'''Whangarei''' (Maori:''Whangārei'') (Pronounced:''Faa - ngaa - re - i'') [http://www.whangareinz.org.nz/] [http://www.wdc.govt.nz/] is the major population centre (Pop ~50,000) of Northland and the northernmost "city" in the North Island of New Zealand. It has a warm semi-tropical climate, with summer daytime temperatures around 24-26 degrees Celsius, 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''.
Get in
'''By Bus'''
[http://www.northliner.co.nz '''Northliner'''] runs busses from Auckland to Kataia with a stop in Whangarei. Traveltime is just under three hours.
[http://www.intercitycoach.co.nz '''InterCity Coachlines'''] runs the same route as the Northliner but has a more frequent schedule as well as connections to the rest of the country.
'''By Car'''<br>
Whangarei is around two hours drive north of Auckland. One hour South of the Bay of Islands and one hour East of Dargavile.
'''By Air'''<br>
Whangarei Airport (WRE) is about ten minutes drive from the central city in the suburb of Onerahi. Taxis and a shuttle service as well as car rentals are available from the airport to town.<br>
[http://www.airnz.co.nz '''Air New Zealand'''] has several daily flights from Auckland and Wellington. Flying time from Auckland is 30 to 40 minutes.
[http://www.greatbarrierairlines.co.nz/ '''Great Barrier Airlines'''] runs flights twice weekly from Whangarei to Great Barrier Island depending on minimum passenger numbers.
Get around
'''Bus'''
Whangarei's only form of public transport is [http://www.wdc.govt.nz/customerservice/?lc=reader&m=tssd&i=2992] being run by Citylink the Whangarei District and Regional councils. It covers most of the suburbs and the inner city. Tickets are $3.00 for adults and can be purchased from the driver.
See
Claphams Clocks - The National Clock Museum. own Basin. 38 3993. pen Daily 9 - 5pm. 8 Adult, $4 Child, Senior Citizens $6. One of the largest collections of clocks in the southern hemisphere.
Heritage Park. tate Highway 14 on the road to Dargaville, about 5 minutes from the Whangarei City centre. 38 9630. ttp://www.whangareimuseum.co.nz. pen Daily from 10am - 4pm Closed Christmas Day. dult $10 Child 3 - 16 years $5 Child under 3 years Free. Exhibits relating to Whangarei and Northland as well as a Kiwi aviary and various historic buildings.
Whangarei Falls. ocated centrally at Tikipunga, 5km north east of the city. . - Known as the most photogenic waterfall in New Zealand, dropping 25 metres into a beautiful bush-fringed pool.
Zion Wildlife Gardens. ray Road, Kamo. Whangarei,. 9 435 0110. ttp://www.zionwildlifegardens.co.nz/. uided tours only. dults: $NZ60-100 Children (2-12years old): $NZ30-40. The wildlife gardens currently has a collection of Barbary and white lions, Royal White and orange Bengal tigers, some very cute cubs, two Serval cats, a black leopard and a baboon.
Whangarei Quarry Gardens. ussell road. ttp://www.whangareiquarrygardens.org.nz/. ree. Spectacular subtropical plantings in a terraced amphitheatre with a lake fed by two waterfalls.
Do
Walking. Whangarei has good opportunities for short and medium duration walks. Mair Park and the adjacent Parihaka Reserve in the center of town straddle the Hotea river and is extremely popular. Two tracks lead from the river up to the top of Parihaka which has beautiful views over the city.
Swimming. <br>The main public swimming pool is located in the centre of town and has a wave pool as well as a regular lap pool, hydroslides, spa and a gym. <br> <b>Whangarei Aquatic Centre
52 Ewing Road, Whangarei<br> Phone: 09 438 7957<br>
In summer, and for the hardy any other time of the year, the beaches in and around Whangarei are the place to head for. <b> Onerahi beach</b> is not the best beach but it is the closest and over the weekends very popular with families for a swim over the weekend. North East at Whangarei Heads is <b>Ocean beach</b> a lovely big white sand beach with normally a decent surf. </do>
Diving.
Big Game Fishing.
Buy
'''The Piggery''' - High quality and hard to find (mainly secondhand) books<br>
'''Reyburn House Art Gallery Gallery'''[http://www.reyburnhouse.co.nz]<br> Reyburn House Lane, Town Basin, Whangarei<br> Phone: 09 438 3074
'''Burning Issues Gallery''' [http://www.burningissuesgallery.co.nz]<br> Quaside, Town Basin, Whangarei<br> Phone: 09 438 3108
Eat
'''Around the Mall.'''
Shiraz Indian Restaurant. 8 Walton Street. 38 3112. ww.shiraz-nz.co.nz.
Pimarn Thai Restaurant. 2 Rathbone Street. 3 00 718. 5-20. Very popular Thai Restaurant. Reservations a must.<br>
Lunches Mon-Sat 11.00am-2.30pm<br>
Dinners Mon-Sat 5.00pm-10.00pm</eat>
Killer Prawn. 6-28 Bank Street. 30 3333. ttp://www.killerprawn.co.nz/. .00pm till late. Popular restaurant and bar with very tasty food, seafood, steak, pizza and a huge wine list
Asahi Japanese Restaurant. nr Vine st & Quality St. 30 3005. Delicious food at very very reasonable prices. Check it out!
'''Around the Town Basin.'''
Mochaba - Good coffee, pleasant food but slow service. It shares a building with The Batch, an arts and crafts shop
Reva's [http://www.revas.co.nz] - Terrific waterfront location but variable food and service.
Mondos - Always busy but the quality of food tends to be low.
Vinyl [http://www.vinylcafe.co.nz] - Small restaurant away from the main town basin restaurants on the other side of the water.
Gybe [http://www.gybe.co.nz] - Shiny new building shame about the food and service
'''Other Areas.'''
'''a Deco''' [http://www.a-deco.co.nz]<br> 70 Kamo road, Kensington, Whangarei<br>Phone: 09 459 4957
Drink
Most of the towns bars and clubs are located in the central city in or around Vine street.
Grand Hotel
Danger Danger
Heaven
Butter Factory
Split
Sleep
Budget
'''Whangarei Backpackers''' [http://www.whangareibackpackers.co.nz/]<br>90 Bank street, Whangarei<br> Phone:09 459 7070
'''YHA Youth Hostel''' [http://www.yha.co.nz/NZHostelsandTravel/FindaHostel/NorthlandandAuckland/Whangarei/default.htm] <br>52 Punga Grove avenue, Whangarei<br> Phone: 09 438 8954
Whangarei Falls Holiday Park. 2-16 Ngunguru Rd, Glenbervie, Whangarei. minutes walk from Whangarei Waterfalls. ttp://www.whangareifalls.co.nz/. 22. 10-person shared accommodation, consisting of individual fixed bunk beds. The central area has table, chairs and fridge freezer.
</sleep>
Midrange
Top End
Kingsgate Hotel. Riverside Dr, Whangarei. acing the town basin. 800 404 010. www.millenniumhotels.co.nz/kingsgatewhangarei/?cid=nzaa. The hotel 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.
Settlers Hotel. 1-69 Hatea Dr, Whangarei. ear the town basin. 800 666 662. www.settlershotel.co.nz. 4.00. 0.00. 105 - $200. lounge/garden bar and 110-seater a la carte restaurant, wireless internet, guest laundry, outdoor pool and private spa. 53 rooms all with ensuite, most with baths. A variety of room types range from executive to standard studios.
Lodge Bordeaux . 61 Western Hills Dr, Whangarei. 9 438 0404. ttp://www.lodgebordeaux.co.nz. 185 - $300. 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.
Get out
Whangarei is only 70 kilometres from the Bay of Islands and is the primary gateway to the rest of Northland. Alternatively you can take the road to Dargaville and travel north from there through the Kauri forests and along the rugged west coast beaches to Opononi and the Hokianga.
'''Do the Hokianga''' (just 90 minutes drive from Whangarei)
* '''Mangungu Mission House (''Historic Site'')''' — site of the biggest signing of the Treaty of Waitangi
* '''Koutu Boulders''' — biggest concretions in the world
* '''Sand Dunes ''' — fantastic sandstone sculptures on top of dune opposite Opononi
* '''Wairere Boulders (''Nature Park'')''' — an enormous basalt flow just south of Horeke
* '''Omahuta Kauri Sanctuary''' — see 5 of the 12 biggest Kauri trees in an undisturbed healthy forest
* '''Tane Mahuta''' — Lord of the Forest {most visited Kauri tree in NZ}