The rammed earth, hipped roofed, French Lyonnais-style Pompallier House cuts instead an unusual profile on Russell’s waterfront, which is otherwise dominated by British-style colonial-era buildings. Many visitors to Russell stroll past the house and its colorful gardens on a walk around town. You can also check out the interior on a guided tour, seeing how the old printing presses work, or buy a separate ticket to access the pretty Victorian and Edwardian gardens on a self-guided tour.
Grab a coffee, croissant, or other snacks at the onsite French Coffee House.
Under 18s get free entry to the Mission and Printery.
Parts of the complex are wheelchair and stroller-friendly, including the French Coffee House and the lower level of the Printery. The garden contains shell paths but is otherwise accessible, while the upper level of the Printery is not accessible.
Pompallier Mission and Printery is a short walk south of Russell’s ferry dock along The Strand. Russell can be reached by a short ferry ride from Paihia, or the long way around overland, following the Russell Road from where it diverges from State Highway 1 at Whakapara, north of Whangarei.
The Mission and Printery are open seven days a week, except Christmas Day and the morning of Anzac Day (25th April). Guided tours run a few times each day. The gardens look especially good when the flowers bloom in the spring and summer, although Northland is nicknamed the “winterless north,” so this is a year-round destination.
Russell, formerly known as Kororareka, was not always the serene, picturesque little town it is now. A short walk from Pompallier House, you’ll find New Zealand’s oldest church, Christ Church, which provides evidence of Russell’s rough, lawless history: look for the bullet holes in the wooden exterior caused by muskets and cannonballs in the 1845 Battle of Kororareka. The attached cemetery also provides a fascinating glimpse into early colonial New Zealand history.