A word that will challenge and taunt many a brave tongue. Let’s try and help you pronounce it correctly – farnga-ray, with a soft g and if you can put a slight roll the second r, all the better. Easy eh.

The City


Whangarei is Northland’s largest city and commercial centre.

Whangarei Falls, on the outskirts of the city, provides an escape from the hustle and bustle of the urban environment More [?] A small, beautiful city that is coming of age, well served by a buoyant retail centre (shop, shop, shop ‘til you drop), art galleries, museums, restaurants (great food!) and cafes, bars and clubs, library, festivals and everything else you would expect.

The Town Basin


At the city end of the Whangarei harbour, is a legendary destination for yachties from around the world as they excape the Pacific hurricane season. We welcome them with open arms and provide all the amenities of a city literally within walking distance. And a lovely walk it is.

Just Two Hours Drive

Being just two hours drive – and getting less all the time - from Auckland, NZ’s largest commercial centre, Whangarei locals get the best of both worlds. With Auckland’s massive population on our doorstep, we do business with them, sell stuff to them and use their international infrastructure. We get to go to all their big concerts, exhibitions and events, we shop in their malls and eat at their restaurants. And, sometimes, yeah, you just want to feel the buzz of the masses – you can itch that scratch in Auckland too.

Whangarei offers all of the great things of living in a small city with easy access to the jostle of the crowd when you want it.

The Communities

Whangarei District has some amazing small settlements. Communities with a salt-of-the-earth rural spirit, communities with a fierce pride in their history, communities that shout loud and proud about how green they are, communities that party hard and others that revel in their laid back atmosphere.

The Harbour

The magnificent Mount Manaia, here framed by gorgeous Pohutukawa blossom, overlooks the entrance to the Whangarei Harbour More [?] Whangarei Harbour and its deep water port are of vital importance to the district’s shipping port and boat building centre.

The Beaches


This district is blessed with, as is the rest of the Northland, a gorgeous variety of beaches, and offshore islands, including the world famous Tutukaka gamefishing and Poor Knights scuba diving area. Surf culture is alive and well with Sandy Bay hosts a popular annual longboarding competition.