If you’re looking for the perfect base for a Northland holiday to remember, Kerikeri is it. There’s enough to keep you busy for weeks, from historical sites to some of the best landscapes on the North Island. You’ll find Northland’s most spectacular waterfall, as well as some of its best hiking trails - with views that seriously reminded us of Halong Bay! There are also award winning wineries, tasty food markets, glorious beaches and even a glow worm cave.
History lovers will find New Zealand’s oldest building, the country’s first capital and of course the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, which are an absolute must visit.
The hardest part of a trip to Kerikeri is picking what to do according to the time you have! We’ve put together a list of our 20 favourite things to do in Kerikeri to help you choose.
-
1: Check out the most spectacular waterfall in Northland
2: Scale the Duke’s Nose for views of Northland’s Halong Bay
3: Marvel at the ancient kauri trees
4: Walk to the white sands of Taronui Bay
5: Visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds
6: Explore New Zealand’s first ever capital
7: Take a ferry to the beautiful Urupukapuka Island
8: Visit New Zealand’s oldest surviving stone building
9: Wander the rainforest of the Kerikeri River Walk
10: Take a dip in Kerikeri’s best waterhole
11: Try some award winning wines
12: Catch a sunset from the incredible St Paul’s Rock
13: See the site of New Zealand’s first European settlement at the Rangihoua Heritage Park
14: Stroll the spectacular Matauri Bay
15: Have a brekkie at the Old Packhouse Market
16: Visit the waterfall that was lost for 60 years
17: Step back in time in New Zealand’s oldest building
18: Admire the views from the Tareha Point Lookout
19: Indulge at the Makana Chocolate Factory
20: Feel the magic at the Kawiti Glow Worm Cave
20 Amazing things to do in Kerikeri
1. Check out the most spectacular waterfall in Northland
Kerikeri is famous for its waterfalls and there are many to explore. The very best is Rainbow Falls, which is spectacular and our favourite waterfall in all of Northland. The powerful falls cascade over the side of a cliff and into a giant waterhole at the base.
The setting is also gorgeous, surrounded by dense forest and an emerald river. It’s an enchanting view, whether you’re down at the base, or looking from above at one of several viewpoints.
It takes just a couple of minutes to walk along the paved path to the viewpoints and then you can head down to the base of the falls, which is 150m away.
If you don’t mind a bit of a scramble you can also walk to the cave behind the waterfall itself.
2. Scale the Dukes Nose for views of Northland’s Halong Bay
If you’ve been searching for the best views in Northland, look no further. The vista from the top of the Dukes Nose (Kairara Rock) is quite simply out of this world, with bays and headlands as far as the eye can see.
In fact, I’d go as far to say as they are some of the best coastal views in the whole country and even reminded us of Halong Bay.
But there’s a catch, views this good don’t come easy and you’ll need to negotiate two short rock scrambles, assisted by a sturdy metal pole to get there.
For me it was quite scary, but for others it will be a highlight of the walk. The Dukes Nose portion of the track is just under 2km return, but unless you want to use a water taxi service you’ll have to walk the Wairakau Stream Track too.
Absolutely everything you need to know about the hike, including lots of detail on the scramble is in this post.
3. Marvel at the rare ancient kauri trees
The Manginangina Kauri Walk offers the chance to get up close to some of New Zealand’s most ancient trees.
The flat and well maintained track makes this short 10 minute loop walk fully accessible and it’s hard to imagine a more peaceful spot.
The swamp forest, even without the kauri trees would be a must visit, with its abundance of native flora including towering tree ferns and twisted vines.
Many kauri are sprinkled throughout the walk, but the real wow factor is the magnificent grove near the end of the track. There’s a large bench seat so you can sit back and really take in the incredible sights and sounds of the forest.
If you prefer longer walks - or would just like to see more kauri like we did - you can then head 2km down the road to the Puketi Nature Trail.
The nature trail is less visited and also takes you to a fabulous kauri viewing area. The walk is slightly longer at 1.6km and does have a couple of hills, but it’s generally easy and the scenery is fantastic.
4. Walk to the white sands of Taronui Bay
We almost didn’t visit Taronui as it sounded like a fairly lengthy (7km return) dull walk to reach a beach and we’d been lucky enough to see a number of beautiful beaches in Northland already.
That would have been a huge mistake. The walk may not be the most interesting, as a fair portion is along the (quiet) gravel road, but it’s not too bad and the reward for your efforts is high.
Taronui Bay is spectacular with pristine white sand and turquoise water, which is calm and perfect for a relaxing dip. The length of the walk means that you’ll very likely have this little patch of paradise to yourself which makes it even more special.
It was one of those places that you felt yourself exhale and descend into a feeling of peacefulness. I loved it.
The walk is all on either gravel road or a good path, with small sections of mud if it’s been extremely wet (but honestly nothing too bad at all and we’d had five weeks almost constant rain!).
There is some uphill walking involved but it’s not overly steep and there is plenty of flat track too. Overall it’s easy, but it is exposed which is something to bear in mind on a hot day.
5. Visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds
The Waitangi Treaty Grounds are a must visit for anyone in the area. There’s so much to see here that it’s well worth dedicating half a day to.
The Waitangi Treaty (New Zealand’s founding document) gave the British Crown the right to govern the country and promised to protect Maori rights, but that’s not how things turned out.
The stories of the Waitangi Treaty are told over a number of museums and exhibits, but it’s best to time your visit to coincide with one of the guided tours (which are included in your entry ticket).
Our Maori guide really brought the stories to life and the guided tour rolls into a cultural performance, which is also included in the price of entry.
After the tour and the performance, you can wander the rest of the museums yourself and there are several interesting videos depicting the actual signing of the treaty and how it was received by different iwi leaders.
We’d normally save a museum trip for a rainy day, but it’s worth noting that the whole guided tour is outside so bring a brolly if it’s a wet day! It is also a very picturesque location that looks at its best on a clear day.
As foreigners visiting the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, we paid $50 for our tickets, which is one of the most expensive museums (although to be fair it’s more than a museum) we’ve ever been to. However, it was very much worth it. You’ll pay half that if you’re a New Zealand resident.
Since visiting, we’ve seen that you can get the entry tickets for much less on Bookme! Click below to find the latest prices:
6. Explore New Zealand’s first ever capital on a day trip to Russell
Hard as it is to believe today, Russell was nicknamed “the Hell Hole of the Pacific” in the 1800s and this sleepy fishing village was New Zealand’s first capital. Today, it’s incredibly picturesque and well worth taking the short ferry ride over from Opua (Paihia) to spend a morning or afternoon exploring.
We’d highly recommend doing the short 600km walk (each way) to the top of the Tapeka Peninsula along the Tapeka Point Track for the most spectacular views in the area. It is all uphill but it’s so worth it - watch out for mud after rain though.
If you’d prefer a drive up viewpoint, Flag Staff Hill offers magnificent views over the islands as well as a few historical information panels too.
You can also visit the Pompallier Mission, New Zealand’s oldest surviving catholic building and Christ Church, the oldest existing church in New Zealand.
We’d recommend capping it all off with a sunset from Tapeka Point Beach. There are some picnic benches if you want to bring some fish and chips along with you.
A word of caution on getting to Russell, you really do want to take the ferry both ways because the road is a nasty dirt track - we started the drive back and had to abandon it quicksmart! You could also come over as a foot passenger but you won’t be able to see as much.
7. Take a ferry to the beautiful Urupukapuka Island
Urupukapuka Island is absolutely beautiful and one of the few in the Bay of Islands that you can access by ferry (rather than the more expensive water taxis).
Whether you’re looking to relax on one of the many beaches, kayak in the calm water, or go for a hike, you’ll be spoilt for choice.
We headed over in winter when there is only one ferry a day so we didn’t get to explore the whole island, but still covered a lot of ground on our 3.5 hour trip.
The walking tracks are all in great condition and we’d highly recommend heading out into the hills and down to a couple of bays, our favourite being Sunset Bay, which is secluded and perfect for swimming.
If time allows you could explore the whole island on the Urupukapuka Island Walk, which DOC says is easy and should take around five hours.
The boat trip over takes 40 minutes and is a lovely journey in its own right. Although we didn’t get lucky dolphins are regularly spotted on route. You can book your ferry tickets here.
8. Visit New Zealand's prettiest stone building
The Stone Store is New Zealand's oldest surviving stone building and it’s a real beauty. I felt like I stepped into a quintessential English village with the gorgeous old stone house and very pretty cottage-like gardens close by.
It’s incredibly charming and worth popping by even if you don’t want to go into the museum.
If you do have an interest in the local history though, I’d highly recommend the small museum, housed in the upper story of the Stone Store.
It might not be very big, but I ended up spending a long time in there as it was really well put together and told so many stories about relations between the missionaries and local Maori in the area. The little video exhibit taught me a lot and was so interesting I ended up watching every story!
Entry to the downstairs part of the Stone Store is free, and if you visit Kemp House the museum is also free. If not, you will need to pay a small entrance fee.
9. Wander the rainforest of the Kerikeri River Walk
The 8.4km Kerikeri River Walk is a delight from start to finish, so good we did it many times on our visit. The forest is magnificent and walking alongside the emerald river is so relaxing.
You’ll also visit two of Kerikeri’s best waterfalls - make sure you start at the Stone Store end so that you save the most spectacular for last!
As well as some gorgeous kauri trees, there are also hundreds of tall tree ferns, some fantastic knobbly trees and plenty of hanging vines to give it those jungle vibes.
The walk has some ups and downs, but it’s generally easy and the path is excellent. If you’re up for a bit of wild swimming you’ll find plenty of spots along the river (just make sure you check the current first).
If you have two cars you can walk the track one way, but we always hiked both ways and it doesn’t take long on the way back - usually around 45 minutes as you’re not stopping so often for photos!
10. Take a dip in Kerikeri’s best waterhole
Charlie’s Rock might not be the biggest waterfall in Kerikeri, but it’s definitely one of the prettiest. It also has my favourite swimming hole.
It’s absolutely massive and access into the water is really easy, with tiered rocks all the way down.
The walk to get there is just 1km return and almost entirely flat, alongside the river and lush green farmland. The very last section has a few rocks to climb over but nothing too challenging.
Once you’re there, you can bask on the basalt rocks in the sunshine or take a refreshing dip. Just watch out for current if there has been heavy rainfall.
You can read more about Kerikeri’s other waterfalls in this post.
11. Try some award winning wines
Kerikeri has a few wineries to choose from but we opted for the gorgeous Marsden Estate, just a couple of minutes from town.
The building itself is very pretty and the grounds are even better, sadly it was pouring when we visited so we couldn’t stroll the vineyard as you’re invited to do - try and save this one for a dry day if you can.
You can taste six different wines at the cellar door and can choose from a list of whites, reds and rose. The wines were great, especially the whites, and the tasting is all very relaxed and informal. The fee is $8 which is then refunded on the purchase of a bottle.
You can also enjoy long lazy lunches which looked great when we took a peek into the dining room.
12. Catch a sunset from the incredible St Paul’s Rock
When it comes to finding the perfect sunset spot there are a couple of things we look for: the first is naturally the view itself, but the second is ease of getting back down the trail in the dark (or preferably the twilight).
St Paul’s Rock (Ohakiri Pa) gets full marks for both. The view is absolutely jaw-dropping with picturesque bay after picturesque bay, as well as rolling hills and a pretty marina.
It’s reached via a track of just 700m which makes getting down after sunset a breeze.
There is one short section with a chain to help you but otherwise it’s a straightforward walk and takes less than 20 minutes! In terms of effort to reward ratio it has to be the best walk in Northland.
Here’s everything you need to know about the St Paul’s Rock Track.
13. See the site of New Zealand’s first European settlement
The Marsden Cross Memorial at Rangihoua Heritage Park marks the site of where New Zealand’s very first Christmas day was celebrated in 1814, which was also the beginning of the country’s first European settlement.
The site can be explored via an easy and very pretty 3km return walking track, which has lots of informative panels along the way, giving it the feeling of an open air museum. The walk isn’t entirely flat but the path is well maintained and never very steep.
The settlement was only possible with the blessing and protection of the local Maori community and in particular Chief Ruatara. How this came to be and details on life in the settlement are told through lots of stories, which make it an engaging way to take in the local history.
Along the walkway you can also enjoy great sea views and rolling green hills, and for me it was the perfect mix of nature and learning.
Part of the road to the car park is gravel, but it’s in very good condition and you don’t need a car with high clearance.
14. Stroll the spectacular Matauri Bay
Matauri Bay is absolutely beautiful and stands out even in an area of many spectacular beaches.
It’s not just the huge sweep of golden sand, but the setting, with steep headlands on either side and several picturesque islands offshore that give it real wow factor.
It’s quite a wavy beach, so unlike Taronui it wouldn’t be my favourite for swimming, but for strolling and simply just admiring, it’s a real must. It’s also a decent surf beach when the winds are in your favour.
Matauri Bay is a 25 minute drive from Kerikeri.
15. Have brekkie at The Old Packhouse Market
If you’re visiting on a weekend, do as the locals do and head to the Old Packhouse Market. We visited on a Saturday when it’s predominantly all about the food, but there are arts and craft stalls on a Sunday.
There are plenty of places to grab brekkie or lunch (brekkie rolls, crepes, pastries and more) and lots of goodies to take home. We still dream about the Vietnamese nuts and wish we’d stocked up on way more than one packet!
Make sure you bring cash because the onsite cash lender charges a hefty premium and we didn’t see anywhere accepting card.
At time of writing the market is on every Saturday from 8am – 1.30pm and every Sunday from 9am – 1.30pm. There’s loads of free parking on site.
16. Visit the waterfall that was lost for 60 years
Te Wairere Falls is a beautiful waterfall that was lost to the world for 60 years when subdivision of the surrounding land blocked access and led to it becoming completely overgrown.
The Kerikeri community then rallied in 2015 to reinstate access and it’s now a wonderfully relaxing spot. It’s especially pretty after some good rainfall. The pool at the base isn’t deep enough for a swim, but you can definitely go for a paddle.
You can access the falls by one of two different routes, the quickest option is an easy 1.7km return walk from Cobham Road, or you can take the longer trail from the Stone Store.
There’s a second smaller waterfall just a few minutes away from Te Wairere Falls which we detail in this guide.
17. Step back in time in New Zealand’s oldest building
Built in the early 1820’s under the protection of the local Māori chiefs, Kemp House is New Zealand’s oldest building and was originally home to christian missionaries.
To preserve it you can only visit as part of a guided tour where you’ll first be given some background information before being free to explore the house at your leisure.
It’s fascinating to peek inside all the different rooms as you make your way along the creaky floorboards. The environment is so fragile that only a few people can explore the upstairs rooms at a time and you can really feel the history.
One thing to note is you have to remove your shoes to enter the building and the floorboards are pretty cold, so you might want to bring a pair of socks for this one!
As well as the house, the gardens and general setting are also incredibly picturesque.
18. Admire the views from the Tareha Point Lookout
If you can’t get enough of those Bay of Islands views then head to Tareha Point Lookout in the Akeake Historic Reserve, which is a bit of a local favourite.
The wooden viewing platform is a lovely spot to sit and relax, taking in the distant islands and rugged headland of Cape Brett.
Although the islands feel more distant here than at other viewpoints I’ve mentioned in this post, there was something about this spot. It was so incredibly peaceful and I ended up staying for over an hour watching the gannets dive bomb the water in a bit of a feeding frenzy.
The most direct route to the lookout is 600m each way from the trailhead at Opito Bay, it’s mainly uphill on the way but it’s a good track. You can turn it into a circuit which only adds on a few hundred metres and allows you to visit the pebbly Lizard Bay which is a good calm spot for swimming.
19. Indulge at the Makana Chocolate Factory
Chocolate lovers in need of a sweet fix should head to the Makana Chocolate Factory. You can watch through the window at some of the processes, but the real treat is in the tasting. The chocolate was excellent, especially the macadamia butter toffee crunch which I could see being highly addictive!
They also have a nice cafe next door which does a whole range of individual truffles you can choose to go with a coffee - which was also really good.
We visited a few times and really enjoyed the pain au raisin pastries too, but it was always hit and miss as to whether there were any left!
20. Feel the magic at the Kawiti glow worm cave
This is the only place in this post that we didn’t visit (the photo is from Whangarei’s Waipu Caves) because it was sadly closed for our entire stay. We don’t normally include anything we haven’t visited personally, but enough locals recommended it to us that we felt it should get a mention.
The 45-60 minute guided tours take you through 200m of limestone cave with thousands of glow worms sparkling on the ceiling. As well as the cave you’ll also get the chance to learn about the local Maori history.
Take a tour
If you fancied covering the best of Kerikeri with a tour that goes to the glow worm cave, the chocolate factory, Stone Store, Kemp House, Haruru Falls, a winery and the views from the Waitangi area, then you can check out this tour with Get Your Guide. This 5.5 hour trip includes transport and an experienced local guide to take you through the history of all the stops you’ll visit.
Check out the latest prices on:
Where to stay in Kerikeri
Stone Store Lodge
The Stone Store Lodge is a little oasis in the bush, just a few minutes walk from the historical Stone Store and Kemp House buildings. The private rooms offer great views and there is also a communal lounge and full kitchen if you would like to self cater. The bush bath also looks amazing, although you do have to pay an additional fee to use it.
You can check out the reviews and prices on:
Kauri Park Motel
The Kauri Park Motel is a great choice for a comfy room with a little kitchenette (with two hobs) and a small outdoor area. Some of the units also come with spa baths. Reviewers love the spotless rooms and free welcome drink on arrival.
You can check out the reviews and prices on:
A Cut Above - The Gateway to the Bay of Islands
If you’re visiting as a family or group of friends then the three bedroom cottage, A Cut Above, is a great choice. With a fully equipped kitchen, washing machine and garden with BBQ, it’s ideal for longer stays. It’s less than a 10 minute drive from town and set in a lovely rural environment.
You can check out the reviews and prices on:
Getting to Kerikeri
Kerikeri is located in Northland, 245km and roughly a 3 hour 15 minute drive from Auckland. It’s a 20 minute drive from Paihia.
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, that we will earn a small commission if you click through and decide to make a purchase. This helps towards the costs of running our website. Thanks for your support.
