Highwic 1862

Quiz. Play. Win.

Calling all time travellers - step inside Heritage New Zealand properties, Highwic and Alberton and travel back to the late 1800's. See if you've got what it takes to crack the Time Traveller's Quiz. Explore the houses and hunt for clues. Completed entry goes in the draw to win a $50 Westfield gift voucher.

Plus, discover the stars of Matariki and play the He Hononga Whetū a card game created by Te Papa while you are there.

Highwic 1862 Alberton 1863

From coal range baking, object conservation, hosting visitor, gardening, cleaning and flower arranging, we are so fortunate to have the most fantastic volunteers by our side, helping to look after our precious heritage properties. This National Volunteer Week, we would like to send a special thank you to all our volunteers for your wonderful support.

Join us for a guided tour of Highwic, Thursday 25 June 10.30am - 12.00pm, to get up close and learn more about the lives of the pioneering Buckland family who lived at Highwic from the 1860s.

Staff will guide you from room to room bringing to light the unique stories and objects in each space.

To book, email [email protected].

We are delighted to welcome back to Highwic craft distiller Jill Mulvaney from Alembics Lab for an exciting new Botanical Soda Workshop.? Think it needs your name on it. Learn to craft elegant, naturally fermented zero-alcohol sodas using aromatic herbs, warming spices, and seasonal fruit.

Perfect for foodies, home fermenters and anyone seeking a classy alcohol-free alternative.

Cost: $225
Book today. https://thealembicslab.com/product/botanical-sodas-at-highwic/

Ewelme Cottage reopens Sunday 14 June.

We are delighted to reopen Ewelme Cottage to the public following a restoration project undertaken by Auckland Council contractors.

This much-loved heritage property is has received some well-deserved attention and now has a wonderful new front fence and gate; weather boards and roofing have been replaced and repainted; and work has been done on the chimneys. The interior has also received a deep clean, and the furniture and objects have all come out from storage and been put back on display.

A big thank you to the team of staff and volunteers who have worked on the resetting project; to Auckland Council for funding the upgrade work; and to the contractors who have done an excellent job and were a pleasure to work with.

Ewelme Cottage is owned by Auckland Council and proudly cared for by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga who own the collection and manage the day-to-day operations of the property.

Ewelme Cottage, 14 Ayr Street, Parnell, Auckland
Entry is $10pp (Free for Heritage NZ Members, and children 17 years and under).

Last week, we hosted Middle School West Auckland at Highwic and it was fantastic! They were here to learn about architecture, but it churns out unsurprisingly that the star of the show… was making butter! Incredible teamwork and patience all round with yummy sandwiches made the old-fashioned way to take home. Ka rawe Middle School West Auckland.

Coal Range Baking at Highwic on Wednesday 3 June 2026, 11am - 12.30pm. Watch our talented bakers recreate traditional Victorian recipes and modern favourites in our Shacklock Coal Range. Free for HNZPT members and children. $10 per adult (standard house entry charge).

As part of the Auckland Festival of Photography, we have a fantastic display of pinhole photographs and cameras created by Jenny Tomlin on display in the Billiard House. One is even made from a paper wasp nest, and another from a piece of borer ridden wood!

Join Jenny for a workshop at Highwic on Saturday 13 June, 10am - 3pm to make your own pinhole camera, and have a go using it. Cost: $120pp (adults).

Book through eventbrite https://JennyTomlinPinholeWShop.eventbrite.co.nz
or for more info contact: [email protected]

During the Victorian period, decorative screens were a popular household furnishing. They were used to shield sitters from draughts, protect against the direct heat of a fire, conceal clutter, or divide a room into smaller spaces. Folding screens often consisted of three hinged wooden panels covered with fabric or canvas, which owners could decorate themselves.

Large decoupage sourcebooks, such as the one pictured here, were sold containing printed decorative scraps for women’s craft projects. These images were glued onto the screen and sealed with layers of varnish, creating a unique personalised piece of domestic furniture. It is thought that the screen at Highwic may have been made by the Buckland daughters using this scrap sourcebook or one similar.