Whangarei Travel Guide

169km (105 miles) NE of Auckland; 62km (38 miles) S of Paihia; 58km (36 miles) E of Dargaville

On the east coast, (population 54,000) is the first major Northland municipality you’ll encounter after leaving Auckland. It used to be a place that most passed through on their way to sexier destinations further north, but with a redeveloped waterfront area, it’s now a great place to linger on a Northland odyssey. The Town Basin hums with activity as locals and visitors enjoy galleries (including the first dedicated public Māori art gallery in the country), artist studios, cafes, and ogle yachts in the marina. There are beaches here too, of course; around 40 are located within a 30-minute drive of the town.

Whangārei is gateway to the wonderful but largely unsung Whangārei Heads and the Tutukaka Coast. The Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve has some of the best diving in the world, and big-game fishing (outside of the marine reserve, of course) is another drawcard.