31 Marchant Road, Hihi, Far North
Butler Point is a private park open by appointment only. This is because the attractive two-storey house, once the residence of Captain William Butler (1814 – 1875) and now owned by Lindo and Laetitia Ferguson, is still lived in. (Telephone 09 406 0006 for appointment). Captain Butler was a trader, whaler, shipowner, farmer and Member of Parliament for the Far North. The house is furnished in Victorian and early Colonial style. The park’s attractions are all within easy walking distance. They lie in a truly beautiful setting and provide the visitor with an enriching experience. The surroundings feature an historic cemetery, extensive gardens and a Maori pa site. The pa is the subject of the first intensive archaeological research of a pa north of the Bay of Islands. It has already been proven to have been occupied from at least the 16th to the 19th century. The large stand of pohutukawa trees includes one with the largest recorded trunk – 10.9 metres (35.5 feet). It is estimated to be at least 500 years old. A good representative collection of whaling industry artifacts in the park’s small whaling museum is a reminder that in its early Colonial history Mangonui was a South Seas whaling port. Macadamia products from trees grown on the property are for sale. Facilities include picnic shelter and toilets. Butler Point is 6 km from the Hihi Road turnoff on SH 10 north of Kaeo. Admission charges apply.
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