A trip to Whangarei offers the best of both worlds: all the amenities of a city but completely surrounded by nature. And not just gardens and green spaces of which there are plenty, but incredible beaches, truly magical glow worm caves, waterfalls, ancient kauri forest and some spectacular hiking trails too.
Once you’ve finished a day’s exploring you can hit one of the many cafes and restaurants or wander along the harbour and check out the local art scene. Even driving between the various attractions which are scattered north and south of the city is a pleasure with rolling green hills and plenty of coastal views.
Here are all the best things to do in Whangarei, Northland’s only city.
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1: Marvel at one of New Zealand’s most magnificent glow worm caves
2: Take a dip with true island vibes at Whale Bay
3: Feel the spray of the powerful Whangarei Falls
4: Wander the delightful sub-tropical Quarry Garden
5: Come face to face with the giants of the forest
6: Meet the locals at the Native Bird Recovery Centre
7: Catch a sunset from Mount Parihaka Lookout
8: Go Indiana Jones at Abbey Caves
9: Admire the views from Tutukaka Lighthouse
10: Climb the imposing Mount Manaia
11: Check out the local art scene
12: Have a picnic at the superb Smuggler’s Bay
13: Have a coffee at Whangarei’s best coffee shop
14: Go forest bathing at Taheke Falls
The 14 Best Things to do in Whangarei
These are the 14 best things to do in Whangarei:
1. Marvel at one of New Zealand’s most magnificent glow worm caves
Imagine standing inside a cavern surrounded by thousands upon thousands of glow worms which illuminate the walls and ceiling like a starry night sky.
No other sound but that of water dripping down the cave walls, and then imagine that you have this magical experience all to yourself.
Often the bigger and most impressive glow worm caves in New Zealand require both an entry fee and a guide, but that’s not the case at Waipu Caves.
Here you are free to explore the ancient cave chambers going as far as you dare. You’ll need to be prepared to get a little wet, although not much if you don’t want to go far into the cave.
We detail everything you need to know about the three main chambers at Waipu Caves, and a little beyond, in this post.
2. Take a dip with true island vibes at Whale Bay
Whale Bay is one of the most beautiful beaches in Northland. It’s not technically an island, but it definitely has island vibes, with white sand and turquoise water.
It’s backed by dense forest giving it a wonderful secluded feel and it’s very sheltered which makes for calm water that is perfect for swimming.
A beach this good requires a touch more effort to reach, as you do have to walk for 600m to get there. It’s all on good path and mainly downhill on the way and uphill on the way back - but it’s a fairly gradual climb.
Whale Bay gets sun in the afternoon so our photos don’t really do it justice as it was still in shadow, but trust us it’s incredible.
There’s even a toilet at this little patch of paradise so it’s the perfect destination to while away a lazy afternoon.
If walking to the beach sounds a bit too much like hard work you could always drive to nearby Matapouri Bay, which is also gorgeous, if not quite as special as Whale Bay.
3. Feel the spray of the powerful Whangarei Falls
I’m not sure anyone comes to Whangarei and doesn’t visit Whangarei Falls. This stunning waterfall is best visited after rain (the more the better!) and can be viewed from both a lookout at the top and down at the base.
To reach the top lookout takes just a minute and to reach the bottom around 5 minutes.
There’s an incredible swimming hole at the base and had I realised in advance I would have taken my swimmers, even in winter, it’s that gorgeous!
You can then loop back round to the car park which is a gradual climb that’s never too steep, or continue on a longer loop walk which takes you to the A. H. Reed Memorial Kauri Park. We sadly didn’t have time for the longer circuit but it looked very pretty following the picturesque river.
4. Wander the delightful subtropical Quarry Garden
If only all abandoned quarries looked like this one. The story behind the Quarry Gardens is almost as good as the gardens themselves.
The disused quarry became a bit of a local dumping ground before the community rallied and created the marvellous oasis that it is today.
They’ve been planting and caring for this garden for 25 years and counting, and their work has paid off in spades. It’s really heart warming to see that birds, butterflies and lizards have returned to this former wasteland.
The gardens are the perfect place to head for a relaxed stroll, or make a whole afternoon of it by bringing a picnic. There’s lots to see but our favourite spot had to be the lake which has a big waterfall that cascades into it.
It’s here that you really get the feel for the fact it was an old quarry and the towering walls make for a dramatic scene.
The gardens are entered by gold coin donation which all goes towards supporting this wonderful community project.
5. Come face to face with the giants of the forest
Sadly many of Northland’s ancient kauri forests have been lost, but there are still a few strongholds, one of which is the at the A H Reed Memorial Park.
The short and easy canopy walkway offers the chance to get right up close to some of these ancient giants, thought to be over 500 years old.
The atmosphere of the forest is very special with dense foliage and plenty of birdlife.
You can also make a short couple of minutes detour to see the pretty Pukenui Falls, it’s all uphill but definitely worth it. Aside from this detour the walk is flat and very easy. You can extend it by walking to Whangarei Falls if you have more time.
6. Meet the locals at the Native Bird Recovery Centre
The Native Bird Recovery Centre rehabilities and releases wild birds that have been injured and need a bit of TLC to get them back to health. There are a few permanent residents who sadly have injuries that would not allow them to survive in the wild, but other than that it’s all about getting the birds out to where they belong.
You can see a range of birds depending on who is currently in residence, the most famous of which is Sparky the kiwi - who lives there permanently due to only having one leg after getting caught in a possum trap.
We were a bit devastated that Sparky was at the vets when we dropped by so we didn’t get to meet him but hopefully you will get the chance to!
Visiting the centre is free but of course donations are greatly appreciated and put to very good use. It’s not open on weekends so make sure you plan your visit for midweek.
Whilst we’re on the subject of kiwi, there is a kiwi house in Whangarei which we didn’t visit because they are not part of a breeding program and we feel that birds should be in the wild unless it’s due to injury or part of a program to save the species. We thought we’d still mention it in case you would like to visit.
7. Catch a sunset from Mount Parihaka Lookout
If you’re looking for a beautiful place to catch the sunset which is also an easy win, then head for Mount Parihaka Lookout.
This viewpoint takes just a minute to reach and looks out over all of Whangarei including the river and headlands, as well as a sea of tree ferns. It’s a lovely spot and the sun sets directly behind the mountains and casts a beautiful glow over the city.
There is also a WWII memorial and several walking tracks at the reserve if you have more time.
8. Go Indiana Jones at Abbey Caves
You’ll want to bring a sense of adventure to this one because Abbey Caves offer a walk on the wild side. There are three undeveloped caves of varying difficulty, all of which can be explored independently. The entrance to each cave has full on jungle vibes with knotted tree roots and gnarled vines.
The first of the caves, Organ Cave is long and winding with small underground cascades and a ceiling which glitters with glow worms.
The second cave, Middle Cave, is the easiest of the bunch and after a short boulder scramble to enter it’s an easy walk through.
There are glow worms here too but fewer than the other caves. The final cave, Ivy Cave, is the most adventurous of them all offering a water filled adventure deep into the cave.
We’ve got a whole guide with lots more details on each cave, including difficulty and water levels to help you plan your trip. Remember never to enter caves when it’s raining or has been heavily raining due to the danger of flash flooding.
You can find out more on our in-depth guide to visiting Abbey Caves.
9. Admire the views from Tutukaka Lighthouse
Tutukaka Lighthouse itself is no looker but it more than makes up for it with simply sensational views. The short walk to get there traverses an attractive rocky beach and several sheltered coves which are ideal for swimming.
The final stretch up to the lighthouse takes you through a pretty forested path before arriving at the top of the headland.
From here there are ocean views as far as the eye can see, as well as a great view of Tutukaka Harbour, and the surrounding headlands and islands.
It’s a relatively easy 2.6km walk which does have a few hills and needs to be done close to low tide. Here’s a full guide on the Tutukaka Lighthouse walk including details on the trail conditions.
10. Climb the imposing Mount Manaia
Mount Manaia might look imposing from the base but the climb is made easy with a very well maintained track which zig-zags up the mountainside.
You’ll be under the protection of the forest canopy until right before the summit, which offers excellent protection from both the sun and the rain.
It’s a beautiful forest which even harbours a few mature kauri trees.
After climbing for almost 2.2km you’ll reach the exposed summit rock with wonderful views out to Bream Head (Te Whara) and the Marotere islands.
It’s a fantastic sunset spot although you’ll ideally want to pick a day with low wind levels as it was more than a little gusty on our visit.
You can read our full Mount Manaia trail guide here.
11. Check out the local art scene
Whangarei is home to a number of art galleries and all are free to visit, although donations are welcome. Head first to the Hihiaua Cultural Centre to check out some of the beautiful Maori pieces.
It’s a welcoming place and there’s even a complimentary drinks station as you enter. Over time the gallery will be further developed to also include a space for cultural performances.
Next head to Whangarei art museum which houses a permanent collection as well as temporary exhibitions. On our visit the permanent gallery was closed for renovations but should be open and better than ever by the time you read this.
We did get the chance to check out the Yoko Ono Mend Piece exhibition there which was interactive and a good bit of fun.
If you enjoy bright and colourful pieces head for the Reyburn House Art Gallery. Pieces at both Reyburn House Art and the Hihiaua Cultural Centre are also for sale.
12. Have a picnic at the superb Smugglers Bay
Smugglers Bay is a glorious white sand beach with calm water and backed by two tall headlands. It’s a wonderful place to come for a picnic and a swim or to simply just relax on pristine sand.
Depending on your energy levels you have a few different options for visiting Smugglers Bay. The first would be to walk there directly from the car park which only takes around 15 minutes and is easy.
The second and third are loop tracks of 3km and 5km.
We’d recommend the 5km loop if time allows because the views are outstanding and you’ll get the chance to soak up more of this gorgeous area.
We’ve got all the details on the Smugglers Bay Track and what to expect here.
13. Have a coffee at Whangarei’s best cafe
We tried out so many different cafes on our trip to Whangarei and none even come close to the Smith & Local Parua Bay Cafe. With easily the best coffee, food and friendly service in the area we wished we’d found it on our first day. We can highly recommend the burgers as well as the muffins and desserts and the vibe inside is really relaxed.
It is a 25 minute drive from the centre of Whangarei, so it does work best when combined with visiting the Whangarei Heads area (walks include Mount Manaia, Smugglers Bay and Te Whara Head). The drive is really scenic and even though it makes most sense to combine it with a walk or beach visit, we’d drive over just for the food too!
Sorry for the lack of photos, we ate everything before realising we’d forgotten to take a snap!
14. Go forest bathing at Taheke Falls
Taheke Falls is one of Whangarei’s lesser known waterfalls and whilst it’s Northland’s tallest and very lovely, the viewing platform is not the best.
However in our view the waterfall is just a bonus and it’s the forest surrounding it that is really special.
There are two distinct sides to it, one is wild and unruly with masses of tangled vines, cabbage palms, tree ferns and all manner of tropical plants.
The other is regenerating kauri forest with the chance to see some of these giants far away from the more popular A H Reed Memorial Park which sees many more visitors.
The excellent path and largely (though not entirely) flat trail makes for a really relaxing stroll and we never saw another soul on our visit. You won’t have to worry about tripping over rocks and tree roots and can fully immerse yourself in the peace and beauty of the forest.
You can read all the details on the walk in our in-depth Taheke Falls guide.
Where to stay in Whangarei
We stayed in Tutukaka which is gorgeous but we’d probably recommend something a little more central which is why we’ve picked out the below.
Chelsea House Bed & Breakfast
Chelsea House B&B gets rave reviews for its comfy cosy rooms and delicious home cooked brekkie. It’s just five minutes from the city centre and comes with free wifi, parking and access to laundry facilities.
You can check out the prices and reviews on:
Deloraine Stone Cottage
If you’re visiting with family or friends then the three bedroom Deloraine Cottage is a great choice, less than a 10 minute drive from town. With modern decor, a fully equipped kitchen, BBQ, and even a hot tub it makes for a great luxury stay. There’s also a swimming pool which is shared with the owners.
You can check out the prices and reviews on:
Getting to Whangarei
Whangarei is just under 160km and roughly a 2 hour 20 minute drive from Auckland. If you’re heading north it’s around 1 hour 15 from Kerikeri and 3.5 hours from Cape Reinga.
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