Upcoming Workshops & Activities
What's on in September?
Spring has sprung at the Village! Bring a picnic and soak up the warmer days. Explore the site with a garden discovery trail and interactive demonstrations on weekends. What’s on this September?
Victorian School Lesson
Saturdays 11am
Pull up your socks and check your nails! Step into the 1870s Ararimu Schoolhouse and take a seat for a 30 minute lesson. A costumed interpreter will guide you through the 3 Rs, practice handwriting on slates, and show you what discipline looked like in the classroom. Make sure to stay out of trouble or face the cane!
Free with general admission. No booking required.
Beeswax Candle Making
Sundays 11am
Discover historical methods of candle-making in a hands-on demo with a costumed guide. Meet the bees at the hives and learn about their importance as pollinators. Make your own candle from a beeswax sheet!
Cost - gold coin koha. No booking required.
Flower Pressing Workshop
Explore the gardens and discover the delicate art of flower-pressing in the beautiful setting of the Howick Historical Village!
A favourite pastime of the Victorians, flowers, foliage and ferns were pressed and preserved as keepsakes or collectibles, then displayed in albums or used as embellishments. Historical interpreter Ruth Page will guide you through the process and share tips for the best results.
📅 Dates:
Wednesday 9 September 1:30-3:30
Wednesday 23 September 1:30-3:30
Saturday 24 October 1:30-3:30
⏰ 1:30–3:30pm
💲 Cost:
$34 (bring your own heavy book)
$48 (flower press included)
🎟 Includes entry to explore the Village (open 10am–4pm)
📩 Bookings essential – places are limited
Suitable for age 14+
A relaxing, creative afternoon surrounded by history and gardens — perfect for nature lovers and craft enthusiasts alike
East Auckland Embroiderers Guild Bi-annual Showcase 2026
Admire a variety of needlework pieces created by accomplished East Auckland embroiderers.
Set against the ornamented décor of the 1861 parlour of grand Puhi Nui homestead at Howick Historical Village, view examples of traditional work, modern creations and multi-media projects.
Artworks, ornaments and textiles are made to New Zealand and international patterns as well as original designs.
Come along to chat to members and learn more about the guild.
Take the chance explore the historic buildings and heritage gardens of the Village, harking back to a time of handmade materials and artisanal crafts.
FREE ENTRY to the exhibition only.
Admission to the Village: Adults $16, Seniors/Students $14, Children $8.
Spring School Holiday Fun
Go back in time when everything was homegrown and handmade. Learn skills in hands-on activities with costumed guides, Explore the historic buildings and heritage gardens and make a day of it!
TUESDAYS Bread making 10:30
Visit the flour mill, grind wheat, make dough and bake a harvest loaf. Explore the Village while your bread is baking. $8 per child
WEDNESDAYS Pizza making 10:30 & 12pm
Make a full 12-inch pizza from scratch with toppings of your choice, baked the Village bread oven. With chef Sach from Wedg Ave Woodfired.
Booking essential $23 per child includes admission. Book on Eventfinda
THURSDAYS Beeswax candles 11am
Meet the busy, buzzy residents of the garden and make your own candles. $6pp
FRIDAYS ‘Fetch the Water’ 11am
Open the well and draw up the water. Try the water pump and learn about Victorian Wash Day.
SATURDAYS School Lesson 11am
Mind your manners and sit up straight or face the stap! Learn your 3 Rs and practice handwriting on slates.
SUNDAYS Beeswax candles 11am
Meet the busy, buzzy residents of the garden and make your own candles. $6pp
No booking required except for pizza making. Admission: adult $16, senior/student $14, child $8, child under 5 free. Additional charge applies for candle making.
Open Tues-Sun 10am-4pm. Last admission at 3pm.
Pizza Making Wednesdays
Pizza Making Wednesdays
Just in time for the school holidays! Get hands-on and make your own full 12-inch pizza from scratch, topped just the way you like it, then baked to perfection in the Village bread oven with chef Sach from Wedg Ave Woodfired.
Dates & Sessions
Wednesday, 30 September 2026 & Wednesday, 7 October 2026
Sessions at 10:30am & 12:00pm
Location
75 Bells Road, Auckland, Auckland, 2010, New Zealand (map)
Price
$23 per child (includes admission)
Booking essential
Working with Pressed Flowers
Discover some of the applications for using pressed flowers in crafts, cards and keepsakes. Working with paper, and delicate pressed flowers & foliage , you will make a variety of pieces with historical interpreter and Ruth Page. Enjoy a peaceful afternoon in the historic parlour of Puhi Nui homestead! Wander through the gardens for inspiration before your class. This class is the follow up to our Flower Pressing Workshop.
📅 Dates:
Saturday 3 October, 1:30-3:30
Wednesday 14 October 1:30-3:30
Wednesday 22 October1:30-3:30
⏰ 1:30–3:30pm
💲 Cost:
Pressed flowers will be provided but bring your own if you have them.
Bookings essential as places are limited. $34 Includes entry to explore the Village on the day. Open 10am-4pm.
Suitable for age 14+
A relaxing, creative afternoon surrounded by history and gardens — perfect for nature lovers and craft enthusiasts alike
Spring Fete Perfume Workshop | Create Your Own Scent
Discover the art of fragrance creation in this hands-on perfume workshop inspired by spring and the scents of the new season.
In this intimate 1.5 hour session with aromatist Julie Holder from Mumma J's, learn about the scents that were popular in the early 1900s alongside those we love today. Explore a curated selection of essential oils and fragrances. Then blend, experiment, and create a scent that’s uniquely yours to take home!
With just 14 participants per session, this is a truly personal and engaging experience, perfect for anyone who loves fragrance or is looking for a thoughtful gift.
Admission includes entry to the 'Spring Fete' Live Day, before or after the class.
Three sessions available – bookings essential. Eventfinda only
⏰ 10.30-12.00
⏰ 12.00-1.30
⏰ 2.00-3.30
💲 Cost:
$45 per person for the perfume-making workshop
Please note: your workshop ticket covers the perfume experience only and does not include entry to the Village. To take part, you’ll just need to purchase a Village entry ticket as well.
Admission:
Adult $18 | Student/Senior $14 | Child $10 | Family Pass $46
Free entry for children under 5, members, and annual pass holders.
Recommended for ages 14 and over
What's on in August?
As winter fades and spring edges closer, there are still plenty of crisp, sunny days to enjoy at Howick Historical Village.
Bring a picnic and explore the site. Have a go at crafts and old-fashioned outdoor games. What’s on this August?
Victorian School Lesson
Saturdays 11am
Pull up your socks and check your nails! Step into the 1870s Ararimu Schoolhouse and take a seat for a 30 minute lesson. A costumed interpreter will guide you through the 3 Rs, practice handwriting on slates, and show you what discipline looked like in the classroom. Make sure to stay out of trouble or face the cane!
Free with general admission. No booking required.
Beeswax Candle Making
Sundays 11am
Discover historical methods of candle-making in a hands-on demo with a costumed guide. Meet the bees at the hives and learn about their importance as pollinators. Make your own candle from a beeswax sheet!
Cost - gold coin koha. No booking required.
Matariki: Reclaiming Indigenous Death Practices
Join Trinity Hereora (Tainui), Aratohu tangihanga and natural funeral guide, for a 1.5-hour session exploring practical and cultural approaches to end-of-life care.
Learn about key processes such as death certification and the role of medical practitioners, alongside practical ways to care for the body at home. This includes accessible cooling options and natural preparation methods, with hands-on demonstration of shrouding using whāriki and other natural materials, and adapting everyday items for support.
The session will also introduce the use of natural plant materials such as mānuka, and kawakawa in body care.
Event Details
Duration: 1.5 hours
Suitable for: General audiences (recommended 16+)
Admission:
Adults $22, Student/Senior $20. Admission includes entry to explore the Village. Bookings highly recommended as places are limited.
Free entry for children under 5, members, and annual pass holders.
Botanicals Perfume Making Workshop
Matariki is a time to remember those who have shaped our lives, to reflect on where we've come from, and to think about the path ahead.
On 10 July, we're offering two special 1.5-hour fragrance workshops at Howick Historical Village where you'll create your own custom scent to take home.
Working with a range of beautiful fragrance notes and essential oils, you'll blend a fragrance that is uniquely yours, one that smells special and may also include ingredients known for their calming, uplifting, or restorative qualities.
It's often said that scent is the strongest trigger of memory. The smell of a garden, a favourite flower, a loved one's perfume, or even the sea can instantly transport us back to a person, place, or moment in time. This workshop is an opportunity to capture some of those memories while also creating something that represents who you are today and who you hope to be in the months ahead.
Part creativity, part reflection, and part self-care, this is a lovely way to mark Matariki and leave with a beautiful bespoke fragrance that tells a story only you can tell.
Two sessions available on 10 July. Numbers are limited to ensure everyone has plenty of time and guidance in creating their fragrance.
⏰ 10.30am - 12.00pm
⏰ 1.00pm - 2.30pm
💲 Cost:
$45 per person
Admission:
Adult $18
Please note: An admission ticket must be purchased in addition to the workshop ticket. We've bundled the pricing on Eventfinda
Recommended for ages 14 and over
Botanical garden tour
Every last Saturday of the month, 1:30pm.
Come along on this guided ramble through the autumnal gardens at the Village.
Presented by a costumed historical interpreter, explore the seasonal changes and discover some of the varieties of plants and trees that feature with a perspective on the cultivation of the natural world from past to present. This large open-air ‘living history’ museum was extensively landscaped when it was opened to the public in 1980, and is now managed by a full heritage gardener. The seven-acre site features a pond with wetland scrub, heritage vegetable and flower gardens, and lots of native tree and flora such as harakeke, manuka and kawakawa. Notable trees include oak, mulberry, and fruit trees such as quinces, medlars, pomelos, stone fruit and more.
This is a 1 hour meandering stroll at a slow pace, mostly along the shell paths, occasionally veering into grassy areas to look closer at the vegetable and herb gardens.
Free with admission
Palettes & Perfume – Perfume Making Workshop
Palettes & Perfume – Perfume Making Workshop
Step into the elegant parlour of Puhi Nui and discover the art of scent creation.
As part of our Palettes & Perfume Live Day, join Julie Holder from the much-loved local business Mumma J’s for a hands-on perfume making workshop inspired by both history and modern fragrance.
In this intimate session, you’ll explore a curated selection of essential oils, learning about the scents popular in the early 1900s alongside those we love today. Then it’s your turn to create.
Craft your own personalised fragrance as a:
• Roller bottle or spray
Blend, experiment, and take home a scent that’s uniquely yours.
With just 10 participants per 1.5-hour session, this is a truly personal and engaging experience, perfect for anyone who loves fragrance or is looking for a thoughtful gift.
Julie will also have a beautiful range of essential oils available to purchase, so you can continue your scent journey at home.
Three sessions available – bookings essential. Eventfinda only
⏰ 10.00-11.30
⏰ 12.00-1.30
⏰ 2.00-3.30
💲 Cost:
$35 per person for the perfume-making workshop
Please note: your workshop ticket covers the perfume experience only and does not include entry to the Village. To take part, you’ll just need to purchase a Village entry ticket as well.
Admission:
Adult $18 | Student/Senior $14 | Child $10 | Family Pass $46
Free entry for children under 5, members, and annual pass holders.
Recommended for ages 14 and over
Flower Pressing Workshop May
Step back in time and discover the delicate Victorian art of flower pressing at Howick Historical Village.
Explore the gardens, gather flowers and foliage, and learn how to press and preserve them as keepsakes, just as the Victorians once did. Historical interpreter Ruth Page will guide you through the process and share tips for the best results.
📅 Dates:
• Saturday 9 May
⏰ 1:30–3:30pm
💲 Cost:
$28 (bring your own heavy book)
$42 (flower press included – yours to keep)
🎟 Includes entry to explore the Village (open 10am–4pm)
📩 Bookings essential – places are limited
Suitable for age 14+
A relaxing, creative afternoon surrounded by history and gardens — perfect for nature lovers and craft enthusiasts alike
School Holiday Fun | April
Go back in time when everything was homegrown and handmade. Get crafty and learn skills in hands-on activities with costumed guides, inspired by the natural world. Explore the historic buildings and heritage gardens and make a day of it!
TUESDAYS - Cynanotype prints 10:30-12:30
Capture the beauty of nature in a sun print. Drop in between 10:30-12:30pm
WEDNESDAYS – Critter crafts! 10:30 & 11:30
Create ants, bees, ladybugs and other insects from natural and recycled materials.
THURSDAYS – Beeswax candle making 11am
Meet the busy, buzzy residents of the garden and make your own candles. $6pp
FRIDAYS – Butter making 11am
Roll up your sleeves and help churn cream into butter!
SATURDAYS – Rag rugs 11am
‘Waste not, want not’. Learn to make a rug from fabric scraps.
SUNDAYS – Butter making 11am
EASTER EXTRAVAGANZA!! Sunday 5 April 10am-3pm
No booking required. Admission: adult $16, senior/student $14, child $8, child under 5 free. Additional charge applies for candlemaking.
Open Tues-Sun 10am-4pm. Last admission at 3pm. Closed Good Friday.
Bookbinding Workshop
Discover the art of book making and make a hand-bound, hardcover book of your own in this comprehensive introductory workshop at Howick Historical Village. Run by expert bookmakers at the Auckland Regional Bindery based on site, you will be guided through the process of making a beautiful compact notebook, fully bound in bookcloth, including a small A7 flip pad and integrated pencil. Learn the basics on tools and materials, terminology, different styles of binding, structure of paper, grain, grammage, paper handling, repair principles and more. This course is an excellent starting point for anyone interested in the art of book crafts and leads on other workshops run by the Auckland regional Bindery. Membership to the Association of Book Crafts allows free use of the bindery and invitation to members-only training and classes throughout the year.
All materials are provided. A half-hour break is included (bring lunch or visit the onsite café). $40 Bookings essential. Places are limited. Book via Eventfinda.
Flower Pressing Workshop
Step back in time and discover the delicate Victorian art of flower pressing at Howick Historical Village.
Explore the gardens, gather flowers and foliage, and learn how to press and preserve them as keepsakes, just as the Victorians once did. Historical interpreter Ruth Page will guide you through the process and share tips for the best results.
📅 Dates:
• Saturday 21 March
• Saturday 28 March
• Saturday 11 April
• Saturday 18 April
⏰ 1:30–3:30pm
💲 Cost:
$28 (bring your own heavy book)
$42 (flower press included – yours to keep)
🎟 Includes entry to explore the Village (open 10am–4pm)
📩 Bookings essential – places are limited
Suitable for age 14+
A relaxing, creative afternoon surrounded by history and gardens — perfect for nature lovers and craft enthusiasts alike
What's on in March
The seasons are starting to turn but there are still sunny days ahead at Howick Historical Village!
Bring a picnic and explore the site. Discover how summer produce was preserved for the winter months ahead in our 'Late Summer Harvest Trail'. Have a go at crafts and old-fashioned outdoor games.
Interactive demos with costumed guides take place on the weekends:
Saturdays - RAG RUGS drop in from 11am-12:30pm
Sundays - BUTTER CHURNING at 11am
Free with admission. No booking required.
February Summer at the Village
Summer days continue at Howick Historical Village! Bring a picnic and explore the site. Have a go at old fashioned outdoor games or our summer orienteering challenge.
Throughout February, interactive demonstrations with our costumed guides bring everyday Victorian life to life at 11am each day. Discover traditional skills and seasonal tasks including butter making, seed saving, rope making, candle making, butter churning, and wash day.
Everyday in February at 11am!
Tuesdays CYANOTYPE PRINTING
Wednesdays WASH DAY
Thursdays ROPE MAKING
Fridays BUTTER CHURNING
Saturdays CANDLE MAKING
Sundays BUTTER CHURNING
These daily demonstrations are free with admission, and no booking is required — just turn up and enjoy a taste of summer as it was in the 1800s.
January Summer at the Village
Pack a picnic and gather your friends and whānau for a relaxed summer day at Howick Historical Village. Enjoy the gardens, try your hand at old-fashioned outdoor games, or take on our self-guided summer orienteering challenge as you explore the village.
Throughout January, interactive demonstrations with our costumed guides bring everyday Victorian life to life at 11am each day. Discover traditional skills and seasonal tasks including butter making, seed saving, rope making, candle making, butter churning, and wash day.
Everyday in January at 11am!
Tuesdays BUTTERMAKING
Wednesdays SEED SAVING TOUR
Thursdays ROPE MAKING
Fridays CANDLE MAKING
Saturdays BUTTER CHURNING
Sundays WASH DAY
These daily demonstrations are free with admission, and no booking is required — just turn up and enjoy a taste of summer as it was in the 1800s.
Bookbinding Workshop - Auckland Regional Bindery
Learn the art of handmade bookbinding in this introductory workshop at Howick Historical Village. Led by expert bookmakers from the on-site Auckland Regional Bindery, participants will create a Crisscross-bound hardcover book—an inventive binding style developed in the 1980s.
The course covers tools, materials, terminology, paper structure and handling, binding styles, repair basics and more—an ideal foundation for anyone interested in book crafts, with pathways to further workshops. Joining the Association of Book Crafts provides free bindery access and members-only training.
All materials included. Half-hour lunch break (bring food or visit the café). Workshop tickets also include entry to the Village Live Day “History in the Baking.”
Bookings essential. Limited spaces.
Butter Making
Step back in time at Historical Village, when everything was homemade and homegrown and sustainability was a way of life.
Experience some of the hard work done every day. Roll up your sleeves to help churn cream into butter in a hands-on demonstration with a costumed guide!
Taste the butter afterwards on crackers!
Explore 30 historic buildings and the beautiful heritage gardens on the 7-acre site. Bring a picnic or grab something from the Homestead cafe. Make a day of it!
Free with admission to the Village. Admission: adult $16, senior/student $13, child $8.
Dates: Sunday 13 April at 11am
Flower Pressing Workshop
Explore the gardens and discover the delicate art of flower-pressing in the beautiful setting of the Howick Historical Village!
A favourite pastime of the Victorians, flowers, foliage, and ferns were pressed and preserved as keepsakes or collectibles, then displayed in albums or used as embellishments.
Historical interpreter Ruth Page will guide you through the process and share tips for the best results.
📗 Bring along a heavy hardcover book to use as a press. Or for an extra cost, a flower press will be provided that is yours to keep!
Bookings are essential as places are limited.
Cost $25 (no press) or $40 (press included).
Includes entry to explore the Village on the day. Open 10am-4pm.
Not suitable for children under 14.
Beeswax Candle Making
Step back in time at Historical Village, where everything was homemade and homegrown—when sustainability was simply a way of life.
Gain insight into the daily work of the past and take part in a hands-on historical candle-making demonstration with a costumed guide. Meet the bees and craft your own candle from a beeswax sheet.
Explore 30 historic buildings and stroll through beautiful heritage gardens across the 7-acre site. Enjoy outdoor games and crafts to keep the little ones entertained. Bring a picnic or grab a bite at the Homestead Café. Make a day of it!
Admission:
Historical Village entry: Adults $16 | Seniors/Students $13 | Children $8
Candle-making experience: $5 per person
Dates for Candle Making experience: Saturday 5 April & Saturday 12 April
Butter Making
Step back in time at Historical Village, when everything was homemade and homegrown and sustainability was a way of life.
Experience some of the hard work done every day. Roll up your sleeves to help churn cream into butter in a hands-on demonstration with a costumed guide!
Taste the butter afterwards on crackers!
Explore 30 historic buildings and the beautiful heritage gardens on the 7-acre site. Bring a picnic or grab something from the Homestead cafe. Make a day of it!
Free with admission to the Village. Admission: adult $16, senior/student $13, child $8.
Dates: Sunday 6 April & Sunday 13 April at 11am
Beeswax Candle Making
Step back in time at Historical Village, where everything was homemade and homegrown—when sustainability was simply a way of life.
Gain insight into the daily work of the past and take part in a hands-on historical candle-making demonstration with a costumed guide. Meet the bees and craft your own candle from a beeswax sheet.
Explore 30 historic buildings and stroll through beautiful heritage gardens across the 7-acre site. Enjoy outdoor games and crafts to keep the little ones entertained. Bring a picnic or grab a bite at the Homestead Café. Make a day of it!
Admission:
Historical Village entry: Adults $16 | Seniors/Students $13 | Children $8
Candle-making experience: $5 per person
Dates for Candle-making experience: Saturday 5 April & Saturday 12 April
