Wharepuke is a family-run accommodation, dining and arts property at 190 Kerikeri Road, Kerikeri, set within five acres of award-winning subtropical garden in the buffer zone of the historic Stone Store Reserve. The name means *house on the hill*. It combines cottage accommodation, a restaurant, an art gallery, a printmaking studio and a sculpture park on a single site — an unusual mix that makes it better suited to small, experience-led groups than to conventional conferencing.
Wharepuke Subtropical Accommodation offers five self-contained cottages nestled in the gardens. Cottages have super king or twin bedding, a kitchenette, original artwork, a large deck and internet access. Guests have free access to the sculpture trail.
The Wharepuke Subtropical Garden was planted from 1993 by nurseryman Robin Booth and is recognised by the New Zealand Gardens Trust as a Garden of National Significance. A 1 km sculpture trail loops through around two hectares of exotic subtropical planting.
On site are the Art at Wharepuke gallery, established in 2009, and the Wharepuke Print Studio, established in 2005 and described as New Zealand's only dedicated non-toxic acrylic resist etching workshop. It is run by artist and printmaker Mark Graver, whose work is held in collections including the V&A Museum in London. The Wharepuke Sculpture Park followed in 2015.
MĀHA Restaurant operates on site, run by chef-owner Ming Poon with partner Dianne Langman. The kitchen works with fresh, local and seasonal produce and a fusion of flavours and techniques. MĀHA has been awarded a TripAdvisor People's Choice Award and has featured in the *NZ Herald* online list of best New Zealand fine dining restaurants.
Wharepuke does not currently market a dedicated conference or meeting room. The former "Venue at Wharepuke" hall — an old army barracks relocated to the property, once used for music, theatre, conferences and weddings — is now leased as a café/restaurant.
What the property does offer organisers is small-group incentive and creative activity capability: groups can arrange printmaking workshops, art holidays or activity weekends, with acrylic resist etching workshops tailored to the group and no previous experience required. Artist talks and residencies also run on site. With five cottages, it works as a boutique whole-property buyout for an executive retreat or a VIP incentive add-on, and as a distinctive off-site dinner and garden walk for delegates staying elsewhere in Kerikeri.
The land has been in the Booth family since 1938, when Stan and Joyce Booth bought the property, hand-built their house on the hill and grew citrus and Chinese gooseberries — the fruit later developed into kiwifruit. The Wharepuke land is reputedly the first land in New Zealand to be ploughed. Robin's daughter Tania Booth and Mark Graver returned to the property in 2003 and started the cottage accommodation in 2007.
Wharepuke sits roughly 500 metres from the Stone Store Basin — the Stone Store is New Zealand's oldest stone building and the Mission House the oldest surviving wooden building in Australasia. Paihia, Waitangi and Russell are about 20 minutes' drive.
For organisers, Wharepuke is best positioned as a character incentive and small-group element within a Bay of Islands programme rather than a plenary venue. Browse more Northland accommodation.
Capacity
No spaces listed for this property yet.