Whangarei City Attractions – enriched by diversity

Whangarei city is the regional capital of the Northland region located in the northernmost corner of New Zealand, about 160km from Auckland. Northland is composed of 3 main districts; Far North District, Kaipara District and Whangarei District.

Whangarei district is a diver's paradise, with stretches of unspoilt coasts and offshore islets such as the world famous Poor Knights Islands - an archipelago sited only 50km from the Whangarei city. It's an uninhabited region renowned as a nature reserve offering warm waters, crystal clear visibility and a spectacular marine life thriving within vibrant coral reefs. The purpose built dive boats will take you to specific diving spots that best suits your skills and interests, presenting you with a unique diving experience.

If you prefer Kayaking in a secluded bay, Tutukaka harbor offers just the right place for you. Not only kayaking, you can also snorkel, paddle and even trek and fish. Tutukaka is also famous for surfing as well as for stretches of sandy white beaches with a rocky landscape. You can also find other attractions here, such as game-fishing and numerous sporting facilities including tennis and golf, dotting the area.

If you fancy mechanical devices, Claphams Clocks will definitely pique your interest. It is the Southern hemisphere's largest timekeeper collection claiming to about 1,400 clocks and timepieces. The museum was founded by a resident of Whangarei by the name Archibald Clapham in the 1940s and later in 1961 the collection was bequeathed to Whangarei District Council. It's located at Quayside, Town Basin where international yachts are gathered, along with a multitude of shops, galleries and restaurants.

You can trek through a nature trail by visiting the A.H. Reed Memorial Kauri Park, which is the remnant of the original Kauri forest that used to span across Northlands. The specialty of the park is the canopy walkways, where you can capture a breathtaking view of the park which includes 500 year old Kauri trees. And just 5km from downtown Whangarei, you can capture the stunning scenery of Whangarei falls - renowned as the most photographed cascade in New Zealand.

And how about a first hand encounter with world's most endangered big cats? Visit Zion Wildlife Park to discover these fascinating felines reared personally by New Zealand's famous Lionman Craig Busch. The site houses endangered big cats such as the Barbary and white lions, Royal white and orange Bengal tigers, Serval cats and a black leopard among others.

And for a historical tour capturing New Zealand's renowned Kiwis, try the Whangarei Museum and Kiwi House at Heritage Park. The museum features numerous collections of Maori taonga, treasures of the Maori - the indigenous people of New Zealand. The Kiwi house is home for nocturnal kiwis, morepork owls and native geckos.

There are also a number of theaters in Whangarei, including the Octagon Theatre which hosts various interesting shows and events. The Repertory Society hosts their shows at the Octagon theatre offering regular classic live shows. There are many hotels in Whangarei, including the Kingsgate Hotel Whangarei, where you can relish modern conveniences and scrumptious delicacies while residing close to the city center.