Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(Otuihau; Ngunguru Rd)
Short walks around these 26m-high falls provide views of the water
cascading over the edge of an old basalt lava flow. The falls can be reached on the
Tikipunga bus ($3, no service on Sundays), leaving from Rose St in the city.
AH Reed Memorial Kauri Park
FOREST
(Whareora Rd)
A grove of immense 500-year-old kauri trees has been preserved in this
lush tract of native bush, where a cleverly designed boardwalk leads you effortlessly up
into the canopy. To get here, head north on Bank St and turn right into Whareora Rd.
Quarry Gardens
GARDENS
(
www.whangareiquarrygardens.org.nz
;
Russell Rd; admission by donation; 8am-5pm)
Green-fingered volunteers have transformed this old quarry into a blissful park with a
lake, waterfalls, pungent floral aromas, wild bits, orderly bits and lots of positive energy.
To get here, take Rust Ave, turn right into Western Hills Dr and then left into Russell Rd.
Quarry Arts Centre
ARTS CENTRE
OFFLINE MAP
GOOGLE MAP
(
www.quarryarts.org
;
21 Selwyn Ave; 9.30am-4.30pm)
An eccentric village of artists'
studios and co-operative galleries where you can often pick up well-priced art and craft.
Kingdom of Zion
ZOO
( 09-435 0110;
www.kingdomofzion.co.nz
; Gray Rd, Kamo; adult/child/family from $60/25/150;
9am-5pm)
An essential destination if you're a fan of big cats, with more than 30 lions,
tigers, cheetahs and leopards. A variety of tours is available - most popular is the Feed
Tour (adult/child $80/30) - and there are also behind-the-scenes opportunities to meet the
cats. Kingdom of Zion is around 9km northwest of Whangarei. A return shuttle bus ($25)
leaves from the Town Basin daily at 1.15pm.
Activities
The free
Whangarei Walks
brochure, available from the i-SITE (
Click here
)
, has maps
and detailed descriptions of some excellent local tracks. The
Hatea River Walk
follows
the river from the Town Basin to the falls (three hours return). Longer tracks head
through
Parihaka Reserve
, which is just east of the Hatea River and encompasses the
remnants of a volcanic cone (241m) and a major
pa
(fortified village) site. The city is
spread out for inspection from the lookout at the top, which is accessible by car. Other
