Whangarei

Whangarei is the main city of the Northland region, in the North Island of New Zealand. It has a warm semi-tropical climate, with summer daytime temperatures around 24-26°C, regular rainy days year round and mild winters that rarely have frosts and are mild enough for the region to be described as "the winterless north". The city's population is 57,000.

By bus
InterCity coaches stop in Whangarei on trips between Auckland and Kaitaia. Travel time from Auckland is just under three hours.

By car
Whangarei is around two hours drive north of Auckland, one hour south of the Bay of Islands and one hour east of Dargaville.

By plane
Whangarei Airport is in the suburb of Onerahi, ten minutes drive from the central city. Air New Zealand has several flights a day from Auckland; flight time is 30-40 min. Taxis and a shuttle service run from the airport to town, and rental cars are available at the airport.

By bus
The only public transport is Citylink, funded by the district and regional councils. It covers most of the suburbs and the inner city. Tickets are $2 for adults and can be purchased from the driver. Look for the Green Buses and timetables located at bus stops.

Do



 * Mount Parihaka.jpg
 * Ocean Beach (36 km from town centre), a lovely big white sand beach, normally with decent surf
 * Matapouri and Sandy Bay (36 km from town centre)
 * Ngunguru (25 km from town centre). On the edge of an estuary. Find the cafe and have a steak and cheese pie. One of the most beautiful places in New Zealand.
 * Ocean Beach (36 km from town centre), a lovely big white sand beach, normally with decent surf
 * Matapouri and Sandy Bay (36 km from town centre)
 * Ngunguru (25 km from town centre). On the edge of an estuary. Find the cafe and have a steak and cheese pie. One of the most beautiful places in New Zealand.

Around the Town Basin
The locals refer to the area around the marina and Hundertwasser Art Centre as the "Town Basin". It is a pleasant place to stroll with nice restaurants, weekend craft markets, and yachts visiting from all over the world.

Drink
Most of the town's bars and clubs are located in the central city in or around Vine Street.
 * Bacio Bar & Cafe, 31 Bank St
 * The Butter Factory, 8 Butter Factory Lane
 * Grand Hotel, 2 Bank St
 * Pure Bar & Grill, 79 Cameron St
 * Split Bar & Restaurant, 16 Rathbone St

Go next

 * 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.