The Pioneer Village
The Pioneer Village
4.5
Monday
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
About
Buildings include the Waimate North Courthouse built in 1862 which is the oldest courthouse in New Zealand, the Maioha Cottage built in 1875 and Utakura Hall and School built in 1891. Collections include the Fergie Neilson collection of Maori artefacts; Bill Pratt collection of gum-digging equipment and the Purdy collection of blacksmith tools. Machinery includes the only surviving Albion Cuthbertson Water Buffalo in New Zealand; one of only five in the world, a fully restored 1901 Burrell Steam Locomotive, a large collection of agricultural machinery and two fire engines. Rides available on diesel train carriage, 1901 3/4 size replica Grout cycle car, 1936 Leyland fire engine and/or 1901 Burrell Steam Traction engine. Bookings essential and subject to driver availability. Something for everybody!
Duration: 1-2 hours
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4.5
24 reviews
Excellent
15
Very good
6
Average
1
Poor
1
Terrible
1
brookeyay
Kaikohe, New Zealand86 contributions
Dec 2019 • Family
Being a local, I have visited the Pioneer Village many times. I enjoyed taking my nephews and nieces there during the school holidays. The activity sheet the kids were given, really added to the experience. They also hold events throughout the year that the entire community look forward to. I highly recommend visiting. You never know what you might see on your next visit.
Written 25 May 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.
AKBNZ
Auckland Central, New Zealand128 contributions
Nov 2013 • Couples
We were on a brief visit to Kaikohe when we were holidaying in Hokianga on a wet day. We walked along the main street of Kaikohe and we had a few hours and nothing much to do and we followed a signboard that said Pioneer Village which we could have missed or ignored as it was very nondescript. We also missed any brochures or advertising for this place when I had checked attractions in the area. Even very friendly lady at the Opononi information Centre missed it and the fact that it was not listed on Trip Advisor shows that the place needed a lot more attention to marketing it.
I am so glad we visited the Pioneer Village as I learnt more about the life of early settlers in New Zealand in one and a half hours compared to all my 18 years in New Zealand so it is well worth a visit.
We were welcomed by two lovely ladies on a very wet day to the village and were told that we could either stroll around or pay $12 each for a guided tour which will take us to the inside of each of the buildings. We opted for the latter and it was the best $24 we had paid during our holiday.
The lovely young local Maori girl who accompanied us was full of local knowledge and was a delightful hostess who obviously loved her job. We visited all the ancient buildings, relocated to the village from their various locations and lovingly restored to their former glory with a lot of attention to detail. Each building was built in the early days of the English settlers which took us back a couple of hundred years back to wonder and appreciate the ingenuity and perseverance of those people who left for the unknown.
The Village has a real railway that runs round it which needs to be booked ahead as the train driver has other duties and need to be booked. It would be a wonderful ride for children who can learn about the life of people who came to New Zealand many years ago to build a land that is one of the best in the world to live in now.
There is a beautifully restored church with an exquisite stained glass window, restored wooden floors and pews. A school room with desks and benches and even an old fashioned slate and cases that carried books that I and my husband remembered with nostalgia from our own school days in another former British colony half a century ago provided us a trip down memory lane. We even found some text books that we remembered. There was a house Maioha Cottage which has a furnished lounge, kitchen, three bedrooms which had every conceivable item in a real house build around 1885. There was a granary, an outhouse, a courthouse and a police station complete with an interesting jail that had nothing but a cold stone floor and a large stone with a hole for a toilet and we were told that the Policeman’s wife had the cleaning duties. Crime rates must have been low as there was only room for two prisoners in the jail. There was a fire station with gleaming fire trucks, saw mills, agricultural equipment, a doctor’s surgery and what our delightful guide referred to as the “murder house” –a dentist’s surgery with a collection of ancient teeth with metal fillings.
We moved from one building to another in the rain under huge umbrellas and spent a delightful afternoon going back to half to two centuries in time.
The Pioneer Village needs to market itself a lot more as we suggested to the ladies who run it. We were told that they have two open days a year and that local school kids visit it but it is a place that should be visited by anyone who visits New Zealand to learn about the Pioneers who made this country what it is today.
I shall be back again with family and friends who visit us and it will be a stopover when we visit the Bay of Islands or Cape Reinga which are better known destinations for tourists.
I am so glad we visited the Pioneer Village as I learnt more about the life of early settlers in New Zealand in one and a half hours compared to all my 18 years in New Zealand so it is well worth a visit.
We were welcomed by two lovely ladies on a very wet day to the village and were told that we could either stroll around or pay $12 each for a guided tour which will take us to the inside of each of the buildings. We opted for the latter and it was the best $24 we had paid during our holiday.
The lovely young local Maori girl who accompanied us was full of local knowledge and was a delightful hostess who obviously loved her job. We visited all the ancient buildings, relocated to the village from their various locations and lovingly restored to their former glory with a lot of attention to detail. Each building was built in the early days of the English settlers which took us back a couple of hundred years back to wonder and appreciate the ingenuity and perseverance of those people who left for the unknown.
The Village has a real railway that runs round it which needs to be booked ahead as the train driver has other duties and need to be booked. It would be a wonderful ride for children who can learn about the life of people who came to New Zealand many years ago to build a land that is one of the best in the world to live in now.
There is a beautifully restored church with an exquisite stained glass window, restored wooden floors and pews. A school room with desks and benches and even an old fashioned slate and cases that carried books that I and my husband remembered with nostalgia from our own school days in another former British colony half a century ago provided us a trip down memory lane. We even found some text books that we remembered. There was a house Maioha Cottage which has a furnished lounge, kitchen, three bedrooms which had every conceivable item in a real house build around 1885. There was a granary, an outhouse, a courthouse and a police station complete with an interesting jail that had nothing but a cold stone floor and a large stone with a hole for a toilet and we were told that the Policeman’s wife had the cleaning duties. Crime rates must have been low as there was only room for two prisoners in the jail. There was a fire station with gleaming fire trucks, saw mills, agricultural equipment, a doctor’s surgery and what our delightful guide referred to as the “murder house” –a dentist’s surgery with a collection of ancient teeth with metal fillings.
We moved from one building to another in the rain under huge umbrellas and spent a delightful afternoon going back to half to two centuries in time.
The Pioneer Village needs to market itself a lot more as we suggested to the ladies who run it. We were told that they have two open days a year and that local school kids visit it but it is a place that should be visited by anyone who visits New Zealand to learn about the Pioneers who made this country what it is today.
I shall be back again with family and friends who visit us and it will be a stopover when we visit the Bay of Islands or Cape Reinga which are better known destinations for tourists.
Written 9 November 2013
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.
Shaeti
Wellington, New Zealand2 contributions
Jan 2019
Desk was unattended, the person running unfriendly and she wouldn’t open any of the buildings other than the church, despite charging us the full entry price.
Written 20 January 2019
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 sorry you did not enjoy your visit, and that our normal welcome and visiting procedures were not adhered to. Should you be in the area again, please feel free to call back and we will do our best to rectify your experience.
Written 22 January 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Maioha
Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany699 contributions
Feb 2019 • Friends
This is especially personal for me as the cottage my mother and her mother were both born in is one of the buildings in the Pioneer Village. It is the Maioha Cottage, which contains many pictures of our family including that of me and my wife. Sally kindly gave me the keys to the protective glass panes so that we could have a closer look in each room.
Written 27 February 2019
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.
Mythaluk
Greater London, UK74 contributions
Nov 2018 • Solo
A relaxing place to spend an informative hour about the earlier European buildings in this part of NZ, and items available prior to the 20th century. There is probably more to do at weekends compared to the time I visited.
Written 14 November 2018
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.
Freklejuice
Whangarei, New Zealand28 contributions
Oct 2015 • Business
I have visited here many times. The staff and volunteers always make us feel special.
The museum is well worth a look. And in the summer the begonia house is stunning. The colours nature produces in the different flowers has got to be seen.
The museum is well worth a look. And in the summer the begonia house is stunning. The colours nature produces in the different flowers has got to be seen.
Written 7 January 2016
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.
Caroline1947
Tweed Heads, Australia10 contributions
Oct 2013 • Solo
I have just visited the very top end of NZ. The countryside is quite stunning with some beautiful sunsets, very friendly people. If you go to the North Island of NZ I believe a trip further north than Auckland is a must.
Cape Rienga was awesome with a bus company who drove us back along 90 mile beach.
I hired a car from a company in Auckland called, "USAVE" Which is situated 60/64 The Strand, Parnell, Auckland. They have other outlets.
Anyway get yourself a car and travell north.
Cape Rienga was awesome with a bus company who drove us back along 90 mile beach.
I hired a car from a company in Auckland called, "USAVE" Which is situated 60/64 The Strand, Parnell, Auckland. They have other outlets.
Anyway get yourself a car and travell north.
Written 5 December 2013
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.
Maioha
Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany699 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
This was our fifth or sixth time back to the Pioneer Village in Kaikohe - to once again visit the Maioha Cottage, which my great grandfather built in 1875 and in which both my mother and her mother were born. It was like a journey back in time and well woth making again,
Written 11 March 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.
Explore786900
Rhoose, UK2 contributions
Mar 2020
The reception desk was attended but unenthusiastic.
The buildings were mostly open but uninspired displays.
There was one worker who was pleasant and informative to talk with.
The buildings were mostly open but uninspired displays.
There was one worker who was pleasant and informative to talk with.
Written 26 March 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.
ThereseJo
Houhora, New Zealand8 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
This is a wonderful place to visit. The exhibits are informative and relevant. The staff were welcoming. Great coffee and chocolate cake. Well worth the $10/adult entrance. Thank you.
Written 20 January 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.
No questions have been asked about this experience
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