Whangarei Holiday Activities

Quayside Town Basin

Centrally located, a popular haven for international yachts, with an award-winning waterfront development. Incorporates a renewed Claphams Clock collection, art galleries, shops, cafes and restaurants. All with landscaped foreground, and a tranquil harbour setting.

Whangarei Falls

Whangarei Falls is known as the most photogenic waterfall in New Zealand, dropping 25 metres into a beautiful bush-fringed pool. Located centrally at Tikipunga, 5km north east of the city.

Claphams Clocks

Claphams Clocks is the largest collection of its kind in the southern hemisphere with more than 1500 timepieces. Located in the new Town Basin development.

Parks and Walkways

The district has abundant native forest and a great variety of marked trails to suit any age or fitness ability. The temperate climate and volcanic soils provide a haven for keen gardeners and are typified by the city's many parks and gardens. Abbey Caves are just a few minutes from the city centre, and offer an opportunity to discover extensive unspoiled limestone caves — tours available.

Fishing

Excellent boat launching facilities available throughout the district, and good shore fishing. Big game fishing is exceptional in season (December to April) with record catches off the Tutukaka Coast.

Mount Parahaki

Mount Parahaki towers 242 metres above the city and offers a superb panoramic view of the city and harbour. The summit can be reached by road, or by walkway from Mair Park. The top is crowned with a war memorial and a large red cross, which glows in the dark.

Northland Craft Trust (Craft Quarry)

Set in a bush clad quarry site, this co-operative of crafts people in adobe buildings creates a unique atmosphere and environment for their activities.

Shopping

The central shopping area is centred around The Strand, Quality Street, and the newly renovated Cameron Street Mall, a popular meeting place with seating, trees and attractive plants, buskers, space and sunshine, giving its own distinctive atmosphere. Specialist boutiques to nationwide department stores all feature.

Beaches

There are beautiful beaches within a 30-minute drive of the city - sparkling white sands of the Bream Bay and Tutukaka coastlines, or the tranquil beauty of Whangarei's deepwater harbour.

Diving

The Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve is renowned as one of the world's top dive locations, offering spectacular water clarity and variety of sea-life. Further recreational diving is available on the artificial reef created off Tutukaka by the sunken frigates Tui and Waikato. Also great coastal and harbour diving in the district.

Ruakaka Racecourse

Unique setting where "the surf meets the turf". Race meetings held regularly and always very popular.

Golf

Whangarei has a selection of outstanding courses. Whangarei (Mt Denby) is centrally located; The Northland Golf Club and Sherwood Park are both set amid fertile farmlands and rambling stonewalls. The Pines Golf Club with its magnificant views nestles on the harbour-side.

Forum North Cultural Complex

Cultural and performing arts centre for Northland, includes the Capitaine Bouganville theatre, The Exhibition Centre, and meeting rooms, and the venue for the district's many shows, Theatre, concerts and exhibitions.

Art Galleries

Reyburn House and the Whangarei Art Museum are open daily and feature ever-changing exhibitions of local and visiting artists.

Restaurants and Nightlife

Whangarei offers an excellent selection of restaurants and cafés to suit all tastes and budgets, as well as all the main chain restaurants and fast food outlets. There is a good selection of night entertainment with bars and nightclubs to suit varying tastes in atmosphere and music.

Theatre

WAODS (Whangarei Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society) Riverbank Theatre and the Repertory Society's Octagon Theatre both offer regular top class live shows. Dinner is an optional extra.

Whangarei Heads

This picturesque 35-kilometre drive passes by the bays and beaches of the beautiful Whangarei Harbour. A perfect location for all types of recreation and water sports, the harbour also has a plentiful supply of shellfish. En-route you will notice the legendary Mount Manaia, dominating the harbour entrance with its unique castle-like peaks. For the intrepid climber, a hike to the summit includes a thrilling rock chimney climb at the finish and spectacular 360-degree views (1.5 hours to summit). For the less adventurous, nearby Mount Aubrey makes a more leisurely climb (20 minutes) with superb views of the harbour. Discover Smugglers Cove, a remote and beautiful white sandy beach, fringed with pohutukawa trees — walking access only (20 minutes) from Urquharts Bay. The road ends at Ocean Beach, a favourite with surfers and popular for its unspoiled beauty.

Tutukaka Coast

Another picturesque drive taking in some of the finest beaches and scenery to be found anywhere. Travel northeast via the fertile farmlands, stonewalls and orchards of Glenbervie, arriving at the holiday resort of Ngunguru. Continue over the hills to the famous deep-sea fishing base of Tutukaka, and the cosy bays and fishing spots of the Tutukaka peninsula. Tutukaka is also the base for dive trips to the famous Poor Knights Islands. The islands are a Marine Reserve, and renowned world wide for their deep clear waters and variety of sea-life. Continue on to Matapouri and Whale Bay, two of the finest beaches in the country. Whale Bay is an idyllic spot with walking access only (five minutes). Sandy Bay, venue for surf championships, is the turning point of your journey. You can return via the same route or continue on through farmland rejoining the highway at Hikurangi. This makes an 80 kilometre round trip.

Bream Bay Coast

This magnificent expanse of white sparkling sand incorporates the fabulous beaches of Ruakaka, Uretiti, Waipu and Langs Beach is just 30 minutes south of the city. Great swimming, surfing, sunbathing, surf casting and plentiful shellfish in these sparkling waters. The islands visible offshore are the Hen and Chicken Islands, so named by Captain Cook in 1769, and now a wildlife sanctuary. The Oil Refinery at Marsden Point is known world wide for its beautiful setting. The Oil Refinery Visitors Centre has an impressive audio-visual display highlighting the workings of this massive project, and also features a huge scale model. Shows are free, open daily and clearly signposted from State Highway 1. Ruakaka boasts an all-weather horseracing track uniquely positioned right next to the surf.