northland

Northland & Bay of Islands

Highlights

  • Kerikeri Mission Station & Stone Store
  • Art galleries and studios
  • Rainbow Falls & Puketī Forest

Proximity

  • by car:

    1 hour 15 mins from Whangārei

  • by plane:

    45 mins from Auckland

In Kerikeri you can dip into New Zealand history, browse art galleries and enjoy fresh local produce. This town is full of character, charm and flavour.

Rainbow Falls, Kerikeri
Northland & Bay of Islands
Rainbow Falls, Kerikeri, Northland & Bay of Islands

The Northland town of Kerikeri has a long, colourful history. The area was home ground for the fearsome Maori chief Hongi Hika, who terrorised many tribes throughout the North Island in the early 1800s. Yet he was kind to missionaries, allowing Samuel Marsden to establish New Zealand's second mission station here.

The Kerikeri Mission Station, also known as Kemp House, is New Zealand’s oldest standing European building. Built to house the Reverend John Butler in 1821, this elegant wooden home has the protection of the Historic Places Trust.

Nearby is the Stone Store, which dates back to 1832 and is New Zealand's oldest stone building. Designed by Wesleyan missionary John Hobbs and built by an ex-convict stonemason from New South Wales, the store was meant to house large quantities of wheat from the mission farm at Te Waimate. When the wheat failed, the building was used as a kauri gum trading store.

Explore Kerikeri

Find things to do

Find places to stay

Find transport

Find a multi-day tour

Where to Next

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