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Park Activities

BBQ

A few electric and solid fuel barbecues are provided. But you need to supply your own wood or charcoal.

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Farm animals

Sheep and young cattle are grazed on the park with lambing attracting visitors during the spring.

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Beaches

Wenderholm is a family friendly beach with a grassy picnic area and the shade of Pohutukawa trees.

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Dogs

Dogs are allowed at the the park entrance, walking track to the Waiwera Estuary and Kokuru Bay. Dogs are prohibited at all times from the main carpark, bush headlands, picnic areas and adjoining beaches.

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Kayaking

Wenderholm is a great place to launch your kayak from.

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Weddings

Couldrey House and gardens is a prime spot for your wedding ceremony.

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Fishing

Landbased fishing enthusiasts can try for kahawai and snapper at the mouth of the Puhoi River

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Swimming

The beach is relatively safe for swimming, watch for tidal currents at the mouth of the Puhoi River.

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Walks (1 hour or more)

For a longer walk talk the Perimeter Track right around the park, or the Maungatauhoro Te Hikoi

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Walks (Less than 1 hour)

Take a short but steep walk up to the Couldrey House lookout or towards the Puhoi river.

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Tracks

Couldrey House Lookout Walk
15 minutes / 0 km

Couldrey House Lookout Walk

Walk
Time: 15 minutes
Distance: 0 km

Follow the Couldrey House Track from the pouwhenua (carving) near Couldrey House. The climb to the lookout is reasonably steep but the track is very well maintained.

Pram friendly: No

Te Akeake Walk
30 minutes / 1 km

Te Akeake Walk

Walk
Time: 30 minutes
Distance: 1 km

An unmarked walk to the Puhoi River mouth. Te Akeake is the area at the end of the sandspit headland.

Pram friendly: No

Maungatauhoro Te Hikoi
90 minutes / 2 km

Maungatauhoro Te Hikoi

Walk
Time: 90 minutes
Distance: 2 km

A loop that begins at the pouwhenua (carving) near Couldrey House. Along this journey enjoy stunning views and a chance to see rare birds.

Pram friendly: No

Perimeter Track
150 minutes / 4 km

Perimeter Track

Walk
Time: 150 minutes
Distance: 4 km

This track takes you right around Maungatauhoro then descends to Kokoru Bay on Waiwera estuary. Steep in parts and some unformed track.

Pram friendly: No

Print view

Wenderholm

Cradled by the Puhoi and Waiwera Rivers, Wenderholm was the first Auckland Regional park and remains one of the most beautiful.

Its forested headland, rich in native birdlife is one of Auckland's finest examples. The historic Couldrey House sits in beautiful serene grounds, and a carved pouwhenua nearby welcomes visitors to Wenderholm.

There are ample sheltered grounds for picnics and games and the fine swimming beach draws the summer crowds. The park opened in 1965 and took its name from the historic homestead on site, which was formerly known as Wenderholm (winter home).

Park facilities

Boat Ramp
Small to medium boats can launch either side of high tide.

Camping
Wenderholm has camping available for a small fee. more...

Picnics sites
The park has picnic sites, and can accommodate large group bookings. more...

Baches
Wenderholm Beach House sleeps 6. more...

History

Maori lived here for close to 1000 years because of its plentiful natural resources. Wenderholm was the focal point of Maori settlement in the Mahurangi District and the site of an historic peace making agreement (mihirau) between the Kawerau and Hauraki tribes in the 1780s. Prominent Auckland politician and entrepreneur Robert Graham became the first European owner in 1868. Graham built a homestead (Wenderholm) on the flat, to use while he spent time at his Waiwera thermal resort in winter. The house is now known as Couldrey House after its last private owner. It has been restored and is run by volunteers as a museum, open to the public on weekends. Historic trees are also a feature at Wenderholm with Caucasian fir, bunya bunya pine, Moreton Bay fig, Holm oak, cork oak, magnolia, coral trees and others planted as long as the 1860s. Many of these were gifts to Robert Graham from Sir George Grey.

Wildlife

The coastal forest on the Maungatauhoro ("mountain with the eroding cliffs") headland is a haven for native birds thanks to intensive pest control and a large-scale restoration of parts of the forest. Native pigeon (kereru) and tui abound at Wenderholm, feeding on the fruit of the forest. See the small, friendly North Island Robin (toutouwai), which has been reintroduced and is breeding successfully at the park. The rare fernbird and banded rail, which make their home in the Salt marsh on the Puhoi Estuary, are shy by comparison. Kookaburra, some say descended from the birds released by NZ Governor George Grey on Kawau Island in the 1870s, are still seen and heard in the trees around Wenderholm.

Native bush

Kowhai on the north facing slopes drip with yellow blooms in spring. Pohutukawa blaze red in summer lighting up the ridgeline and the low-laying sandspit which features a grove said to be one of the oldest planted.