Some of the older houses around Kerikeri still reflect the lifestyles of those early orchard settlers. This was from an era when there was no telephone, and no roads to speak of, - but according to the letters of some of the early growers, there was definitely no shortage of mud.

Since then Kerikeri has continued to grow and appears set
to become the main commercial centre of the Far North.

Farming, fruit growing and tourism remain the economic
backbone of the district, but new arrivals from around the
world have created a booming building industry.

The area has a long coastline, a yacht club and marina, plus dozens of clubs and societies. It is a characterful town with many interesting properties echoing it's orcharding history. The numerous boulder strewn streams, native bush and rural atmosphere round Kerikeri's outskirts all adding up to a lifestyler's nirvana.

The picture above(top right image) is of the Stone Store Basin, at the head of the Kerikeri inlet, where the Kerikeri river meets the sea.

The buildings, now part of New Zealand's national heritage, are from the left; - the Stone Store, the Anglican Church and the Kemp's Homestead.