Pompallier Mission and Printery

A visit to this French-style printery and tannery combine’s momentous Māori and Paheka history, unusual architecture, glorious gardens, and a start-to-finish book-making lesson, 1840’s-style. Learn how to tan a hide, bind a book, then enjoy some fabulous coffee and croissants on the deck overlooking the beautiful Bay of Islands. (Café open from Dec – April) In once-lawless Russell, within view of English mission settlements across the Bay, French Marist missionaries established Pompallier Mission from where the promoted Catholicism to Maori.

Join our guides as they take you through each step of tanning and bookmaking as done by the original missionaries over 150 years ago. A hands-on, working printery and tannery experience not to be missed.

Browse our visitor centre and gift shop, enjoy our heritage gardens. Photos: Grant Sheehan and Heritage New Zealand