Things to do in Whangarei

Activities, attractions and tours
Town Basin Marina showing a bay or harbor
Town Basin Marina
Town Basin Marina which includes a bay or harbor
Botanica & Cafler Park featuring forest scenes
Whangarei Falls showing a river or creek and a waterfall

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Top places to visit

1. Town Basin Marina

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.
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Whangarei featuring a bay or harbor, a marina and sailing

2. Whangarei Quarry Gardens

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.
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Whangarei Quarry Gardens featuring a park

3. Botanica & Cafler Park

Visit two of Whangarei’s best green spaces. First, enjoy the landscaped beauty of Cafler Park, then learn about ferns, cacti and other plant species in the green houses and gardens of nearby Botanica Whangarei.
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Botanica & Cafler Park which includes interior views and a park

4. Reyburn House

The Northland Society of Arts (NSA) has been the proud custodian of Reyburn House since 1966. Visit this heritage house in Whangarei’s Town Basin to see an art collection and to enjoy the location of this precious reminder of days gone by. The kids will love the adjacent Town Basin playground.
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Whangarei showing heritage architecture, a park and a house

5. Claphams National Clock Museum

See an enormous collection of historic, artistic and antique clocks at Claphams National Clock Museum in Whangarei. The museum’s collection includes approximately 1,500 clocks that range from Victorian cuckoos to small children’s clocks. Timepieces built by famous clockmakers, including London’s Edward John Dent, also feature in the museum’s displays.
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Take a guided tour of this unique museum to see one of the largest collections of clocks in the Southern Hemisphere.

What to do in Whangarei

Popular places to visit

Whangarei featuring a bay or harbor, a marina and sailing

Town Basin Marina

Stroll through this picturesque yachting marina and along its pedestrianized river inlet, a place where seafaring, heritage, arts and culture come together.

Town Basin Marina
Whangarei Quarry Gardens featuring a park

Whangarei Quarry Gardens

Enjoy the fruits of this remarkable community garden project as you explore areas planted with species of indigenous and subtropical plants.

Whangarei Quarry Gardens
Botanica & Cafler Park which includes interior views and a park

Botanica & Cafler Park

See one of New Zealand’s largest collections of native ferns in a tranquil garden complex and explore the adjoining park for a relaxing time.

Botanica & Cafler Park
Whangarei showing heritage architecture, a park and a house

Reyburn House

Visit Whangarei's oldest settlers house at its scenic riverside location in the Town Basin, to browse one of New Zealand’s delightful art galleries.

Reyburn House
Claphams National Clock Museum

Claphams National Clock Museum

Take a guided tour of this unique museum to see one of the largest collections of clocks in the Southern Hemisphere.

Claphams National Clock Museum

Whangarei Art Museum

You can spend time studying the exhibits at Whangarei Art Museum in Whangarei. Wander the marina and beaches in the area.

Whangarei Art Museum

Hundertwasser Art Centre

You can spend an afternoon exploring the galleries in Hundertwasser Art Centre in Whangarei. Stroll along the marina or visit the spas in the area.

Hundertwasser Art Centre

Mt Manaia

Commune with nature and explore the great outdoors at Mt Manaia during your travels in Whangarei. While in the area, you can find time to visit its spas.

Mt Manaia

Mair Park

Explore the great outdoors at Mair Park, a lovely green space in Whangarei.

Mair Park

Areas of Whangarei

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One Tree Point

While One Tree Point might not have many sights to explore, venturing just a little farther will lead you to top things to see and do like Mcleod Bay and Reotahi Bay.

One Tree Point
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Onerahi

While Onerahi might not have many sights to explore, venturing just a little farther will lead you to top things to see and do like Mt Manaia and Whangarei Art Museum.

Onerahi
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Marsden Point

Though Marsden Point might not have many top sights, you can venture to the surrounding area to see attractions like Reotahi Bay and Mcleod Bay.

Marsden Point
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Regent

While Regent isn't home to many top sights, Town Basin Marina and Whangarei Art Museum are some notable places to visit nearby.

Regent
About 3 hr drive away from Auckland you can feed and tour wild cats. The lion from Narnia posters is here too! Beautiful and majestic, it's well worth the trip! #adventure #newzealand #realmiddleearth #zoo #fun #animals #wildcats

Kamo

Kamo might not have many top sights, but Whangarei Quarry Gardens and Botanica & Cafler Park are two attractions nearby that you can check out.

Kamo
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Marsden Cove

If you're looking for some top things to see and do in Marsden Cove and surrounding area, you can visit Mcleod Bay and Ruakaka Beach.

Marsden Cove
Photo by HappyTravelers

Ruakaka