Whangarei City Area Guide
At just under 50,000 people, the city of Whangarei is the biggest in Northland and the region's administrative centre. Visitors to Northland are usually in search of outdoor delights, so Whangarei will never compete with the likes of the Bay of Islands for tourism points. But it makes an attractive alternative for those tired of game fishing and dolphin spotting.With a strong boat-building industry and marina, Whangarei city is also a good stop for those yacht folk needing to top up supplies or a spot of refurbishment. And the area around the water and riverfront has plenty to offer the casual visitor, too, with its shops, galleries, restaurants, cafes and even a clock museum.
There are more arts and crafts to admire elsewhere, notably at the local art museum and the quarry-based Northland Craft Trust. And numerous sculptures dot the town, particularly around the centre.
Not that Whangarei lacks a few semi-natural attractions of its own. The centre also houses a tropical plant conservatory, cactus house and fern collection. And the immediate environs offer golf courses and a heritage park where you can also find the elusive Kiwi.