Discover Whangarei District

Whangarei District offers many different reasons to spend time outdoors or enjoying culture: waterfalls and kauri forest, trails along rivers and coastlines, and museums featuring art, migration and regional history. With walking loops, longer hikes, cycling routes and exhibitions to choose from, you can tailor your trip to your interests.

Waterfalls, forest and coastal nature

At Otuihau – Whangārei Falls, a walking loop circles a 26-metre-high waterfall. Along the way, you’ll find viewpoints and picnic spots, as well as a wheelchair-accessible viewing platform. In A H Reed Memorial Park, a canopy walkway passes through 500-year-old, regenerating kauri trees; a detour leads to the 23-metre-high Pukenui Falls. Bream Head is a coastal forest reserve and refuge for rare plants and animals, including kiwis. The Coronation Scenic Reserve preserves the remains of two Māori pā sites.

Walks and trails with different highlights

The Te Whara Track follows an old Māori trail between Urquharts Bay and Ocean Beach. The 7.5-kilometre hike is described as a full-day trip; walking it one way takes five to six hours. For a shorter option, compare it with the Peach Cove Track: this three-hour return walk descends to a sandy beach at Peach Cove. Terrain and conditions there can change seasonally. The Whangaruru North Head Walking Tracks start at Puriri Bay Campsite and pass through native forest and over ridges to secluded bays.

The Waipū Coastal Walkway also combines nature experiences with opportunities for picnicking and fishing. Its features include Waipū’s pancake limestone rocks and native coastal bush. A 4.2-kilometre shared loop follows the Hātea River, crosses three bridges and passes several points of interest. The 6.5-kilometre Onerahi Shared Path connects central Whangārei and the Town Basin to Onerahi and the Waimāhanga trail network via the Hātea Loop.

Cycling, coast and water

In Whangārei, around 50 kilometres of shared paths connect Raumanga, the city, the Hātea Loop, Onerahi, Te Kamo and Tikipunga. A bike park features an 800-metre loop, a beginner skills course and a pump track; it connects to the shared-path network. There are different types and lengths of routes to choose from when planning. Whangārei Heads Road is a scenic route that follows the harbour through bays to the Pacific coast. Tūtūkākā Marina is a fishing harbour with charter boats for diving and fishing.

Art, history and local events

Matakohe-Limestone Island in Whangārei Harbour was once a Māori pā and later a limestone quarry and cement works. The Waipū Scottish Migration Museum tells the story of Scottish Highlander migration through interactive exhibitions and collections included in UNESCO’s Memory of the World. Whangārei Art Museum is Northland’s public art gallery and the permanent home of the city’s art collection; it hosts exhibitions throughout the year. The Hundertwasser Art Centre with Wairau Māori Art Gallery displays original works by Hundertwasser and houses the world’s first public art gallery dedicated specifically to Māori art.

Another collection awaits at Claphams National Clock Museum, which features more than 1,000 clocks and pocket watches. Guided group tours are available by prior booking. The historic Tawatawhiti / Mair’s Landing area preserves Māori garden and field structures associated with the kāinga of Tawatawhiti. The Highland Games are held in Waipū on New Year’s Eve, featuring dancing and traditional Celtic competitions. Whangārei also hosts New Zealand’s first farmers’ market, held year-round every Saturday morning and offering fresh, high-quality produce; check the dates before your trip.

Choose accommodation to suit your itinerary

If you want to combine several interests, you can weigh these destinations against one another as you plan your trip and choose accommodation based on the places you want to visit. This makes choosing a hotel part of planning for the experiences that matter to you in Whangarei District.

Discover more destinations: Whangarei, Ngunguru, Tutukaka, Langs Beach, Helena Bay, Ruatangata West, Parua Bay, Kauri, Whangarei Heads.

For the broader travel overview: Northland.