Howick historic village, Auckland Overview

Howick is a small village of old fanciable houses and cottages in Auckland, New Zealand. It is a place where history itself comes alive. Howick is a beautiful historical establishment reflecting the history of the colonization period. It is a very informative place to discover the early life of the Fencible immigrants and experience the authenticity of their heritage.

Howick is a beautiful setting of the British culture and artefacts showcasing its significance in the world's history. Howick is a perfect place for kids to learn more about Fencibles's history. It is a delightful attraction of Auckland, widespread among the locals. This volunteer-run village is a well-maintained tourist destination with a cafe inside the premise that offers some delicious authentic cuisine.

History

Howick was originally founded by Governor Captain George Grey and was considered as a part of the chain of other villages of the South Auckland in order to protect it from possible attacks by the French during the period of 1842-1854. Sir George asked Earl Grey for help and he then sent retired soldiers that served in the other colonies of the British to this area for protection.

The soldiers were known as members of the ‘Royal New Zealand Sensible Cops’ who would protect Auckland if attacked. This lead to one of the biggest immigration programs of the time where wives and children of the soldiers were also involved.

Fencible soldiers were offered two rooms cottage and an acre of land in return of seven-year term service. After the completion of their term of service, the Fencibles were offered the cottages and acres of land permanently.

Story Behind It

Howick is an early establishment of the Fencibles who migrated from England along with their families in order to protect Auckland from attacks by the French. Howick came into existence as an offering made by the Governor Capital George Grey of Auckland to the soldiers of England in order to protect the city.

The idea of a living historical village came from the members of the Howick Historical Society. In order to preserve the fading remains of the Fencible life, they came to the conclusion of converting Howick into a living museum. It took almost 8 years to develop this living museum and finally on 8th March 1980, the Howick colonial village was officially inaugurated by Allen Highet.

Timings

Summer opening hours: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Winter opening hours: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Public holiday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

How To Reach Howick Historical Village

Howick is quite easy to reach from the main city of Auckland. There are various options available in order to reach Howick.
One can rent a car or take a taxi from the city and take the southern motorway route to reach Howick, and if one is coming from the south then he can take the Cascades road route.
Public transportation like the bus is also available that runs on a routine basis. The bus picks you up from Britomart in Downtown and drops you at Lloyd Elsmore Park in Pakuranga, from where it is hardly a minute walk to Howick.
One can also take the other alternative if he or she does not want to hit the roads. Ferry services are also available here to drop you till Howick.
One can take a ferry from Downtown to Half Moon Bay and then hardly a five-minute ride from taxi to reach Howick.