Whangarei

By bus

• InterCity coaches run from Auckland to Kaitaia with a stop in Whangarei, as well as connections to the rest of the country. Travel time to Whangarei is just under three hours.

By car

By plane

• Air New Zealand has several flights a day from Auckland; flight time is 30-40 min.

By bus

(WT-shared) Longhornkiwi at wts wikivoyage

• Claphams National Clock Museum

  phone: +64 9 438-3993
  address: Town Basin, Dent Street
  One of the largest collections of clocks in the southern hemisphere.

• Kiwi North

  phone: +64 9 438-9630
  address: 500 State Highway 14, Maunu
  Whangarei Museum, with exhibits relating to Whangarei and Northland, as well as a Kiwi aviary and a heritage park of historic buildings.

• Whangarei Falls

  address: Tikipunga
  Known as the most photogenic waterfall in New Zealand, dropping 25 m into a beautiful bush-fringed pool.

• Whangarei Quarry Gardens

  address: Russell Road
  Spectacular subtropical plantings in a terraced amphitheatre with a lake fed by two waterfalls.

• Marsden Point Oil Refinery Visitors Centre

  address: Port Marsden Highway, Ruakaka
  The cafe next door is open M-F (excluding public holidays), 6:30AM-2PM.

• AE Fun Park

  phone: +64 9 432-3534
  address: 203 Hayward Rd
  Activity and events park. Paintball, Lasertag, archery, clay shooting, flying fox, target shooting, mini putt golf, BBQ and function area. Good for half-day outings, birthdays, corporate functions, family gatherings.

• WalkingWhangarei has good opportunities for short and medium duration walks. Mair Park and the adjacent Parihaka Reserve in the centre of town straddle the Hatea river and are extremely popular (the latter has various glow worm spots if walked at night). Two tracks lead from the river up to the top of Parihaka which has beautiful views over the city. The A.H Reed Memorial Kauri Walk. Whangarei Heads offers many opportunities for walkers of all capabilities. The rugged landscape fringed by beautiful bays and coves results in some wonderful panoramic views.

• BeachesIn summer, and for the hardy any other time of the year, the beaches in and around Whangarei are the place to head for.

• Onerahi Beach is not the best beach but it is the closest and very popular with families for a swim at the weekend.
• Ocean Beach a lovely big white sand beach with normally a decent surf.
• Matapori and Sandy Bay
• Ngunguru

• The Piggery. High quality and hard to find (mainly secondhand) books.

• Reyburn House Art GalleryReyburn House Lane, Town Basin.

• Burning Issues GalleryQuayside, Town Basin.

• The WarehousePort Road, Okara. Discount department store.

Around the Mall and Strand Arcade

• Muffin Break

  address: 145 Bank St

• Indian Aroma Restaurant

  address: 25 Vine St

• Shiraz Indian Restaurant

  phone: +64 9 438-3112
  address: 58 Walton Street

• Pimarn Thai Restaurant

  address: 12 Rathbone St
  Very popular Thai restaurant. Reservations a must.

• Killer Prawn

  address: 26-28 Bank St
  Popular restaurant and bar whose menu includes seafood, steak, pizza and a big wine list.

• Asahi Japanese Restaurant

  address: cnr Vine St & Quality St

Around the Town Basin

• Mokaba has good coffee, pleasant food. It shares a building with The Batch, an arts and crafts shop.
• Fring's Brauhaus is a small brewery and restaurant.

• Grand Hotel
• Rynos
• The Old Stone Butter Factory
• Split
• Fring's Brauhaus
• Bacios

Budget

• Whangarei Backpackers

  address: 90 Bank street

• YHA Youth Hostel

  address: 12 Ngunguru Road, Glenbervie

• Whangarei Falls Holiday Park

  address: 12-16 Ngunguru Rd, Glenbervie
  10-person shared accommodation, consisting of individual fixed bunk beds. The central area has table, chairs and fridge freezer.

Mid-range

• Pilgrim Planet

  phone: +64 9 459 1099
  address: 63 Hatea Drive
  A guesthouse with views over the Hatea River and Mt Parahaka. There are six spacious and soundproof bedrooms, with ensuite (wheel-chair access ensuite downstairs), king, queen and twin bed options available. Guest only facilities include: fully equipped kitchen, spacious lounge with 32" TV, Sky TV, DVD library; computer with broadband access and free local phone calls, outdoor patio area, BBQ. Complimentary continental breakfast provisions are included in tariff.

Splurge

• Kingsgate Hotel

  address: 9 Riverside Dr
  Has a fully licensed bar and restaurant along with a spa, sauna, gymnasium and indoor heated pool. 115 rooms with tea/coffee-making facilities, air-conditioning and Sky TV.

• Discovery Settlers Hotel

  address: 61-69 Hatea Dr
  All 51 rooms with en suite bathrooms, SKY TV and tea/coffee making facilities & Wi-Fi. Other facilities include the à la carte Parahaki Restaurant & Garden bar, which overlooks the banks of the Hatea river, guest laundry, outdoor pool and private spa.

• Lodge Bordeaux

  address: 361 Western Hills Dr
  15 studio, 1 and 2-bedroom apartments with a wide range of amenities from kitchen facilities to internet access, a heated swimming pool, and a BBQ area.

• Poor Knights Islands – Dive and snorkel by charter or by private boat. You must not land on the islands.
• The Bay of Islands is 70 kilometres north.
• Dargaville – to the west
• Hokianga (90 minutes drive). You can go via the Bay of Islands, or go to Dargaville, then north through the kauri forests along the west coast.
• Ngunguru (28km). Sat on the edge of a river / estuary, find the cafe and sample Steak and Cheese Pies. One of the most beautiful places in New Zealand.