Kerikeri historic tour Stone Store Mission Station with lunch
Walk through two centuries of New Zealand history in a single morning
A guided tour of Kerikeri's historic Mission Station, established in 1819, takes you through the Stone Store (1832, New Zealand's oldest stone building) and Kemp House (1821, the oldest wooden building), followed by Makana Chocolate Factory, Rainbow Falls and lunch with a glass of local wine at the Plough & Feather pub. The tour runs approximately 3 to 4 hours and includes transport by air-conditioned minivan, all entrance fees, lunch and beverages. A live English-speaking guide leads the group, and hotel pickup is included; children from age 13 are welcome.
Step-by-step itinerary
Historic Kerikeri tour with lunch
- Visit Kerikeri Mission Station
- Tour Stone Store and Kemp House
- Watch chocolate making at Makana Confections
- Walk to Rainbow Falls viewing platforms
- Enjoy lunch and drink at Plough & Feather
The Experience
How do you fit New Zealand's oldest stone building, its oldest wooden building, a working chocolate factory and a waterfall into one morning without driving yourself? This tour threads them together in roughly 3 to 4 hours, moving by air-conditioned minivan between stops so you stay on schedule and make it back to your tender on time. Mullarkey Tours has run this route for over a decade and has never missed a ship departure—that reliability is built into the itinerary.
The Kerikeri Mission Station is where the day anchors. Two buildings sit there: the Stone Store, completed in 1832 as a warehouse for the Missionary Society and still standing as New Zealand's oldest stone structure, and Kemp House next to it, finished in 1821 by missionary carpenters working alongside Maori sawyers—the oldest wooden building in the country. A guide walks you through both, explaining how the mission was established in 1819 as the first place Maori invited overseas visitors to live with them. From there you move to Makana Confections, where you watch chocolatiers hand-make confections using fresh, natural ingredients, taste samples and browse the shop. The Plough & Feather, where you eat lunch, sits on the exact land where Europeans and Maori first lived together peacefully; the menu blends classic English pub food with local ingredients and flavours. You get lunch, a glass of local wine or craft beer, and vegetarian and gluten-free options are available.
The return route takes you past Rainbow Falls, where a short walk from the car park leads to three viewing platforms at the top—all built for photos and accessible by wheelchair. The Waitangi lookout loop closes the loop with views across the Bay before you head back to the ship. Transport, all entrance fees, lunch and beverages are included in the price.
What’s included
- Air-conditioned minivan transport from your ship.
- entrance fees to the Stone Store and Kemp House.
- a guided tour of both historic buildings.
- entry to Makana Chocolate Factory with samples.
- lunch at the Plough & Feather with a glass of local wine or craft beer.
- the walk to Rainbow Falls and viewing platforms.
- and return transport to your tender.
Operated by Mullarkey Tours Limited
Is this one for you?Pick this if you want a guide who speaks English throughout a 4-hour walk through New Zealand's oldest stone and wooden buildings—the Kerikeri Stone Store and Mission Station—rather than reading plaques on your own.
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What are the Stone Store and Kemp House, and why do they matter?
The Stone Store, built in 1832, is New Zealand's oldest stone building, originally a warehouse for the Missionary Society. Kemp House, completed in 1821 by missionary carpenters and Maori sawyers, is the oldest wooden building in the country. Both stand at the Kerikeri Mission Station, established in 1819, and the guided tour explains their role in the earliest European settlement in New Zealand.
Do I have time to see everything and still make it back to my ship?
Yes. The tour is designed to run 3 to 4 hours and includes a guarantee: Mullarkey Tours has operated for over 10 years and has never missed a tender departure. The fixed itinerary and minivan transport keep the day on track.
What happens at Makana Chocolate Factory?
Makana Confections is a working chocolate studio where you watch artisans hand-make gift-quality chocolates using fresh, natural ingredients, taste samples and shop for products to take with you.
What's included in the lunch at the Plough & Feather?
Lunch, a glass of local wine or craft beer, and vegetarian and gluten-free options are all included. The pub sits on the historic land where Europeans and Maori first lived together, and the menu combines classic English pub fare with local ingredients and flavours.
Is the guide in English, and will I understand the commentary?
The guide speaks English throughout the tour. The commentary focuses on the history of the Mission Station and the buildings themselves, explained at a pace suitable for all fitness levels.
Kerikeri historic tour Stone Store Mission Station with lunch
3h–4h · EN · at your hotel
from NZ$ 250 per person
★★★★★★★★★★4.4321 reviewsVerified traveler reviews via our booking provider






