Nestled an hour from the Bay of Islands and about two hours north of Auckland, Whangārei is Northland’s only city and the largest commercial centre. It is a city full of adventure, natural wonders, and traditional cultures. It is one of the contemporary landscapes that blend perfectly with colonial architecture, making this spot perfect for gathering locals and tourists worldwide. It is a hub of quaint cafes and cosy restaurants; several exhibition museums and pristine beaches will be found here. It also has the famously known Hundertwasser Art Centre and Wairau Maori Art Gallery, with 15 large-scale murals located centrally on the City Centre Street that you can explore easily. It will be a great weekend getaway to plan your journey to New Zealand.
Best Things To Do On Your Whangārei Journey
Whangārei is the main centre of Northland, which has peaceful sub-tropical towns and cities with cosy restaurants and handsome bars. You’ll find every shopping store here near stunning beaches and Bays, offering picturesque views. Exploring the city from north to south with rental vehicles is not a bad idea. The most popular activities that you can enjoy here are:
1. Witness Attractive Coastal Scenery
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Quayside Town Basin precinct is the popular area of Whangārei where you’ll find several bars, waterside eateries, the very popular Hundertwasser Art Centre with Wairau Maori Art Gallery, along with a statue trails, and various exciting attractions, such as clock museum. Anyone can spend a whole day here exploring the beauty of nature at the top tourist attractions, including McLeod Bay, Parua Bay, and Urwuhart’s. With its 20-minute walk over farmlands, it will take you to Smugglers Bay, one of the country’s most picturesque beaches.
The Northeast area of Whangārei City is the Tutukaka Coast, which is popular for its pristine bay and beaches. These offer exciting activities such as surfing on swells, swimming on the beach, fishing, and relaxing. It is also a great place to spend a memorable day with your friends and family by doing thrilling activities on a glorious beach.
Address: Hundertwasser Art Centre, 81 Dent Street, Whangārei 0110, New Zealand
Timing: 10 am – 4 pm
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2. Explore Relaxed Local Adventures
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Whangārei is a haven for adventure lovers as it offers unforgettable marine adventures where you can experience a fantastic dive or snorkel trip to the Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve. It also has multiple other interesting walking trails around the Whangārei, offering a loop track of Abbey Caves Reserve with substantial limestone caves. In which Coronation Scenic Reserve includes two Maori pa sites, Bream Head Scenic Reserve has a huge track network. Last but not least, the Hatea River Walk begins from the Basin town and allows you to walk to the enchanting Whangārei Cascades.
Whangārei gets five-star reviews from adventure seekers worldwide for its Twin Coast Cycle Trail, which connects visitors with nature through lush green walking trails.
Location: Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve is located about 22 km off the East Coast of Northland
Prices: From $249 – $359
3. Experience The Local Events And Flavours Of Whangārei
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Get a treat of delicious fresh produce food every Saturday morning in the Mangawhai Tavern Market or witness the beautiful arts and crafts, vintage clothing, food trucks and aroma flowers. Due to the market on the water’s edge, you can also experience the panoramic views of the sea. Whangārei perfectly blends the Scottishness that is madly embraced at the Waipu Highland Games. It celebrates a spectacular event every year on New Year’s Day on the 1st of January. This event organised several shows, such as highland dancing, traditional Scottish athletics, an abundance of haggis, and live bagpipe music.
It celebrates one of the most colourful, musical, delicious and cultural Northland Pasifika Fusion Festival in February at the Basin town of Whangārei. On the 6th of February, they celebrate Waitangi Day with full Maori Cultural ceremonies and performances, which you can also experience at Waitangi Treaty Grounds, about a 5-minute drive from Paihia. You can also learn about the rural life of New Zealand by taking part in the Field Days Event. This event is conducted by the end of February at Dargaville in Northland. It has several fun and brave competitions, from traditional eateries to tractor-pulling competitions, you can enjoy a lot. Enjoy a perfect blend of delicious food with vibrant music at the annual festival of Whangārei, organised in the middle of March at Northland Events Centre. It allows you to taste every flavour of New Zealand with live music sets.
Location: 2 Moir Street, Mangawhai 0505, New Zealand
Timings: 8.30 am till 1 pm
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Best Time To Visit Whangārei
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Whangārei is considered the only subtropical climate zone in Northland, New Zealand. Its mild winters (no snow) and warm, humid summers make it perfect for visiting Whangārei in any season.
However, in the summer, it has large crowds, so if you want to escape the crowds, plan your trip in spring or winter to avoid crowded beaches.
How To Reach Whangārei
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Northland’s only city and the largest commercial centre, Whangārei, is easily reachable by Whangārei Airport (WRE). Air New Zealand offers several Economy, Premium Economy, or Business Premier Cabin flights for Whangārei. Use this guide to plan your trip.
By Bus: It is only preferred for those travelling from the surrounding areas of Whangārei as there is no option to reach the city by bus from outside nations. In the city, local bus services are available and operated by Citylink Whangārei, which runs all the buses and routes.
By Train: Travelling by train is unavailable in Whangārei, and you can’t reach the city by train as its primary transports are cars, buses, and flights.
By Air: Reaching Whangārei by air is a suitable option for tourists. The nearest airport is Whangārei Airport (WRE), located about 7.5 kilometres southeast of the city centre.
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Exploring Whangārei during the spring and winter is a great option to spend your holidays in New Zealand, the only subtropical region of the country. By trekking on the Twin Coast Cycle Trail, a hearty place for adventure seekers worldwide to experience the most colourful, musical, delicious and cultural Northland Pasifika Fusion Festival, it has something for everyone. So, plan your trip to New Zealand with our guiding tour packages and explore Northland’s only city, which has beautiful arts and crafts, vintage clothing, food trucks, and aroma flowers. Make your journey remarkable.
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Cover Image Credit: Lisa Conze for Wikipedia
Frequently Asked Questions About Whangārei
Why is Whangārei famous?
It is a city full of adventure, natural wonders, and traditional cultures. It is one of the contemporary landscapes that blend perfectly with colonial architecture, making this spot perfect for gathering locals and tourists worldwide.
Is Whangārei a town or a city?
Located about an hour from the Bay of Islands and about two hours north of Auckland, Whangārei is Northland’s only city and the largest commercial centre.
What is the climate in Whangārei?
Whangārei is the only subtropical climate zone in Northland, New Zealand, resulting in it having mild winters (not snow) and warm humid summers, so it is perfect to visit Whangārei in any season.
Is visiting Whangārei worthwhile?
It is a hub of quaint cafes and cosy restaurants, you’ll find several exhibition museums and pristine beaches here. It also has the famously known Hundertwasser Art Centre and Wairau Maori Art Gallery, making it worth visiting for tourists.
What is the best time to visit Whangārei?
In the summer it has large crowds so if you want to escape the crowd, plan your trip in spring or winter to avoid crowded beaches. Although summer is the busiest time in Whangārei.
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