Wenderholm
Wenderholm, located as it is between the Waiwera and Puhoi River mouths, was always an extremely desirable place to live. Maori lived here for close to 1000 years because of its plentiful natural resources. It is located in close proximity to the famous hot springs, and the two rivers gave excellent access inland to the main pathways running overland to Kaipara. Wenderholm also had a plentiful supply of fresh water, and the sandy soils on the warm, frost free, north facing slopes of Maungatauhoro were ideal for the cultivation of kumara. The area also provided excellent fishing and a bountiful shellfish resource, as well as being in close proximity to the famed Mahurangi shark fishing grounds.
Couldrey House
Prominent Auckland politician and entrepreneur Robert Graham became the first European owner in 1868. Graham built a homestead he called Wenderholm or Winter Home on the flat, to use while he spent time at his Waiwera thermal resort in winter. When the house was first built there was no road. Access was by boat via a jetty inside the river mouth. In 1881 the first bridge over the Waiwera River was built, but it was still a dangerous track until 1936.
The early house was moved twice before being shifted to its present position. The original house was built closer to the hillside, then moved right onto the beachfront, then back to where it is now.
The Wenderholm property has had four private owners since 1896. The first of these was the Whitney family who realigned the homestead and made numerous additions and alterations to the house. The period of ownership by the Whitneys is remembered as the 'golden era’ of Wenderholm.
By the late 1940's Wenderholm House was in a state of disrepair. The last private owners, the Couldrey family, accepted the challenge to restore the house to its former glory. The house was extensively renovated and is now known as Couldrey House. It is run by volunteers as a museum, open to the public on weekends.
Wenderholm became the first Auckland Regional Park in 1973, and is still one of the most popular areas of open space in the Region. It is treasured for its ease of access, and in particular for its unique combination of historical, ecological, recreational and landscape values.
The cache is a camoed 1 litre sistema containing logbook and assorted trade items. Please bring your own pen.
The cache is hidden a short distance up the track from the lookout to be out of sight of muggles who will linger at the viewpoint. This is a popular walk and muggles may approach from either direction.
FTF Honours on our first cache go to Team Welsh