Weekender: Kerikeri

The town's historic Stone Store sits alongside the Kerikeri River. Photo / Supplied

Feel like a break in the north? Stop in at this bustling Bay of Islands town.

Where? Kerikeri is about 3 1/2 hours from Auckland by car, or a 45-minute flight.

What to do: Kerikeri is famous for its history and buildings, such as the Stone Store and Kemp House, and for its juicy oranges and kiwi fruit. But Kerikeri is also the perfect weekend getaway spot for those who like their arts and crafts. The region's art and crafts trail takes in a huge number of artisan producers of everything from chocolate to furniture. You can either cover the trail of 17 different stores in a bus with Kerikeri Tours or meander around it yourself by car. Here are some suggested stops:

Origin Art and Craft Co-op - showcases the works of many artists living and working in the Northland region, including hand-made books, stained glass, jewellery, kauri jewellery boxes and silk paintings.

Makana Confections - makers of delicious chocolates and other sweet treats.

Wyldewood - creators of beautiful wooden furniture, including bar stools, chairs and butcher's blocks, and ceramics.

Kaleidoscopes - as well as the more familiar hand-held versions made from beautiful ancient kauri, they also make a mind-boggling array of different kaleidoscopes, including bubble scopes, music scopes and outdoor scopes.

Homestead Pottery - hand-thrown, hand-painted stoneware, decorative pots for the home, handbasins, planters and fountains.

Fibres Gallery and Studio - designers of bags, clothing, furnishings and textiles artworks.

Once you've had your fill of art and crafts, the Aroha Island ecological experience, about 12km north of Kerikeri near Dove Bay is definitely worth a visit. Accessed by a causeway, the island is home to kiwi and plentiful other birdlife. There are bushwalks, an ecological centre, kayaks and campsites.

Of course any weekend away wouldn't be complete without a quick winery visit and there are three great wineries all within easy drive of Kerikeri - Cottle Hill, Marsden Estate and Ake Ake.

Links: kerikeri.co.nz; www.northlandnz.com.