Quirky rooms are the icing on the cake on Rebecca Kamm's trip to Kerikeri, with its kauri forests, gourmet eats and stunning vistas.
Not much in the world can match the coolness of a tree-house. I thought it 20 years ago, and I think it now; always wanted one, never got one. So when I caught sight of such a comparison while scouring online reviews of accommodation in the Bay of Islands, that settled it - Stone Store Lodge was the place, and Kerikeri the town.
About three and a bit hours' drive from Auckland, Kerikeri's wealth of accommodation options can be overwhelming. Depending on the experience you're after, of course, the trick is to find somewhere offering more than simply access to the main attractions. A place that - for a similar price to chain motels and beige bed and breakfasts - provides something special by way of its set-up.
Stone Store Lodge is not just high above your run-of-the-mill accommodation or motel - it's also high above (but very close to) the town, on a hill that slopes gently up from the Kerikeri Inlet. Soothingly ensconced rooms are nestled right among native flora and fauna - hence the tree-house effect. What's more, the interiors actually demonstrate taste, and its prices don't break the bank. (There's a pretty decent breakfast thrown in, too - Richard is famed for his french toast.)
An absolutely unmissable stop in town when hunger calls is the award-winning Food at Wharepuke, set in a subtropical garden and serving European and Thai inspired food that is at once delicate, intelligent and satisying.
