Pompallier Mission and Printery

Pompallier Mission and Printery, set on the waterfront of Russell in Northland, is one of New Zealand’s most significant heritage sites. Established in the 1830s as the heart of the French Catholic Mission in Kororāreka, it offers visitors an immersive journey into nineteenth-century life. Guided tours run regularly and reveal the original printery, bindery and tannery, where skilled guides demonstrate historic printing, bookbinding and leather-making techniques using authentic tools. Seasonal experiences even allow visitors to create their own print on the original French Common Press. Self-guided options provide access to museum displays and beautifully maintained gardens, orchard and walking tracks with panoramic views over the Bay of Islands. A French-inspired coffee house, lawn games and the Good Merchant store add a relaxed social dimension, offering locally roasted coffee, handmade notebooks and heritage-inspired goods. Together, education, landscape and leisure combine to make Pompallier a living, engaging window into Aotearoa’s early colonial history.