We stayed at a delightful B&B, the Kerikeri Village Inn (165 Kerikeri Rd., Kerikeri, Bay of Islands, NEW ZEALAND; phone 0064 9 407 4666, fax 0064 9 407 4408, e-mail stay@kerikerivillageinn.com), in early November ’03.
It is run by Peter and Sandrine, who are extremely hospitable and helpful hosts. We enjoyed three days at their comfortable and beautifully decorated home only minutes from the friendly village and a scenic hike from impressive Rainbow Falls.
The price per night for the largest room was NZ$155 (US$98). The cooked-to-order breakfast was exceptional.
• The inn is a good base for touring the entire Bay of Islands area, including Russell and Pahia. We discovered that many of New Zealand’s vineyards have excellent restaurants, and Kerikeri is no exception. We had a super Sunday lunch at the Marsden Estate a few kilometers away from Kerikeri. Lamb and seafood, plus wine, went for NZ$30 (US$18) each.
• Everywhere we went on the North Island, people were very friendly and eager to talk, offering helpful advice about things to do and see and places to eat. The only “downer” of our 10-day visit was a car we rented from an outfit in Auckland called Scottie’s. The car was a dented clunker with squealing brakes. After we protested, they promised to refund part of the cost. Many months and e-mails later, we have received many promises but no refund.
If you don’t mind driving on the left, having a car in New Zealand works very well because traffic is light and drivers are very courteous.
JUSTIN & SALLY McCARTHY
Bethesda, MD