Sight guide · Wellington · New Zealand
Visiting Katherine Mansfield House and Garden
The writer Katherine Mansfield was born in this wooden house on Tinakori Road in 1888.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: russellstreet, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
Katherine Mansfield House and Garden is a historic site in Thorndon, Wellington. Allow 1 hour; it is low cost. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Historic site
- Area
- Thorndon
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- history, off the beaten path and rainy day
- Best months
- June–August
About Katherine Mansfield House and Garden
The writer Katherine Mansfield was born in this wooden house on Tinakori Road in 1888. Restored rooms and a Victorian garden recreate her childhood home, with exhibitions on her life and short stories.
Tip: Read one of her Wellington stories, such as 'The Garden Party', before you go.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 1 hour.
- Cost: Low cost.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Thorndon, wooden villas, embassies and Wellington's oldest streets.
Best time to visit Katherine Mansfield House and Garden
Katherine Mansfield House and Garden is indoors, which makes it a good plan for the wettest months:
- June: 13°C (55°F) highs, about 13 rainy days, quiet crowds.
- July: 12°C (54°F) highs, about 13 rainy days, quiet crowds.
- August: 12°C (54°F) highs, about 12 rainy days, moderate crowds.
When to visit Wellington has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Katherine Mansfield House and Garden is not on our short itineraries, so plan it as an extra once you have seen Te Papa Tongarewa and Wellington Cable Car.
- No. 18 of the 18 sights in our Wellington things-to-do list.
- One of the picks in wellington on a rainy day.
- One of the picks in historic sites in Wellington.
Near Katherine Mansfield House and Garden
Also in Thorndon, so you can walk between them:
- Old St Paul's — 30 minutes, free
If you like Katherine Mansfield House and Garden
- Te Papa Tongarewa — Te Aro, 3–4 hours
- Parliament and the Beehive — Lambton Quay and CBD, 1 hour
- Wellington Museum — Lambton Quay and CBD, 1 hour
- Matiu/Somes Island — Wellington Harbour, Half a day
Staying near Katherine Mansfield House and Garden
Stay in Thorndon ($$$) to walk here: wooden villas, embassies and Wellington's oldest streets. All areas to stay in Wellington.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Katherine Mansfield House and Garden?
Plan 1 hour. With Old St Paul's nearby, it fits a half-day in Thorndon.
+Is Katherine Mansfield House and Garden free?
No, it is low cost. Tickets are usually available on the day.
+When is the best time to visit Katherine Mansfield House and Garden?
June–August, the wettest months, when an indoor sight is most welcome. Read one of her Wellington stories, such as 'The Garden Party', before you go.
+Do I need to book Katherine Mansfield House and Garden in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.