Te Papa is a giant structure in Wellington focused on New Zealand’s history and culture.

Its Maori name, Te Papa Tongarewa, means “container of treasures.”

It’s part science museum, part art gallery, and part culture center. A little bit of everything, all about New Zealand.

There are six floors in total, encompassing 36,000 square meters (the size of three rugby fields, according to the official website). I begin at the top and work my way down.

This is the oddest display — it’s a 15 minute video that attempts to span all of New Zealand culture. It’s a barrage of images haphazardly strung together and projected on the wall of an antique store set. As the movie plays, props in the foreground move around.

Now THIS is cool. It’s a giant squid captured alive in Antarctica and then dissected and preserved in New Zealand.

This floor is my favorite. It celebrates the animals and ecosystems of New Zealand. I can’t get enough of the sea creature skeletons.

This earthquake exhibit simulates what it feels like to live in southern California experience a quake.

I snap photos of more interesting exhibits. The geological and natural history especially interests me.

I’m a sucker for maps so this giant floor map of New Zealand captures my attention for about 15 minutes. I trace my steps (literally) over the country and note the topography of the areas I’ve been.

This is Abel Tasman, where I hiked along the sea:

Before I leave, I take the elevator back up to the roof for one more view of the city.

I walk through the same square where I crashed a college graduation earlier that day.

I have one more full day in Wellington. Tomorrow I’ll visit Peter Jackson’s Weta Cave, home to some of the best costume, make-up, special effects, and post production in the world.