E. Hayes & Sons

E. Hayes & Sons is a truly unique attraction located in the city of Invercargill. At first glance, it might look like you are entering a standard, albeit very large, hardware store selling tools and home goods. However, step a little further inside, and you will find yourself in the center of one of the world's most impressive private collections of motor vehicles.

This place is home to the legendary 1920 Indian Scout motorcycle that belonged to Burt Munro — the famous New Zealand racer whose story inspired the movie "The World's Fastest Indian". Beyond the main exhibit, there is an extensive collection of vintage cars, motorcycles, and engines that the store owners have been collecting for decades.

For tourists visiting New Zealand, this is a rare opportunity to touch "real" Kiwi history absolutely for free.

If you are planning a visit, it is useful to have current contact details at hand. This place functions as an operating business, so contacting them is quite easy.

The main reason tourists from all over the world come here is to see the authentic "World's Fastest Indian" with their own eyes. You can get right up close to the famous streamlined shell of Burt Munro's motorcycle, examine the scratches and modifications made by the hands of the great enthusiast, and take memorable photos next to this legend of speed.

Take a walk through the huge retail hall turned exhibition space. Here you will find dozens of classic motorcycles from different eras, rare cars, and unique engines. It is fascinating to observe how historical exhibits sit alongside shelves filled with modern drills, hammers, and gardening tools — such a contrast creates a unique atmosphere.

Don't forget to stop by the souvenir section. Since admission to the museum is free, many visitors try to support this place by purchasing t-shirts, caps, or books dedicated to Burt Munro and the history of New Zealand motorsport. It is a great way to take a piece of Invercargill history home with you.

Getting to E. Hayes & Sons is very simple, as the store is located in the very heart of the city, on the main street, Dee Street. Thanks to its central location, most tourists staying in hotels in the central district can walk here in 5–10 minutes, enjoying a stroll along the city's wide streets.

If you are driving, head towards the city center. Since this is an operating hardware store, you can usually find parking spaces nearby, but pay attention to payment signs and street parking time limits. For those arriving from outlying areas, a taxi or local bus routes passing through the central business district are convenient options.

The history of E. Hayes & Sons began back in 1932, and since then, the business has remained a family affair, passed down from generation to generation. Initially, it was just a good tool and hardware store, but over time, the owners' passion for machinery turned the trading halls into a real museum. The Hayes family has always maintained close ties with the local community, including famous self-taught engineers.

The most famous historical fact associated with this place concerns the legendary racer Burt Munro. Burt was a long-time friend and customer of the store. It was here that he bought tools and parts to modify his motorcycle. After Munro's passing, his family handed over his priceless collection, including that very record-breaking motorcycle, to the Hayes family, with the condition that the exhibits remain in Southland and be available for free viewing to everyone.

Today, the E. Hayes Motorworks collection includes over 100 vintage motorcycles, cars, engines, and pumps, harmoniously integrated into the interior of a modern store. It is a living testament to New Zealand engineering ingenuity and respect for the history of technology.

For most visitors, viewing the collection takes from 30 to 60 minutes. This time is quite enough to stroll leisurely through the aisles, examine the main exhibit — Burt Munro's motorcycle — and get acquainted with other vintage cars and machinery displayed in the halls.

However, if you are a passionate motorsport fan or love to study the engineering features of ancient mechanisms in detail, the visit can stretch to an hour and a half. The atmosphere of the place invites you to linger and study the information boards or simply wander among the shelves with modern tools sitting side by side with history.

When planning your visit, note that the attraction operates on a regular store schedule. Doors are open to visitors daily: Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 17:30. This is the perfect time to drop by in the morning before excursions or in the late afternoon.

On weekends, the schedule is slightly shorter: on Saturday, the museum-store welcomes guests from 09:00 to 16:00, and on Sunday — from 10:00 to 16:00. Keep this in mind if your trip falls on a weekend.

A visit to the museum-store can be perfectly combined with a walk through the historic center. Invercargill is famous for its architecture and monuments, many of which are just a few minutes' walk away, allowing you to plan a rich itinerary for half a day.