Student educational activities

Planning guide

A typical school visit to Highwic sees your students greeted at the gate by our education staff, depending on your timings students have a short morning tea before they embark on the morning activities.  We have a core programme of educational activities that show aspects of life in a Victorian house.  

In each of these we are able to provide the students with the elements that are most relevant to their area of study. After a brief interactive introduction the children are split into three groups and embark on the first of three activities.

Depending on your timings each activity lasts between 30 and 45 minutes. There are two rotations before lunch, the last rotation is after lunch followed by a plenary Question & Answer session, before the students leave after getting a piece of bread with the fresh butter that they made in the kitchen earlier.

Please provide 500 ml of cream for each group and enough sliced bread for each student to have at least half a slice.

What it costs

Primary and Secondary Schools

Students: $5 each.

One teacher per class - free. 

Supervising adults in the ratio of at least 1:10 students - free. All other adults will be charged $10.00 per person.

Maximum two classes - in the region of 40 to 50 children.

Includes all four activities:

1. Interactive introduction with a visitor host.
2. Hands on activities – butter making and laundry.
3. Self-guided tour of the house – house hunt.
4. Outside activities – Victorian games and garden trail.

Recommended visit time is 10 am to 2 pm, but programme times can be adjusted to suit your particular travel arrangements etc.

School holiday groups    Children: $15 each.    Supervising adults in the ratio of at least 1:10 children - free. All other adults will         be charged $10.00 per person.    Maximum 30 children.    Includes all three activities (excludes butter making and laundry): Hands on activities – craft based. Self-guided tour of the house – house hunt. Outside activities – Victorian games and garden trail.

Recommended visit time is 10 am to 2 pm, but programme times can be adjusted to suit your particular travel arrangements etc

Tertiary students and ESOL students

Students: $10 each.

Tutors – free.

Includes all three activities:

1. Introduction – the history of the house and Buckland family.
2. Self-guided tour of the house – house hunt.
3. Outside activities – Victorian games and garden trail.

Please allow 1½ to 2 hours for the visit.

Home school groups

School age children (5-16 years): $5 each. No free children over 5 years old.

Students 16+ years: $8 each

Parent/adult/carers: $10 per person

Maximum 30 children – all ages.

Includes all three activities:

1. Introduction – the history of the house and Buckland family.
2. Self-guided tour of the house – house hunt.
3. Outside activities – Victorian games and garden trail.

Please allow 1 ½ to 2 hours for the visit.

General Information

Students must bring their own morning tea and lunch.

Payment can be made on the day by cheque or cash, or you can be invoiced. 

Cheques should be made out to Highwic – Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. Please leave the amount blank until exact numbers of students and adults have been calculated and agreed on the day of your visit. 

Please do not bring pre-schoolers on school visits.

Cancellation less than a week before the visit will incur a cancellation fee of $75.

Reservation Request

Please call or email Highwic with any questions you may have on (09) 524 5729 or email highwiceducation@heritage.org.nz.