Shed 16 is the beautifully restored Kaukapakapa Hotel, at 3 North Crescent, Kaukapakapa, on State Highway 16 just outside the village, about 40 minutes from Auckland City. Kaukapakapa has had a pub since 1865, and Shed 16 continues that history with a classic pub menu featuring modern twists, monthly specials, cold beers, fine wines and traditional service.
The venue spans 500m2 and includes the private Hawthorn Lounge, the outdoor Woodshed with a stage, the Distillery, and the Workshop with a big screen, alongside a rural playground complete with its own tractor for the kids. As the venue puts it, their motto is "The Respect is Local," offering genuine rural hospitality in an iconic historic setting.
Shed 16 also caters functions of all kinds — birthdays, anniversaries, corporate strategy days, AGMs and fundraisers — across multiple areas suited to groups from 10 to 150 or more.
Shed 16 is the beautifully restored Kaukapakapa Hotel, sitting on State Highway 16 just outside the historic village of Kaukapakapa, about 40 minutes from Auckland City.
Kaukapakapa itself carries genuine history — its Māori name means "to swim with much splashing," and locals affectionately call it "Kaukap." European settlement began in 1860 with arrivals from England and Scotland, and the area grew around the kauri timber industry, with logs floated down the Kaukapakapa River to Kaipara Harbour for export. Gum-digging ran from 1863 until at least 1914, and a shipyard operated from 1864 into the 1880s.
The pub's own story goes back to 1865, when travellers and those partial to a strong drink would satisfy their thirst at a house later part of Goodwin's farm, supplied by an illicit still hidden in the Whakatewai bush. A petition from early settlers initially blocked a licence, but before the end of 1865, one was granted, and the Kaukapakapa Hotel was established.
Today, that same hotel has been beautifully restored and reopened as Shed 16 — a name reflecting both the common "shed" and its location on State Highway 16. The pub offers a classic menu with modern twists, alongside monthly specials, cold beers, fine wines and traditional service, aiming to bring genuine rural hospitality to every visit.
Shed 16's venue spans 500m2, split across several distinct spaces: the private Hawthorn Lounge, the outdoor Woodshed with its own stage, the Distillery, and the Workshop, which comes with a big screen. For families, there's a rural playground complete with its own tractor, giving the kids somewhere to burn off energy while the adults settle in.
Shed 16 caters functions of every kind — birthdays, anniversaries, corporate strategy days, AGMs and annual fundraisers — with multiple areas able to accommodate groups from 10 up to 150 or more. The team describes itself as flexible and innovative, ready to talk through what would make your event special.
Shed 16 runs a rotating set of menus, including a Winter Menu, monthly specials, a Platter Menu for sharing, and a Christmas Banquet Menu for the festive season, alongside a dedicated Beverage Menu covering beer and wine. Gift cards are also available.
Shed 16 is closed Monday and Tuesday, open Wednesday and Thursday from 3pm, and Friday through Sunday from 11am. It's located at 3 North Crescent, Kaukapakapa, and accommodation is available through the associated Kaukapakapa Hotel website.
With a history stretching back to 1865, a genuine restoration effort behind its current form, and a 500m2 space built to handle everything from a quiet Wednesday pint to a 150-guest function, Shed 16 offers a rare thing: a country pub with real stories behind it, still serving its community exactly as it always has.