Highwic - Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga

Interesting place to visit. Flanked by Cinemas, Apartments, Highway 1, and a Westfield shopping center. What can one expect? Well, as soon as you walk thru the gates of this grand estate, it's like wow what a contrast! Incredible preservation despite the city being built all around it. I visited for a few hours on a Sunday afternoon in early November 2025. Great people running the place. the floor plans with description sheets make navigating the house easy. Fascinating history of a wealthy pioneer, what kind of person has 11 children & nearly does it again later with the second wife for a total 21 children! I like the architecture of this gothic, arts & crafts home with some Victorian touches, emphasizing vertical board & batten. As an American on vacation for the first time in New Zealand, I like going to the more off the beaten path stuff. And this was a nice treat. Also, as a English Heritage annual member, it's accepted here as well. This was my favorite of the three, but I highly recommend visiting the other two HNZPT sites in the area: Alberton (Mt. Albert) & Ewelme cottage (Parnell). All three were built around the same time, but each with a completely different story.

I really enjoyed the period furniture. It gave a good impression of what life was like growing up in a wealthy household. Very helpful staff and the property was a peaceful oasis within Auckland.

Have been wanting to visit Highwic for a long time and was very impressed. A beautiful historical family home with an amazing history. We were there for more than an hour and a half exploring the realistically furnished rooms.

I've visited Highwic several times, and each experience has been thoroughly enjoyable. Exploring the beautifully preserved home and hearing the fascinating stories of the family who once lived there really brings the past to life. One of the highlights was attending their monthly baking event—it was genuinely one of the best experiences I've had in Auckland. The cakes were absolutely delicious, and we learned so much about traditional New Zealand baking. My parents, who were visiting from Hungary, also fell in love with the charm of the house. I highly recommend visiting this hidden gem in Auckland, especially alongside other local heritage sites.

Gorgeous grounds with a fascinating history. It was lovely walking through and seeing how the house was used throughout it's years. The staff was also lovely and we really enjoyed our visit. This is a very nice tucked away gem across from Westfield Newmarket

Had a wonderful time this weekend at Highwic. It’s such an important piece of history, beautifully preserved and nestled right in the heart of Newmarket. The house still stands with all its glory, offering a fascinating glimpse into Auckland’s past. A special thanks to Jaikrishna and Aarabhi who took us through the house—their knowledge and enthusiasm made the experience even more memorable. A must-visit for anyone who appreciates heritage, architecture, and a peaceful escape in the middle of the city.

Good space to spend time on weekend and very beautiful surrounds. Lot of history to learn. The venue managers Jai and Arabhi deserve a raise for being very welcoming and showing us around with cinematic commentary on history of the place. Well worth a visit.

An illustrative heritage building of the life of early settlers. There are informative maps and nice volunteers to introduce the story. A nice walk of half an hour in the Newmarket area. Entrance is next to the entrance of Westfield Newmarket parking from Mortimer Pass.