Things to do in Whangarei District

If you love the water and art browsing, make a beeline for the Town Basin Marina when you arrive in Whangarei. Browse the shops, restaurants, cafés and docks of the Whangarei Marina, watch boats come and go, then follow the Town Basin Art Trail along the waterfront to be immersed in creativity and culture.

Whangarei Falls is a picturesque waterfall with elevated platforms, scenic walking paths and picnic areas. The falls were traditionally a popular location for local Māori people to catch eels. Visit today to watch the power of the tumbling water and to find many indigenous plants, including kauri trees and nikau palms, as you explore the area.

Whangarei Quarry Gardens are a community-run project that feature landscaped gardens, a visitor centre and a café. Explore the many gardens that include a collection of camellias and an area with cacti and succulents. Whangarei Quarry Gardens is home to a regenerating forest that is teeming with indigenous plants.

Visit Ocean Beach to discover a secluded and picturesque bay in the shadow of grassy peaks in Whangārei Heads. Spend a day relaxing on the shores of the iridescent blue Pacific Ocean and enjoying the pristine, postcard-perfect surroundings. Catch waves at Ocean Beach, play in the dunes and explore an ancient Maori trail.

Mount Manaia is an imposing jagged mountain with scenic walking paths and stunning views of the Northland Region. Hike through regenerating indigenous bush to a summit lookout point. The mountain is an important place in Māori culture and this is commemorated with concrete statues at the beginning of the walking trail.