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City in Northland, New Zealand
Photo: ., CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
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.
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One of the largest collections of clocks in the southern hemisphere.
Designed by Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser and featuring his art. Also houses the Wairau Māori Art Gallery. Allow 1-1.5 hours.
Museum with exhibits relating to Whangarei and Northland, a kiwi aviary and a heritage park of historic buildings.
Known as the most photogenic waterfall in New Zealand, dropping 25 m into a beautiful bush-fringed pool.
Spectacular subtropical plantings in a terraced amphitheatre with a lake fed by two waterfalls. The cafe and its food is excellent too.
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 and family fun.
There are good opportunities for short and medium duration walks. Mair Park and the adjacent Parihaka Reserve near the centre of town straddle the Hatea river and are extremely popular (the latter has several glow-worm spots at night). Two tracks lead from the river up to the top of Parihaka, which has beautiful views over the city. The hike up the mountain from Mair Park takes around 30 minutes each way, although it is also possible to drive to the summit as there is a paved road and carpark. The A.H. Reed Memorial Kauri Walk. Whangarei Heads offers many opportunities for walkers of different capabilities. The rugged landscape fringed by beautiful bays and coves results in some wonderful panoramic views.
In summer, and any time of the year for the hardy, the beaches in and around Whangarei are the place to head for.
Very popular Thai restaurant. Reservations a must.
Good coffee, pleasant food. Shares a building with The Bach, an arts and crafts shop.
Woodfire pizza and beer.
This cafe roasts their own beans and is known as the best coffee in town.
The only hostel in Whangarei, The Cell Block offers an 8 bed mixed dorm, a 4 bed female dorm, and private rooms in a former jail.
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.
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.
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.
The Piggery is a sprawling shop with many hard to find (mainly secondhand) books.
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 (WRE) is in the suburb of Onerahi, ten minutes drive from the central city.
The only public transport is Citylink. It covers most suburbs and the inner city, including the airport. Service intervals are approximately half hourly during peak, hourly otherwise, and every two hours on weekends.
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Whangarei · Regional · WRE
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