Things to do in Kerikeri

One of Kerikeri's main attractions is the Rainbow Falls, which is easily accessible with a short walk from the car park and beautifully surrounded by bush. There are walking tracks if you are looking for more things to do and there are three stunning viewing platforms. There is pram and wheelchair access from the car park and picnic area at the end of Rainbow Falls Road, or for an extra activity, you can walk up the riverside track from the Stone Store, which is about 3.5 Kms. At the base of the 27-metre falls, you'll find a popular swimming hole for confident swimmers and occasional kayakers.

This is New Zealand's oldest stone building and another main attraction for Kerikeri, and a top tourist activity for Northland. It is now operated as a shop and is free to browse and wander around the pretty setting along the Kerikeri River. The Stone Store dates back to 1832 and was built as a storehouse for the neighbouring Kemp House, which is also a top tourist attraction, being New Zealand’s oldest building, but there is a fee to enter. 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. There is also a museum upstairs with a small fee to enter this part. The building has had major conservation and renovation work and reopened for the public in 1998.

Learn some Maori and European history and visit another top historic tourist attraction in Kerikeri with a 20-minute walk to the Kororipo Pā, just 4Km from Kerikeri or park just 5 minutes away. The Kororipo Pa dates back before 1775 and was once the home of Hongi Hika, a famous fighting chief. Before European times, the terraced pa site was once a stockaded fortress. When the missionaries lived here in the early 1820's, it was the site of an unfortified village where some of Hongi Hika and Rewa's people lived. Access is near the Stone Store on 246 Kerikeri Road beside the Pear Tree Restaurant.

Follow the bank of the Kerikeri River from the beautiful Rainbow Falls through regenerating forest for a relaxing short hiking activity. Along the way, you’ll discover the remains of a historic power house and a second waterfall, the Wharepuke Falls. The track is a fun thing to do and well used by locals, being very easy going and mostly downhill all the way to the Stone Store Basin. Besides the Stone Store, you will find the lovely Honey Café for a refreshment before your return trip. The walk can be done in either direction, with car parks at either end and is 3.5 km one way, taking about 1hr 30 minutes.

A fabulous attraction just 20 minutes’ drive from the Kerikeri township is the beautiful Puketi Forest and all the great activities that are available with the many different length walking tracks and hikes. The most popular for tourists wanting a quick but stunning activity for all ages is the Manginangina Scenic Reserve. Here you will find a magnificent grove of kauri on one of Northland's few wheelchair accessible forest walks. The elevated wooden walkway protects the kauris' sensitive feeding roots, yet allows visitors to get 'up close' to the ancient trees of the Puketi Forest.

When you are on holiday, one of the best things to do on a rainy day is go to the movies. All the latest movies are in Kerikeri at the Cathay Cinema right in the centre of town. The cinema has three theatres, all with different movies playing and showing up to 15 movies per day. As an added attraction, keep an eye on what’s coming up as often there are special operas showing as well, with fresh recordings from the latest top operas all over the world. There is also an adjoining café and restaurant, and there are ‘Movie and Meal’ deals!

The Waitangi Treaty Grounds located in Paihia is an easy 20-minute drive from Kerikeri and is one of New Zealand’s main historic attractions, not to be missed.  It is one of New Zealand’s most significant historic sites and has a museum area which is a great thing to do on a rainy day.

Waitangi Treaty Grounds is a place where much of New Zealand's history was shaped through the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, in 1840. There are plenty of things to do here with Waitangi’s contemporary museums, activities such as Māori cultural performances in an authentic Meeting House, informative guided tours, a carving studio, the world’s largest ceremonial war canoe, and a pretty little café, all with stunning views over the Bay of Islands

Go for an adventure with one of the local wine or scenic tours and be looked after and shown around by one of the local Northland tour guides. A Craft Beer and Wine Tour visiting two top local vineyards, a local brewery and a chocolate factory! A Wine Tasting & Scenic Adventure tour which can include Wine Tasting, Lunch at a Vineyard, Historic Buildings, Haruru Falls, Art & Crafts, Chocolate Factory and Honey tastings. There is also a Wine and Beer Tasting & Lunch Adventures visiting three different local Kerikeri vineyards. Tastings can include wines, ports, liqueur, or ask about the Craft Beer Brewery or the local Cheese Factory.

Kerikeri’s top historic attraction, The Kerikeri Mission Station, with two of the country’s oldest buildings, can be visited when it’s raining, as both buildings’ main attractions are indoors. The Stone Store and Kemp House are some of New Zealand’s premier historic sites and a top tourist attraction. This Georgian-style Stone Store Built in 1832, was originally a Missionary Society warehouse but has been a trading post, library, barracks and boys’ school over the years. Today, it is a gift shop downstairs and a Museum upstairs. Kemp House, completed in 1821–22 by missionary carpenters and Māori sawyers, is still kept in its original state with tours available. You can take a tour of Kemp House, browse downstairs in the Stone Store, and view the museum upstairs.

Visit Romantic Russell by ferry from Paihia and take a guided tour of New Zealand's most historic town on board a comfortable coach with Russell Mini Tours. Russell is steeped in history with a very interesting past. Bus tours depart regularly from Russell Wharf, spend a comfortable hour aboard our Mini Coaches and be taken back in time with the telling of stories going back to the earliest settlers whilst visiting places of significant historical interest around the Russell area not easily covered on foot. Discover why Russell has played such an important role in the history of New Zealand and why we locals love it so much. You can also visit the Pompallier Mission and Printery and have lunch in the famous Duke of Marlborough Hotel.

For a fun activity that is great for all ages, including smaller children and grandparents and right in town, is Kerikeri Mini Golf. An 18-hole mini golf activity that is located right by Rainbow Falls. This is great, affordable fun for all the family, beautifully landscaped with a picnic area and seating available where you can bring your own lunch, and you can buy an ice cream from the Kerikeri Mini Golf shop. Kerikeri Mini Golf course is a challenge to the better golfer, yet easily played by novices and children. Adults are $10, Children $8, and family rates with two adults and two kids are $30. Kerikeri Mini Golf is open from 10 am to 5 pm, 7 days per week during all school holidays and summer months, and in the winter months (April – November), Thursday to Sunday only. Being located right by Rainbow Falls is an added attraction, as just over the road is the car park where you can make a stop to visit Rainbow Falls and view right beside the car park, or walk part or all of the track

For an activity that is only an hour and a half or a whole day, or even several days with one of their camps, visit Kates Riding Centre in Kerikeri, which has a lot of things to do for kids of all ages. Activities include short horse riding treks, led pony rides for the little ones, longer beach treks, farm treks, trekking weekends, and even lessons and summer pony camps for the kids in the beautiful Bay of Islands of New Zealand. Kates Horse Riding Centre caters to all abilities, so previous experience is not necessary, as horses and ponies have been chosen for their lovely nature, taking adults and children for both group and private trek activities or horse riding lessons. The activities take place on a large speciality farm with facilities that include a 100 x 60 metre sand all-weather arena, a 20 x 32 metre square covered arena, a 20 metre round pen and a 2 km exercise track set on 466 acres of rolling farmland, all in a beautiful setting for horse riding in the Bay of Islands.

This is a great family thing to do with no boating experience required. Take the kids on one of New Zealand’s first electric boats for hire in the sheltered Kerikeri River and/or the historic Stone Store basin. Silent electric propulsion allows you to relax, get up close to wildlife while exploring the winding river amongst interesting boats, historic landmarks and scenery. Around every bend in the river, a new vista opens up. A range of different sizes and types of boats to suit couples, families, corporate groups and elderly people. Large groups can take multiple boats. From one hour to seven hours to relax and explore our beautiful river.

Bay of Islands Parasail has New Zealand's highest parasailing at 1300ft over the stunning Bay of Islands. With specially designed boats for this amazing activity to make it safe and easy to catch the wind, a fun thing to do and an incredible way to see the Bay of Islands from the air. Bay of Islands Parasail has 20 years of experience and a perfect safety record. Take-off and landing is easy, fun and safe. Suitable for all ages as there are no physical restrictions. For extra fun in summer, we can dip your toes into the water during your parasail, but there is no getting wet unless you want to! There are tandem and triple flights available, all with insane views over the Bay of Islands.

The Bay of Islands Vintage Railway is a family-friendly vintage railway train ride experience. The oldest railway in the North Island of New Zealand, and the only one to go along a main street of a town in NZ. The vintage train will take you for a ride to visit the longest curved wooden bridge in the Southern Hemisphere in Taumarere. The Bay of Islands Vintage Railway station for departure is located in Kawakawa, just 25 minutes from Keriker,i which is also famous for the Hundertwasser public toilets! The Bay of Islands Vintage Railway is a fun activity with trains departing 4 times daily on Friday, Saturday and Sunday all year round; and every day in school holidays (except Christmas Day).