Whangarei Things to Do

The Poor Knights Islands is an awesome playground for the serious. The water temperature is and visibility is significantly greater than in nearby coastal waters. Underwater caves, tunnels and archways are home to an extraordinary variety of sea weeds and friendly colourful fish.

Diving at the Poor Knights is rewarding at all times of the year. Mid January to late April presents excellent all round diving. The water is warm 20 - 23 Celcius (70F) and the water is clear, averaging 20 metres visibility.

From May to early September the visibility is excellent but the temperature falls to a winter low of 15 - 16 Celcius.

For the experienced diver there are excursions that will take you to the 2 shipwrecks that are 28 and 30 metres below water. The former HMNZS Tui, a former US Navy Ship and HMNZS Waikato, a leander class frigate are the wrecks you will get to explore deep down below the waters surface. Complimentary coffee and hot soups await you when you surface.

The Poor Knights Sightseeing & Eco-Adventure is a trip for everyone. You dont have to be a diver to enjoy NZ's oldest island reserve. On the island you will encounter plant and animal life that occur no where else on this planet, such as the Poor Knights Water Lily and the Tuatara, a living dinosaur.
Of course it wouldnt be a sightseeing trip if you didnt enounter dolphins and of course, seasonally, orcas and whales. Oh yeah, and between dives there are hot drinks, hot showers and fresh water rinses for underwater cameras. Also the boats have enclosed cabins, toilets and storage room for your personal equipment.

Check in at the dive centre is 8 - 8:15am. Departure time for the Tui is 8:30am and the Waikato is 11:30am and 2:30pm. Departure to the Knights is 8:45 - 9am and takes 40 - 60 minutes IF you dont see dolphins and whales on the way.

All dive gear, wetsuits inclusive are available for hire.

The Poor Knights Islands were named by Jacques Cousteau as one of the top 10 dive sites in the world!!

The Whangarei Museum, Kiwi House, Heritage Park and Clarke Homestead are situated 3 minutes drive from downtown on state highway 14.

The Museum features relics of our European history and a fine collection of our Maori Artefacts.

At the Kiwi House you will have the opportunity to see our native nocturnal and endangered bird "the kiwi" which is more often than not, a rare sight to find in the wild.

Heritage Park boasts a number of events all year around, more so in the summer months with their "Live Days" which are held regularly providing a unique opportunity for an insight into the way life once was.

The Clarke homestead was built in 1885 and remains a uniqu example of an origional, unrestored homestead.

It is open daily from 10am to 4pm

The Zion Wildlife Gardens are a relatively new thing to Whangarei. The park relocated to the Whangarei area from the far north in 2003. This is your best chance to get up close and personal with big cats. Here you will find 12 rare Barbary Lions and 4 Royal White Tigers. Also an Orange Bengal Tiger and cub and 2 Serval Cats. Both the Barbary Lions and the Royal White Tigers are extremely rare and are labelled "extinct" in the wild.

Zion Wildlife Gardens offers guided and private tours for groups and individuals every day of the week. Bookings are essential. Private tours are $150 per person and a minimum of 2 people are required. You will have exclusive escorted access to the park and animals and interaction with some of the big cats. NOTE: children under 16 years of age are not permitted to participate in the private tours. General admission into the park is Adult: $25, Children 2-12yrs: $15, Family Rate (2 adults &3 children): $80, Children under 2yrs are free. There is a giftshop on site also.

There are a few other animals including free ranging deer and Foxy the baboon. The park is still under construction as they are planning to extend their family of animals, but it is definately open for business.

The photo I have put on here is when I went to visit the lion cubs Aslan & Narnia. I got to cuddle both of them and play with them. These babies are now 18 months old.

I highly recommend going to the Whangarei Falls as its well worth a look. During the summer time there is regularly an abseiling team there with the opportunity to scale down these falls. Many a nice photo can be taken here from both above the falls and below it. There is a 15 - 20 minute trail that starts you at the top, takes you down over a bridge at the bottom (be prepared to get a little wet from the spray of the falls) and then back up the other side again. Also during the summer it tends to be quite a busy little spot both popular with locals and tourists alike. You will find many of the local people swimming here in the warmer months. So bring a towel if you feel like a dip in the water. There are public toilets and pay barbeque facilities here. There are also a few picnic tables or alternatively a nice shady spot under a tree will suffice for a picnic lunch. There is a small convenience store 10 minutes walk away from this location. This waterfall in particular is known as the most photogenic in New Zealand. It drops 25 metres into a beautiful bush-fringed pool below. Be sure to bring your camera and enjoy your visit!!

Plenty to choose from on the east coast from Whangarei. Matapouri and Whale Bay being particular favourites of mine. But these places can become crowded (when I mean crowded I mean not more than 30 people!) so head to Ocean Beach or just north of Whananaki - which are just as lovely!

These falls are 26 m high and you can do a very nice walk around it. You can also hop into the water at the top of the falls.

whangarei has a beatiful harbour with white sand beaches, safe for swimming, great for fishing, shell fish etc. photo with the new zealand oil refinery in the background