Howick Historical Village
Howick Historical Village
Howick Historical Village
4.5
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Walk through our front gate of our Living Museum and step into the pages of a colonial history book. Explore the early settlement of Howick as it was in the mid to late 1800s. Open the doors of real homes and experience living history for yourself. See how the early settlers would have lived as they went about their daily activities. Explore the heritage garden, have a picnic on the lawn or relax with home-style food and coffee in our cafe. And please ask questions of our volunteers on site. We love to share our knowledge of local history.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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- mdh969Canberra, Australia1,034 contributionsGood historic village to visitWe visited the the Howick Historical Village whilst in Auckland. There was a cafe that served sandwiches, sweet and savoury food as well as tea, coffee etc. The coffee was not the best. The walk through the village was very good. There were plenty of story boards and you could walk into many of the homes. I would recommend this place.Visited November 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 14 November 2023
- Stewarts Vacation1,543 contributionsLive village experienceWe attended a "Live Summer Picnic" with our 3 grandchildren aged 5 years, 3 years and 8 months. They absolutely loved the school lesson, blacksmith, bee talk, candle making, toys, and butter making. It was so interactive that we ended up staying for 5 hours! There was plenty of shade for our picnic on the lawn. There was a lovely cafe on site. Toilet facilities were at a few points in the village. There was a gelato stand, an old fashioned sweet store and a gift shop. It all provided a fabulous day out. I highly recommend the Live day experience.Visited December 2023Travelled with familyWritten 22 January 2024
- OhJoyManchester, United Kingdom46 contributionsExcellent!This is a brilliantly put together village where you can explore most of the houses, each giving details of the former residents. Staff were so helpful and informative. Lovely cafe too. Cant recommend this highly enough to history lovers.Visited February 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 18 February 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.5
334 reviews
Excellent
213
Very good
98
Average
20
Poor
0
Terrible
3
Trudi W
Auckland Central, New Zealand141 contributions
Mar 2022 • Solo
I hadn’t been for years, and so decided to go back with an Explore Tāmaki-Makaurau voucher.
The slightly overgrown in places, well kept but not pristine look of the place actually adds to the vibe, you can easily imagine people living that way, especially when you see the staff walking around in costume.
The signs are either printed on old school typewriters or hand written and there’s plenty of explanation and guidance available for those keen to learn more. I love that you can go in to the buildings and really explore - the roped off sections appear to be mostly to protect displays, which is fair enough.
I had a great hour or so just wandering and learning and enjoying. Took plenty of great photos too! Those attached here are just a sample.
My only niggle (and I understand there was a wedding happening but still) was that the function next door had very loud modern music blasting, which took away from the historic feeling.
Other than that, awesome, relaxed, well explained and a piece of local history worth exploring
The slightly overgrown in places, well kept but not pristine look of the place actually adds to the vibe, you can easily imagine people living that way, especially when you see the staff walking around in costume.
The signs are either printed on old school typewriters or hand written and there’s plenty of explanation and guidance available for those keen to learn more. I love that you can go in to the buildings and really explore - the roped off sections appear to be mostly to protect displays, which is fair enough.
I had a great hour or so just wandering and learning and enjoying. Took plenty of great photos too! Those attached here are just a sample.
My only niggle (and I understand there was a wedding happening but still) was that the function next door had very loud modern music blasting, which took away from the historic feeling.
Other than that, awesome, relaxed, well explained and a piece of local history worth exploring
Written 14 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your rating and review!
We appreciate your feedback, and have since made changes to our venue hire policy during opening hours to ensure this does not happen again.
Our gardens are purposefully maintained to reflected how gardens were kept in the mid-late 1800's. Our wonderful Heritage Gardner has a wealth knowledge on gardens in this era, and if you see him working, feel free to ask him a couple questions!
We hope you can visit again soon, and thank you again for taking the time to leave us a review.
Written 22 May 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
mdh969
Canberra, Australia1,034 contributions
Nov 2023 • Friends
We visited the the Howick Historical Village whilst in Auckland.
There was a cafe that served sandwiches, sweet and savoury food as well as tea, coffee etc. The coffee was not the best.
The walk through the village was very good. There were plenty of story boards and you could walk into many of the homes.
I would recommend this place.
There was a cafe that served sandwiches, sweet and savoury food as well as tea, coffee etc. The coffee was not the best.
The walk through the village was very good. There were plenty of story boards and you could walk into many of the homes.
I would recommend this place.
Written 15 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Debbie W
1 contribution
Sept 2024 • Family
This was our second visit to Howick Historic Village. Last time was summer 2023 and since then we noticed deterioration of many buildings. Some need a clean inside and out and others need more serious repairs. Our fear is many of the historic buildings will be lost!
Maybe a five dollar a head increase in entry fee could go towards some maintenance.
We love the feel of the place, the history, both European and Māori, and we'd love to see its future secure.
Maybe a five dollar a head increase in entry fee could go towards some maintenance.
We love the feel of the place, the history, both European and Māori, and we'd love to see its future secure.
Written 7 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stewarts Vacation
1,543 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
We attended a "Live Summer Picnic" with our 3 grandchildren aged 5 years, 3 years and 8 months. They absolutely loved the school lesson, blacksmith, bee talk, candle making, toys, and butter making. It was so interactive that we ended up staying for 5 hours! There was plenty of shade for our picnic on the lawn. There was a lovely cafe on site. Toilet facilities were at a few points in the village. There was a gelato stand, an old fashioned sweet store and a gift shop. It all provided a fabulous day out. I highly recommend the Live day experience.
Written 22 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jacqueline S
53 contributions
Jan 2023 • Friends
Wha t a charming way to look back in time, hard to believe these settlers came and lived in tents and worked their way up to charming cottages. To see churches, courthouses and especially the school all kitted out like it used to be is awesome. Some things brought back memories ( the wooden school desks with the inkwells ) and others not so much.
Being in a wheelchair I was advised about the rough terrain and that obviously the old buildings could not accommodate a wheelchair, that being said if you have a strong carer to push you around you can still have an enjoyable visit to this village
Being in a wheelchair I was advised about the rough terrain and that obviously the old buildings could not accommodate a wheelchair, that being said if you have a strong carer to push you around you can still have an enjoyable visit to this village
Written 13 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jonathan D
Auckland, New Zealand18 contributions
Feb 2020
Spent a morning here, started at the Heritage Cafe adjacent to the site , good coffee. The village is a conglomeration of a number of houses and huts , plus village activities of early Howick , these were set up by early fencible settlers from the UK. Very interesting indeed .
Written 14 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marilynn M
7 contributions
Nov 2020
Great to see how people used to live in days gone by.
Punch and Judy show was fasinating for the Grandkids.
They also liked the classroom and the toy museum.
The cafe was nice with friendly staff, and the shop had different knick knacks in it.
The grounds are kept superbly.
We were lucky on one occasion to be there when they dress up.
Punch and Judy show was fasinating for the Grandkids.
They also liked the classroom and the toy museum.
The cafe was nice with friendly staff, and the shop had different knick knacks in it.
The grounds are kept superbly.
We were lucky on one occasion to be there when they dress up.
Written 30 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your rating and review!
Written 22 May 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sher577
Napier, New Zealand26 contributions
Feb 2023
We had lunch at the cafe first and then entered the village. They give you a great map and that young lady at the counter took us outside to explain the best way to see everything. She also gave us a pamphlet on some of the plants they had in the village. It was a hot afternoon so being able to go into the buildings to cool off was nice and there were seats placed around the area so that you could sit in the shade. It was a most enjoyable afternoon.
Written 27 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OhJoy
Manchester, UK46 contributions
Feb 2024 • Couples
This is a brilliantly put together village where you can explore most of the houses, each giving details of the former residents.
Staff were so helpful and informative.
Lovely cafe too.
Cant recommend this highly enough to history lovers.
Staff were so helpful and informative.
Lovely cafe too.
Cant recommend this highly enough to history lovers.
Written 18 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jane W
Rugby, UK541 contributions
Oct 2017 • Couples
Spending the last few days of our holiday in Auckland, we came across a leaflet for this 'fencible' village and were intrigued as we'd never heard the term before. We caught the bus (takes about 55mins and cost $7) from Britomart to Lloyd Elsmore Park (don't go as far as Howick) and spent the next few hours enthralled by this recreated village. Plenty of information at each cottage detailing the lives of those that lived there, plus church, schoolroom, dairy, etc. Fascinating if you like social history and great for kids. Try putting a dollar in the mill wheel!
Can also recommend the tea rooms and well stocked gift shop too. All in all, a lovely day out away from the bustle of the city. BTW, good luck to the gentleman who we chatted to who was busy with his paintbrush - you're doing a grand job! And to the ladies I met in red hats and purple clothes, carry on enjoying yourselves!!
If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation.
Can also recommend the tea rooms and well stocked gift shop too. All in all, a lovely day out away from the bustle of the city. BTW, good luck to the gentleman who we chatted to who was busy with his paintbrush - you're doing a grand job! And to the ladies I met in red hats and purple clothes, carry on enjoying yourselves!!
If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation.
Written 27 October 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are visiting Auckland in mid-January and staying near Mission Bay, is there Public Transportation to Howick Historical Village ?
Written 19 December 2015
I don't know either as we were on a self-drive holiday but the "I site" in Auckland ( down on the harbour) would be able to advise you, they are fantastic sites all around NZ to help with this sort of enquiry and tours and accommodation.
Written 21 December 2015
Hello, we ae travelling with young children, ages 10, 6 and 6 in July. What's the best approach from travelling with kids with regards to arrival times and when the shows are on? Assumong you can only spend an hour or twon there. Where would you recommend accom close by?
Thanks
Written 16 March 2015
The villiage is open every day but better to go on the weekends when there is more activity.
The best accommodation is Halfmoon bay Marina which is a short drive away but also 5 minutes walk to the ferry terminal where you can go to the city or places like Waiheke Island or Rangitoto Island.Its also next to a supermarket and eateries.
Have a good holiday.
Written 18 March 2015
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