Wenderholm has an interesting history. It was a focal point for Maori for close to 1000 years. It is at the mouth of the Puhoi River Estuary so was arrival point for the Bohemian settlers bound for the wilderness that was Puhoi. And it was the winter home (wenderholm) of a big-time Auckland entrepreneur and politician Robert Graham. He used it while he spent time at his Waiwera thermal resort about 1km away. As you might. He planted a lot of exotic trees – many of them gifts from Sir George Grey of Kawau Island fame. The sandspit has a wonderful grove of Pohutukawa trees, one of the oldest planted. And Wenderholm became the first Auckland Regional Parks in 1965. So yep, interesting history.
We were in walk-a-day mode, and fourth day we headed along the headland between Wenderholm and Waiwera for our afternoon outing.
That evening we passed trying to slow-cook ourselves in the Waiwera hot pools. We didn’t succeed but we had a lovely relaxing time trying.
On our fifth day in the park we took it easy, with just an easy walk along the beach and around the sandspit that is the beach.
Gallery of photos – Wenderholm Regional Park and Puhoi – Â Auckland July 2013
Click on thumbnails to see full size. (And then you can click through them)
