnt their skills.

Outdoor apron – featuring aircraft you can see from only a few steps away.

The Armoury Conference Room is used for educational talks and group presentations, while the wider museum regularly hosts school programs that link aviation with science, history and engineering.

For the kids, interactive features such as hands on displays and themed activities help keep the visit engaging.

Classic Flyers Tauranga

Set on Jean Batten Drive in Mount Maunganui, Classic Flyers Tauranga is easy to reach from the city centre or nearby beaches. The precinct includes the museum, event spaces, the AvGas Café & Bar and the outdoor apron facing the airfield.

AvGas Café & Bar

The on-site café is popular with families and locals. Open daily, it serves breakfast, lunch, pastries and hot drinks. It is a practical stop before or after a museum visit, with both indoor seating and a relaxed garden bar area. On Fridays, the café extends its hours and offers a happy hour and snack menu.

Kids’ Parties

Classic Flyers is known for its themed children’s parties, which run in dedicated hangar areas and are supervised by staff. Options include Classic Planes, Princess & Pirate, Superheroes, Jurassic Dinosaurs, Small Army and the action-based Nerf Wars. Each party includes food, a loot bag and entry to the museum, making it an easy option for parents looking for an organised celebration.

Venue Hire

The museum offers several spaces for private events, including the Events Hangar, the Armoury Room, the Boeing Room and outdoor apron. These are used for community functions, corporate events and celebrations.

Adventure Flights

For families with teens or adults seeking something more adventurous, Classic Flyers hosts several flight experiences (subject to weather and aircraft availability). These include open-cockpit biplane flights in a Boeing Stearman, aerobatic rides in a CT/4 Airtrainer and heritage flights in a North American Harvard. Glider flights, operated with the Tauranga Gliding Club, are also available on select days.

These flights focus on giving visitors a direct sense of classic aviation, with participants suited up in flight gear and briefed by qualified pilots before take-off.