Not much wine north of AKL -- you're headed in the wrong direction for that! It's mainly surf, sand and sun with quite nice places like the Bay of Islands being a top holiday destination (mainly for new zealanders). I quite like the Kauri coast though it is very under-developed and quiet http://www.kauricoast.co.nz/ (the petrified kauri is amazing wood). There is also some quite good pottery (good clay in places and not much other local industry, plus a benign climate that attracts artists).