Puhoi Historic Village
Auckland
At a glance
Puhoi Historic Village is a pretty settlement, 50 kilometres north of Auckland. The tranquil village is nestled alongside Puhoi River and features a general store, hotel, museum, pub and cafe.
Entering the village, the Church of Saint Peter and Paul is a beautiful and much photographed structure. The first settlers reached Puhoi in 1863 by river on canoes and, after clearing the dense forest, set about farming the land. The early settlers were from Bohemia (now the Czech Republic).They built the church in 1881, still functioning today. There is an annual anniversary celebration of the Bohemian settlers every June which attracts hundreds of descendants and visitors. Further annual events are planned to make this a calendar event for all.
The Pūhoi Museum is located in the old Convent School and is well worth a visit to gain an idea of how the village was settled and the hardships, along with the way of life which developed in the settlement during generations of farming.
The hotel and pub that overlooks the river, is a popular spot for lunchtime drinks. There is a quaint historic general store.
Puhoi River Canoe Hire offers scenic 8km kayaking trip along the beautiful Puhoi River to Wenderholm Regional Park. Self-guided adventure, in safe water, perfect for beginners.
In the centre of the village lies the Pūhoi Pioneers Memorial Park, which boasts a lovely community orchard and pergola where the annual community picnic is held and the summer Village Market. It also offers a series of walks. The first is the River Walkway, accessed from the farm track beside the orchard. It is a flat, grassed track following the river for about a kilometre, with revegetation on the river side and farmed paddocks on the other. There are picnic tables scattered along, providing a great place to have wine and cheese from the local store, or share a family picnic.
The second walk, accessed from beside the toilet block in the carpark is the Loop Track, which climbs up through forest planted by Ben Schollum in the 1960s, to emerge on the ridge above the village, providing fantastic views of the village and along the Pūhoi Valley. You will pass the memorial to Arthur Dunn, a tireless contributor to the village and the park, which provides a great stop to rest and enjoy the closer views of the village.
The park is managed by the Pūhoi Community Forum, whose volunteers have established the orchard and embarked on an ambitious revegetation project in conjunction with Auckland Council, to return the park to native forest.
Just beyond the village (300 metres), there is the Pūhoi Cottage Tea Room, and a further two kilometres will bring you to the Pūhoi Cemetery beside the Pūhoi River where many graves of the early settlers are marked. It's a tranquil spot to visit and explore the memorials to the people who came to New Zealand and established the settlement of Pūhoi. You will recognize many names you saw at the Pūhoi Museum and on the roads you pass.
Entering the village, the Church of Saint Peter and Paul is a beautiful and much photographed structure. The first settlers reached Puhoi in 1863 by river on canoes and, after clearing the dense forest, set about farming the land. The early settlers were from Bohemia (now the Czech Republic).They built the church in 1881, still functioning today. There is an annual anniversary celebration of the Bohemian settlers every June which attracts hundreds of descendants and visitors. Further annual events are planned to make this a calendar event for all.
The Pūhoi Museum is located in the old Convent School and is well worth a visit to gain an idea of how the village was settled and the hardships, along with the way of life which developed in the settlement during generations of farming.
The hotel and pub that overlooks the river, is a popular spot for lunchtime drinks. There is a quaint historic general store.
Puhoi River Canoe Hire offers scenic 8km kayaking trip along the beautiful Puhoi River to Wenderholm Regional Park. Self-guided adventure, in safe water, perfect for beginners.
In the centre of the village lies the Pūhoi Pioneers Memorial Park, which boasts a lovely community orchard and pergola where the annual community picnic is held and the summer Village Market. It also offers a series of walks. The first is the River Walkway, accessed from the farm track beside the orchard. It is a flat, grassed track following the river for about a kilometre, with revegetation on the river side and farmed paddocks on the other. There are picnic tables scattered along, providing a great place to have wine and cheese from the local store, or share a family picnic.
The second walk, accessed from beside the toilet block in the carpark is the Loop Track, which climbs up through forest planted by Ben Schollum in the 1960s, to emerge on the ridge above the village, providing fantastic views of the village and along the Pūhoi Valley. You will pass the memorial to Arthur Dunn, a tireless contributor to the village and the park, which provides a great stop to rest and enjoy the closer views of the village.
The park is managed by the Pūhoi Community Forum, whose volunteers have established the orchard and embarked on an ambitious revegetation project in conjunction with Auckland Council, to return the park to native forest.
Just beyond the village (300 metres), there is the Pūhoi Cottage Tea Room, and a further two kilometres will bring you to the Pūhoi Cemetery beside the Pūhoi River where many graves of the early settlers are marked. It's a tranquil spot to visit and explore the memorials to the people who came to New Zealand and established the settlement of Pūhoi. You will recognize many names you saw at the Pūhoi Museum and on the roads you pass.
