In a recent report, museum acting director Grant McDonald noted 16,735 people had visited the museum this financial year, between July 1 and October 26.
This exceeded the museum's visitor target of 14,662 for the period.
Attendance at the Dunedin City Council-owned museum has increased to more than 50,000 a year since the museum's adult entry charge was abolished in July 2006.
Mr McDonald said the opening of the Chinese Garden in July this year had significantly boosted museum attendance, with some garden visitors heading next door to the museum.
Through the museum's learning experiences outside the classroom programme, museum staff were also alerting out-of-town school groups planning to come to the museum that the Chinese Garden was an easy add-on visit, he said.
Building work recently began on the $8.6 million first stage of the museum's planned $35 million redevelopment project.
Graeme Hall, the city council general manager, community life, told a recent settlers museum board meeting the council was investigating how the nearby Dunedin Railway Station, the redeveloped museum and the Chinese Garden could work together to encourage combined visits to all three attractions.
