Introduction

Couldrey House is an historic Victorian-Edwardian family home set in a beautiful garden within Wenderholm Regional Park. A mere 40-minute drive north of Auckland’s CBD, this gracious historic house sits between Wenderholm Beach and the Puhoi river (each a few minutes walk away through pohutukawa glades) or less than a 1 kilometre drive from Waiwera.

Fully furnished in a mixture of styles reflecting the eras and preoccupations of some notable past owners, the two storey house has nine rooms on display. Visitors are warmly welcomed by one of our volunteer hosts who can provide commentary if requested or alternatively leave you to discover the historic house and grounds at your leisure. Throughout the house there are audio reminiscences about the families that lived here, direct from their descendants.

Enjoy some sea air mixed with the fragrance of fresh flowers from the cottage-style garden, familiar (and less familiar) objects from the past, and the old worldliness of an historic house where you least expect to find it.

Opening Hours

• Weekends 1-4pm - all year.
• Weekdays 1-4pm - from 26 December to Easter Monday.
• Public holidays 1-4pm  (except Christmas Day and Good Friday).
• We welcome private group visits and school visits most days, all year, by arrangement. Please email for more information: info@couldreyhouse.org.nz

Admission

• Adults: $5
• Children: FREE (under 16 years, accompanied by an Adult)
• Friends of Couldrey House Members: FREE
• Cash or Eftpos is available

Note

• This is an historic building and access for the disabled is limited as there are steps at each entrance and the house is two storey.

History

Who lived here?

• Robert Graham (b.1820-1885) was a tourism entrepreneur (founding the nearby Waiwera Hot Springs), farmer, businessman and national and local politician. The original homestead, built upon purchase in 1857, has been moved, extended and renovated to become the Couldrey House you see today.

• Major John Whitney (b.1836-1932) founded the Colonial Ammunition Co. (C.A.C.) in 1885 and his wife Harriet Whitney (b.1834-1917) was a talented artist. As Wenderholm’s first permanent residents (1896-1918), they entertained generously and during their tenure doubled the size of the house.

• Mrs Annabella Mary McKail Geddes (b.1864-1955) was part-Maori (Nga Puhi) and bilingual who in later life (1918-1927) enjoyed Wenderholm as a holiday retreat from her busy philanthropic life in Auckland. Her focus was upon women and children, being a founding member of Plunket as well as closely involved in YWCA and the National Council of Women of New Zealand.

• Captain Thomas Caradoc Kerry (b.1859-1944) was a sea-captain with charm and a colourful past. In later life (his Wenderholm years) he became very reclusive and the house fell into disrepair.

• H.W. 'Tim' Couldrey (b.1909–1995) was a self-made business man, shipping agent and enthusiastic collector, purchasing the house with his wife Phyllis (b.1906-1955) in 1940. After Phyllis’ untimely death, he and his second wife Brenda (b.1914-2009, nee Edmonds, of the baking powder family) restored the house from near dereliction (1957-60), adding some of the comforts and conveniences of the time. A highlight in 1953 was the visit of Queen Elizabeth II to the Couldrey’s bungalow, half way along the beach (since burned down). Other VIP’s included Vivien Leigh of “Gone with the Wind” fame and the Royal Shakespeare Company

• Wenderholm was sold to Auckland (Regional) Authority in 1965 and became Auckland’s first Regional Park, opening to the public on December 18 that same year. The Couldrey’s remained in the House until 1973, after which it reverted to the Council.

Directions

By Car – Travelling North

Take the Orewa/Waiwera exit (394) from the Northern Motorway (SH1), just before the toll motorway commences. Drive north along the old state highway and enter the park on the right, just north of Waiwera.

By Car – Travelling South

Exit State Highway 1 just after Puhoi and before the start of the tolled Northern Motorway. Wenderholm Regional Park is on your left.

By Bus/Public transport

Buses run daily from Downtown Auckland to Waiwera. The park is a 10-minute walk north, across the Waiwera Bridge.

About Us

Couldrey House is owned by the Auckland Council whilst the museum has been managed by The Friends of Couldrey House Charitable Trust (under a Licence-to-Occupy) since 1990. The Trust’s vision is to share with visitors the stories of the house and its treasures, as well as to conserve and maintain the house for future generations to come. Being a voluntary organisation we depend upon the goodwill of the community for both membership support and to source volunteer visitor hosts.

Friends of Couldrey House Membership

Subscribing annually to become a Member or “Friend” will help ensure we succeed in delivering our vision. Benefits include advance invitations to events at Couldrey House; reduced ticket prices to Couldrey House-generated events; quarterly newsletters; and the overall satisfaction that you are helping sustain a slice of New Zealand’s coastal history for current and future generations to enjoy.

Membership Fees

• Individual $15
• Couple $20
• Family $25
• Additional donations welcomed

Please contact us by email if you would like to become a Friend of Couldrey House - info@couldreyhouse.org.nz

Volunteering Opportunities

Benefits include working alongside likeminded local people, complimentary tickets to Couldrey House generated events and two volunteer thank you events each year. Current vacancies are listed below. If you have skills you feel would be valuable then please contact us and we can let you know when we have something suitable.

Current Vacancies:

Visitor Hosts

If you enjoy interacting with visitors from near and far, both young and old, and have on average one afternoon/four hours to spare per month we would love to hear from you.

Handy Person

If you love working with tools, enjoy helping people, have a passion for heritage and are happy to help set up for events then get in touch. 

Contact

Group Tours

Group visits to Couldrey House with a half-hour (seated) introductory talk by a volunteer host are charged at $10 per person, with a further charge (additional $5 per person) if you would like a light morning or afternoon tea.  We host tour groups outside of our public opening hours.

Wedding Ceremonies

Nestled in a beautiful garden beside Wenderholm Beach, this gorgeous, historic gem is the perfect venue for intimate wedding ceremonies. Say “I do” in the elegant Whitney Room or the idyllic garden, framed by nature’s breathtaking backdrop. Create unforgettable memories of your special day at Couldrey House.

FAQs for weddings -

Can we have a reception at Couldrey House? No, unfortunately we don't cater for receptions but a small toast to the Bride and Groom is permitted in the Garden following the ceremony.

How long can we have the venue for? The House and Gardens are available for two hours, excluding a 30 minute set up time before the event.

How many people can I have for a wedding? We cater for approximately 50 people as that is how many we can comfortably fit inside the House, please contact us if you have a slightly larger number and we can discuss options.

What do you provide? We provide up to 50 chairs, two trestle tables (BYO tablecloths), signing table and at least 2 team members on site to help with any questions on the day.

Is there separate parking? There is ample public parking available at the Regional Park with a short walk to Couldrey House, however, this can get busy during the summer season. Wedding cars can be brought into the Couldrey House Gardens pending weather conditions and space.

Please contact the Couldrey House Managers for further details and current pricing.

Feedback & Reviews

We welcome feedback and reviews either via the adjacent contact form or on Facebook, Instagram or Trip Advisor.