Noonsite Port Of The Month: Whangarei, New Zealand

Created by doina. Last modified on 2006-03-02 12:25:52
Countries: New Zealand

Haere mai - Welcome to Whangarei, Northland, New Zealand / Aotearoa

The Whangarei Harbour is a harbour of sublime natural beauty. The people lucky enough to visit or live here, speak of an intangible drawing to, and sense of belonging with, the land and sea. Indeed, many who visit choose never to leave.

The cherry on top for yachties is The Town Basin - one of the few marinas in the world where you can step ashore from your vessel and have all the amenities of a small city, and complementary marine facilities, at your fingertips.

Whangarei Harbour, Northland, New Zealand is a large inlet 45km long and up to 6.5km wide. Small settlements and beaches are dotted along the harbour’s wonderful bays.

The Town Basin, Whangarei is a marina known globally as a refuge from the Pacific hurricane season. The Marina’s south shore boasts several cafés and art galleries as well as another Pacific icon, Reva’s Bar and Pizzeria, where yacht crews have been meeting for a drink and to swap tales since the seventies. Within a short walk is the Whangarei town centre where one can indulge in a little retail therapy, enjoy a latte or catch the latest movies. Adjoining the town centre is the commercial area where yacht crews have a wide choice of marine suppliers and service businesses.

History

Kupe, the legendary Polynesian navigator, first sighted the Whangarei Harbour when returning to Hawaiiki after discovering Aotearoa / New Zealand in 950AD. Later voyages brought Aotearoa’s first people, the Maoris, with some of them settling the shores of the Whangarei Harbour.

The first recorded European contact with New Zealand was by Dutch explorer Abel Tasman in 1642, but it was not until the 18th century that other explorers, including Captain James Cook, and European settlers began to arrive.

More recently Whangarei has produced some very well known yachts such as the Hiscock’s “Wanderer V” and the veteran Greenpeace campaign yacht, the “Vega”.

People

As recently as the 1830s, New Zealand’s population was tiny - the Maori population of New Zealand was estimated at 100,000 with perhaps 2,000 European settlers.

The Whangarei district today has a population of approx 70,000 with close to a quarter of the population identifying themselves as Maori. Whangarei has attracted and continues to attract an eclectic mix of people – locals who can trace their ancestry back to the first major Maori and European settlements, artists, musicians, entrepreneurs, farmers, writers, families, the young, the old and everyone gloriously in between.

Climate

The Whangarei district lies in the NZ sub-tropical zone with warm summers and mild winters. Typical summer daytime maximum air temperatures range from 22 to 26ºC. Winter daytime temperatures range from 12 to 17 ºC. Annual sunshine hours average about 2000.

Natural Environment

Whangarei district has 270km of coastline. It is known as the district of 100 beaches and is characterised by magnificent rocky headlands, sheltered harbours, white sandy bays and beautiful beaches, estuaries, sublime coves and tidal mangrove flats that teem with life.

Whangarei Harbour is the largest harbour and estuary on the east coast of Northland. As well as its importance as a shipping port and boat building centre, the harbour and coastline are both of great beauty and vital importance to the people and wildlife of the region.

The coastline and harbour are both safe for fishing as well as for gathering shellfish – fresh New Zealand kaimoana (seafood) is one of life’s great delights.

The coastline is also rich in aquatic life of a slightly larger size, with pods of dolphins, orca and whales commonly sighted. The Harbour provides an estuary environment that attracts and supports a multitude of resident and migratory birdlife.

To the North of Whangarei Harbour lies the Tutukaka coast, big game fishing, and diving - sunken frigates have created artificial reefs - are year round activities.

The marine reserve, Poor Knights Islands and surrounding waters, are renowned for their remarkable caves and natural arches. Rikoriko cave is believed to be the largest marine cave in the world. Jaques Cousteau named the Poor Knights as one of the 10 best dive sites in the world.

Just north of Tutukaka is the fabulous surf beach, Sandy Bay, breeding ground for some of New Zealand’s top surfers and host to an annual longboard competition every February.

Between the entry port of Opua and Whangarei there are numerous beautiful sheltered anchorages that can be enjoyed by those who take the time to cruise down from the Bay of Islands. Two of the highlights would be Whangaruru and Whangamumu but Mimiwhangata is also an outstandingly attractive anchorage and Tutukaka offers a marina, good anchorage and access to the Poor Knights Islands.

To the South are the sweeping white sand and surf beaches of Bream Bay, and further South again is the Hauraki Gulf and New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland. Auckland city is a 2 hour overland drive.

Marine Services

Whangarei has a well developed marine industry, with a wide choice of businesses available, for all your maritime requirements – refrigeration, electronics and electrical, engine supply and service, haul-out and hard-stand, engineering, chandlery, glazing, sail and canvas makers, paint, riggers and sand blasters.

Many boatyards are happy for owners to participate in maintenance projects but also provide complete start-to-finish services themselves.

The local marine industry, along with the wider community, have a strong commitment to providing quality and service to visiting sailors. They welcome visiting yachts, recognising the contribution that these visitors make to the area.

The Whangarei Marine Promotions Group (WMP) www.whangareimarine.co.nz was set up to get the message about Whangarei out to the overseas yachts through the distribution of their annual brochure throughout the Pacific. They also have a representative in Whangarei who is available to assist yacht crews source services and supplies chris@whangareimarine.co.nz WMP hosts an annual welcome celebration for all yachties in early December and a cultural event and Hangi in April. The Whangarei Cruising Club is an active club that also welcomes overseas visitors.

Living

Whangarei is the largest commercial centre in Northland. The Town Basin Marina is one of the few places in the world where you can step ashore and literally walk to the town centre in a few minutes.

For visiting sailors this is one of the biggest benefits to mooring in the Whangarei Harbour, literally at your doorstep are large supermarkets, organic food stores, health care centres and doctors, boutique and bulk retail stores, cafes and restaurants, laundromats, w-lan and Internet cafes, cinemas, banks, library, professionals such as lawyers and accountants. Whangarei has a thriving growers market every Saturday morning from 7am. An indoor swimming pool and gym, hairdressers and beauty salons are also immediately to hand.

The Whangarei airport is centrally located and has daily flights to the Auckland International Airport. Cars are easily purchased or hired at very reasonable prices.

Whangarei has five local golf courses, all within a 30 minute drive, and wider Northland itself is home to some of the best golf courses in the world. You’ll be amazed at how accessible these courses are.

Education

For those with children, there are top quality kindergarten and pre-schools, childcare facilities and schools from primary to secondary, again all within walking distance. The district’s well stocked and actively staffed library is also a pleasant walk.

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