Whakatane
From Wikitravel
Whakatane is a coastal town in the eastern Bay of Plenty on New Zealand's North Island. It is one of the sunniest towns in New Zealand.
[edit] Get in
[edit] By plane
Air New Zealand [1] has five direct daily flights to Whakatane, four from Auckland and one from Wellington with a flight time of 45 minutes. Rental cars are available at the airport. Check grabaseat for specials.
[edit] By car
Whakatane is less than 100 kilometres from the cities of Rotorua and Tauranga. It is less than 4 hours drive from Auckland and Hawkes Bay and 2.5 hours from Gisborne, Hamilton and Taupo. Wellington is a 6.5+ hour drive through beautiful scenery.
Another scenic drive is The Pacific Coast Highway [2], "traversing the spectacular east coast of New Zealand's North Island, is one of the great touring routes in the world. The Pacific Coast Highway is well signposted along the entire route, giving a safe and easy way to navigate through some of the most spectacular coastal scenery New Zealand has to offer". Whakatane is about half way along this scenic highway, which starts in Auckland and finishes in Hawkes Bay. The scenery is stunning, but you should note, Whakatane is probably the last big town before reaching Gisborne, so ensure you take some food along with you. There are no shopping malls between Gisborne and Opotiki!
[edit] By bus
Intercity Coachlines covers all of New Zealand and runs a daily (?) service to Whakatane.
A regular local bus service [3] operates between Whakatane, Ohope, Kawerau, Opotiki and Tauranga. The Ohope - Whakatane and Ohope - Tauranga line runs Monday to Saturday, while the Whakatane - Opotiki, Whakatane - Kawerau run 2x weekly. The fares are cheap as they have been subsidised by the regional council.
[edit] Get around
Whakatane has limited public transport. The Bay Bus Service [4] runs to Ohope, Tauranga, Kawerau and Opotiki, but not every day.
Renting a car is the easiest way to get around Whakatane and see all the local sights. Parking is free generally (there is only one area you have to pay - and not many locals will take this option) but they do have strict time limits.
[edit][add listing] See
[edit][add listing] Do
- Nga Tapuwae o Toi Walkways (in the Footsteps of Toi) is a walkway that shows off Whakatane's natural beauties. Many of the locals walk or run these walks as they train for events. The walkway is a loop between Whakatane township and Ohope Beach: one side takes you along the coast line and through major reserves; the other takes you through beautiful bush settings. The total trip can be completed in 5-7 hours and can be demanding at times. Pack a rain coat and warm clothes, as the weather can change quickly. There are signposts detailing important history of the area. Some of the places are pa (Maori fortified village) sites, so please be respectful of these.
- Take a boat or helicopter trip to volcanic White Island.
- Kayaking. Sensational kayaking opportunities abound. Local operators KG Kayaks [5] run guided tours to offshore Whale Island as well as guided tours and kayak hire at nearby Ohiwa Harbour. Dolphins, orca and seals are regularly sighted along this stretch of coast.
- Fishing.
- Horse riding.
- Golf.
- Jet boat.
- Dolphin tour.
- Hiking.
[edit][add listing] Buy
[edit][add listing] Eat
[edit][add listing] Drink
[edit][add listing] Sleep
[edit] Get out
- Tarawera Falls
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