13 Best Things to Do in Kerikeri, New Zealand

Kerikeri is part of the popular tourist region called the Bay of Islands on the North Island of New Zealand that’s made up of other well-known destinations like Paihia and Russell. And although Kerikeri isn’t as popular with tourists as the latter two, I’m here to tell you why this gem of a town should be added to your New Zealand itinerary.

We lived here (in Kerikeri) for over a year, and I must say that the ‘Winterless Far North’ as this region is nicknamed, was very good to us. For one, the weather is known as the best in the country, with average daily temperatures in the summer reaching 73 Fahrenheit (23 Celsius) and in the winter, you’re looking at 61 Fahrenheit (16 Celsius). Which is pretty warm for New Zealand! And also, the beaches here are easily the prettiest in the country!

Having lived here for a year, we feel the best things to do in Kerikeri are to hike the short, easy trail to Rainbow Falls (it’s 4 miles round-trip), visit the Stone Store (aka the oldest stone building in the country), and check out the secret beach next to Opito Bay.

1. Hike to Rainbow Falls

This picturesque waterfall, known in Māori as “Waianiwaniwa,” means “waters of the rainbow,” cascades 27 meters into a serene pool below, creating a mesmerizing view, especially when sunlight catches the mist, forming rainbows. It’s a short, well-maintained walking track to the falls from the car park, and I actually walked it regularly after work when we lived in Kerikeri.

2. Visit the Stone Store

The Stone Store is the oldest stone building in New Zealand!

Established in 1819, it’s part of the Kerikeri Mission Station – one of the first places in New Zealand where Māori invited visitors to live among them. The Stone Store is situated along a pretty riverside just five minutes from central Kerikeri. It is a captivating place to visit.

As I said, it was founded in 1819 by the Church Missionary Society and it served as an important hub for early interactions between Māori and Pākehā (European people), playing a significant role in the events leading up to the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

The Stone Store was constructed to stand the test of time; it’s made of local basalt and Sydney sandstone, and since its opening, this Georgian-style building has functioned as a trading post, library, barracks, school, general store, post office, and dairy.

Kemp House next door was built in 1822 and recognized as the oldest surviving building in Aotearoa New Zealand; it’s made of timber in contrast to its stone neighbor. Crafted from native timbers by missionary carpenters and Māori sawyers, it later became the residence of the Kemp family.

A guided tour of this site costs $20 NZD per adult; under-18s are free.

3. Have a coffee at the Honey House Cafe

Next door to the Stone Store is one of the cutest Cafes on the North Island. It’s called the Honey House Cafe, and it overlooks the river. The coffee is excellent, and so are their sweet treats.

Here, they serve up everything from iced coffees, hot coffees, and hot and cold foods, you could easily spend an hour or two here. Maybe even longer if the weather is nice enough for you to sit outside.

4. Check out the Packhouse Market

Also, be sure to stop by the bustling yet quirky Packhouse Market on Kerikeri Road, which is held every Saturday morning. There is now a Friday Night Market and a smaller Sunday Market. Here, you can grab yourself a great coffee, delicious food, and check out lots of locally-made handicrafts.

5. Discover the ‘secret’ beach near Opito Bay

One of our favorite beaches in Northland is also near Kerikeri – it’s next to Opito Bay and can be accessed via a short walk through native bush. It’s always so quiet here.

In fact, this beach is nameless. When you get to Opito Bay (approximately a 15-minute drive from the large town of Kerikeri), you should follow the signs across from the car park for Ake Ake Point.

It’s a beautiful walk through the rainforest, filled with birdsong and the distinct smell of tea tree. Follow the signs for the beach, and at the end of a steep hill, you will be greeted by perhaps our favorite beach in the region. In fact, it’s where we got engaged recently!

We often come to Opito Bay to sunbathe and swim, and we pretty much have it to ourselves every time. We have started coming here for a sunset picnic (with some beers, of course) in recent weeks. And it’s become one of my favorite pastimes.

6. Swim or surf at Matauri Bay

Another fabulous beach in this area is Matauri Bay. As a matter of fact, I’d go so far as to say it’s the best beach in Northland. Matauri Bay is a 30-minute drive from Kerikeri via the most epic road winding down to the beach. The view as you drive down is spectacular; just be careful not to take your eyes off the road.

Matauri Bay plays host to the Rainbow Warrior Memorial, an unusual sculpture dedicated to the famous Rainbow Warrior ship – a Greenpeace protest ship that was blown up in Auckland Harbour in 1985.

The wreck was moved to the waters off Matauri Bay (FYI – you can scuba dive this wreck too). Walking to the memorial is a steep 10-minute climb, but the 180-degree views of the bay are so worth your aching legs. However, it’s certainly one of the best things to do in Northland!

7. Hike through the Puketi Kauri Forest

The Puketi Kauri Forest is another great stop, only a 15-minute drive from Kerikeri – there are a variety of walks you can do here, ranging from quick and easy to lengthy and more difficult.

We did the Kauri Stump Walk – a beautiful wooded walkway through giant Kauri trees. It takes less than 15 minutes round-trip. It is peaceful and typically doesn’t attract too many other tourists. You can camp here, too, if so inclined.

8. Ngawha Hot Springs

One of the most unique activities in Northland is Ngawha Hot Springs. The hot springs are located in the center of a geothermally active area, an area that produces a considerable amount of Northland’s electricity. – all while feeding over a dozen hot pools of all sorts of colors, element make-ups, and temperatures.

💡 Beware – it stinks and it’s a little run-down, but that adds to the appeal of it. We met quite a few interesting characters here – one dreadlocked ‘dude’ insisted on t

Best Day Trips from Kerikeri

Hole in the rock boat tour

This boat cruise to the famed hole in the rock is 5-hours-long and includes some time on a secluded island. If you’re lucky, you may even spot some whales and dolphins – the water here is teeming with marine life! It costs under $190 NZD per person.

Waitangi Treaty Grounds

This is one of the most historically and culturally significant sites in New Zealand, as this is where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed. The grounds feature several important landmarks, including the Treaty House, the carved meeting house, and the world’s largest ceremonial war canoe, Ngātokimatawhaorua (which can hold up to 150 rowers!)

You can buy a pass for the Waitangi Treaty Grounds here for $74 NZD per adult.

Cape Reinga

At the very tip of Northland (and around a 2.5-hour drive from Paihia) is Cape Reinga, the northernmost point of New Zealand and the point where two oceans meet (the Tasman and Pacific). Cape Reinga is very popular and can get quite crowded, so try to get here early or late to avoid the tour buses.

This guided tour to Cape Reinga includes pick-up from Kerikeri and also visits 90-mile beach and the Te Paki sand dunes.

See Tane Mahuta

Tane Mahuta is a giant Kauri tree on the west coast of Northland, in the Waipoua Forest. The tree is a whopping 51.5 meters tall and has a trunk girth of 18.8 meters. No tree-hugging this one!

Known as the “lord of the forest,” it makes you feel incredibly small. There’s a kind of surreal, peaceful energy that overcomes you in its presence. Tane Mahuta is a 70-minute drive from Kerikeri.

There’s a great little food truck on-site serving great coffee and freshly baked cakes. It is free to visit Tane Mahuta, which is fantastic considering it’s one of the top tourist sites in Northland.

Kawiti Glow Worm Caves

The Kawiti Glow Worm Caves are another top attraction in Northland. We haven’t made the visit, but have heard great things. Yes, it’s not as ‘touristic’ as its famous sibling, the Waitomo Caves, but we prefer off-the-beaten-path attractions, don’t you?

Here, you’ll get up close to thousands of glow worms as you wander through a 656-foot-long cave that’s also lined with stalactites and stalagmites. You can do a 45-minute tour of the caves during the day or book a super-unique twilight tour to the glow worms, where you’ll also learn about Maori culture in the area and enjoy a special dinner in the cave!

The Kawiti Glow Worm Tour costs from $155 NZD per person and can be BOOKED HERE!

Where to Stay in Kerikeri

A great (and reasonably priced) option here in Kerikeri is the Kauri Park Motel, which is set in a serene garden setting, has an outdoor pool, comfortable rooms, and friendly staff. Another great choice is the Stone Store Lodge, which offers a blend of luxury and history. It boasts stunning views and, as the name suggests, is close to the historic Stone Store. If you’re after a more boutique experience, Moon Gate Villa has elegant rooms with personalized service and a lovely outdoor pool.

Around a 20-minute drive from Kerikeri (near Matauri Bay) is one of the most luxurious and exceptional properties in New Zealand. Now, I may be biased as I worked here for a year, but honestly, Rosewood Kauri Cliffs is a bucket-list property. Set on an 18-hole golf course and with no less than 3 private beaches, a spa, outdoor pool. This place will have you dreaming about it for years to come. It’s very pricey though – minimum $1k a night, but it’s full board (breakfast, 5-course dinner, and some drinks are included).

Getting to Kerikeri

There is a small airport here (called the Bay of Islands Airport), but it only welcomes flights from Auckland. The airport is located around a 10-minute drive from Kerikeri.

Alternatively, you can drive here from Auckland (around a 3-hour drive) or catch the Greyhound bus service from most major cities on the North Island; however, you may need to change buses along the way.

Renting a Car in New Zealand

For many of the above listed places, we really recommend hiring a rental car as public transport in Northland is limited! Like, you can’t get public transport to hidden gem spots like Tane Mahuta and Matauri Bay. Luckily, driving in Northland is fairly straightforward – there are no big motorways, just single-lane highways, and it’s considered a safe place to drive.

We tend to always book our rental car through Discover Cars – which is a search engine for rental cars and allows you to filter by price if you’re on a budget or by vehicle type if there’s a specific car you’re after. I’ve tried many times to rent directly with the companies, and it took me a long time to filter through each company. 

Be sure to check out our detailed guide to renting a car in New Zealand!

Thanks for Reading 🙂

I hope you enjoyed reading my guide to my (former) hometown of Kerikeri – it’s a little under-the-radar with many tourists favoring nearby Paihia and Russell. But I say, give Kerikeri a chance – sure, it’s not next to the beach like Paihia, but it’s so picturesque, especially the flower-filled area down by the river at the Stone Stone and Rainbow Falls, which to me looks like it belongs in Hawaii.

Last Updated on September 9, 2026 by snaphappytravel