Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
BUS
Bus services to Whangarei are run by InterCity, whose buses stop outside the
Northland
Coach & Travel Centre
( 09-438 3206; 3 Bank St; 8am-5pm Mon-Fri, 8.30am-2.30pm
Sat & Sun)
, and Naked Buses, whose buses stop at the Hub (
Click here
)
, in the Town Bas-
in. West Coaster shuttles also service Whangarei.
TAXI
A1 Cabs
(
0800 438 3377)
TOP OF CHAPTER
Whangarei Heads
Whangarei Heads Rd winds 35km along the northern reaches of the harbour to the
Heads' entrance, passing mangroves and picturesque pohutukawa-lined bays. Holiday
homes, B&Bs and galleries are dotted around the water-hugging small settlements. There
are great views from the top of
Mt Manaia
(419m), a sheer rock outcrop above McLeod
Bay, but prepare for a lung- and leg-busting 1½-hour climb.
Bream Head
caps off the craggy finger of land. A five-hour one-way walking track
from
Urquharts Bay
to
Ocean Beach
passes through the
Bream Head Scenic Reserve
and lovely
Smugglers Bay
and
Peach Cove
.
Magnificent Ocean Beach stretches for miles on the other side of the headland. There's
decent surfing to be had and lifeguards patrol the beach in summer. A detour from
Parua
Bay
takes you to glorious
Pataua
, a small settlement that lies on a shallow inlet linked to
a surf beach by a footbridge.
Sleeping & Eating
Kauri Villas
B&B $$$
( 09-436 1797;
www.kaurivillas.com
;
73 Owhiwa Rd, Parua Bay; d $130-175; )
Perched on
a hill with views back over the harbour to Whangarei, this pretty blue-trimmed villa has
an old-world feel, due in part to some very chintzy wallpaper. The decor's more re-
strained in the self-contained lodge and annex rooms.
Parua Bay Tavern
PUB $$$
(
www.paruabaytavern.co.nz
;
1034 Whangarei Heads Rd; meals $15-31; 11.30am-late)
A magical
spot on a summer's day, this friendly pub is set on a thumb-shaped peninsula, with a sole
