Could it be said that you are searching for the best activities in Whakatāne on your next New Zealand experience? Investigate our group’s top picks with our complete travel guide!
Situated in New Zealand’s Sound of Bounty, Whakatāne is one of the country’s most gorgeous unlikely treasures. It may not offer the significant attractions found in Auckland or Wellington, yet this enchanting spot flaunts a rich social history, perfect vistas, rambling shores, and kilometers of old woods that stretch as may be obvious.
As well just like an area of monstrous regular excellence, there are additionally a large group of staggering activities in Whakatāne. Not exclusively is this spot the kiwi capital of the world, however it’s home to a few natural life protection regions, great mountain trekking trails, and a few posts that offer all encompassing perspectives over streams and mountain tops.
Whether or not you’re here to get familiar with Māori culture or need to encounter the best of the North Island’s striking scenes, you’re certain to find something you might want to look at on our rundown of the best activities in Whakatāne!
Unmissable Activities in Whakatāne
1. Look at New Zealand’s Public Creature at the Ohope Picturesque Save
To see New Zealand’s public creature, make certain to come by Ohope Grand Hold for a night of kiwi-spotting. In all honesty, this region is home to more than 300 of these nighttime birds, so in the event that you visit around evening time you’ll have a sensible possibility spotting one.
Assuming you intend to visit during the day however, you’ll appreciate strolling through the lovely pōhutukawa woods and respecting the splendid wildflowers that sprout here each mid year.
Assuming have the opportunity in excess, go to the assigned walkway that takes you through the wetlands. There, you can detect tūī, bellbirds, and fantails!
2. Investigate the White Pine Hedge Hold
Aficionados of grand climbs and wonderful beach front ranger service will undoubtedly consider the White Pine Hedge Hold perhaps of the best thing to do in Whakatāne.
This hold is a dazzling preservation region, and it flaunts a number white pine trees (also called kahikatea trees) which are the tallest species in New Zealand.
The strolls here are regularly 30 or 40 minutes altogether and are not difficult to direct in trouble. This implies you ought to experience little difficulty handling the paths with youngsters close behind.
Additionally, as this save traverses 4.5 hectares, there’s a lot of space to investigate the hanging plants, local bushes, and greeneries that portray this region.
3. Go to Moutohorā Island
Moutohorā Island (otherwise called Whale Island) is essentially a natural life safe-haven for jeopardized birds, reptiles, and plants. There, visitors can stroll among the shrubbery and pay attention to bird calls, appreciate the perfectly clear purplish blue waters, or investigate the delightful stone arrangements that are totally immaculate.
In any case, the most famous thing to do here is to dig yourself a geothermal spring pool at Onepū Sound, the island’s boiling water ocean side.
In the event that you’re willing to leave Whakatāne for the afternoon, it’s certainly worth making a trip over to Moutohorā Island. Found simply off the east coast, this little, uninhabited island is the ideal method for getting back to nature.
We enthusiastically suggest going on a directed visit through the area, as you’ll get the boat trip, an untamed life experience, a dip at Sulfur Cove, and expertly prepared guides with you constantly.
4. Jump on a Beautiful Flight
In the event that seeing Moutohorā Island sounds interesting to you, seeing it from the air on board a beautiful flight is likewise conceivable.
Moreover, White Island (where land visits were once permitted) is currently best seen from the air. Of, assuming that you’d like, you’re ready to head inland towards Rotorua’s geothermal scene.
Anything picturesque flight you pick, you’ll be ensured a seat by the window for unhindered perspectives and will appreciate discourse from your master pilot. Furthermore, as you’ll investigate probably the most captivating volcanic and geothermal scenes in the country, you realize you’ll be in for a treat.
5. Visit Awakeri
Partake in the Awakeri Natural aquifers
To visit Moutohorā however you’d in any case prefer to douse your distresses away, why not add an outing to Awakeri Natural aquifers to your Whakatāne schedule?
Situated around 16km from focal Whakatāne, this all-normal region flaunts regular geothermal pools that feed into a bigger pool region.
The water is kept at a wonderful 38 degrees Celcius all year, and the expansion of youngster pools makes this the ideal family pitstop.
Assuming you might want to broaden your visit, essentially book into the occasion park offices! Offering a bar-b-que region, clean rooms, cooking offices, and hot showers, it has all that you’ll require for an agreeable stay.
Bounce on a Self-Drive Awakeri Rail Experience
While in Awakeri, why bounce on a rail experience? There, you’ll go along a piece of New Zealand’s rich rail history and experience the regular magnificence and experience from the solace of a rail truck, cunningly adjusted to be self-propelled along what were once completely functional rail tracks.
Their rail vehicles are all completely self-propelled, significance you’ll be in finished control of your vehicle. Stop anyplace you like for photographs and appreciate taking in the landscape at your own speed.
This is an interestingly Kiwi movement that is ideally suited for individuals, everything being equal.
6. Get your Heart Hustling at Onepū Trail blazing Bicycle Park
The following thing on our rundown of activities in Whakatāne is great for all thrill seekers.
Whakatāne brags an amazing number mountain trekking trails, yet our #1 spot for trekking in the space is the Onepū Off-road Bicycle Park. The landscape here is on the level side so it permits the whole family to pedal alongside the best of them!
However you’ll likewise find are a few delicate trips here, those looking for something more energizing ought to attempt the Grand Animal Path which incorporates significant leaps and drops.
The Sandpit is additionally superb for BMX devotees, as it permits you to get a lot of broadcast appointment with little exertion.
Pro Tip: In the event that you might want to consolidate mountain trekking with touring, the Whirikani Woods Off-road Bicycle Track is great. In spite of the fact that it requires 90 minutes to arrive from the focal point of town, it brags an amazing reach trails that wind through the wild.
7 . Take a Kayak or SUP Out on the Ōhiwa Harbor
Another of the best activities close to Whakatāne is kayaking or stand up paddleboarding on the Ōhiwa Harbor.
This rambling harbor has a few sea shores that you can stop at (over 11km of them, as a matter of fact), and you can go to the islands of Uretara, Ohakana and Hokianga on the off chance that you’re searching for a difference in scene.
On the off chance that you don’t know where to begin, Ōhope Wharf takes you toward the west towards Ohakana to see the wonderful pōhutukawa trees. Assuming you continue onward, you’ll likewise have the option to see the beautiful sandstone precipices that are roosted along the coastline.
Despite the fact that you can go the entire day investigating, you can without much of a stretch cover the whole harbor region in two or three hours.
Simply make sure to remain safe and focus on the tides – they stream somewhat quicker than you expect, and you’ll should have the option to keep up to try not to cause problems.
8. Dive more deeply into Māori Culture at Mataatua Wharenui
One of the main things to visit in Whakatāne is the Mataatua Wharenui.
This genealogical house has a place with the Ngāti Awa individuals, and the overwhelming structure is totally cut with ancestral figures.
At the point when you visit, you’ll be totally submerged in the way of life of Ngāti Awa. The narratives at this extraordinary house date back to 1350 when individuals of Mataatua previously showed up in New Zealand from focal Polynesia.
Not exclusively will you realize about Māori culture at this social fascination, however you can follow a directed visit that covers the region’s set of experiences, conventional customs, and, surprisingly, the significance behind the renowned New Zealand haka.
9. Visit the Whakatāne Heads Post
For all encompassing vistas over where the Whakatāne Waterway meets the ocean, you can’t beat Whakatāne Heads.
A most loved spot for couples to visit, we prescribe you head there right on time to get the dawn before then proceeding to partake in a loosening up morning at Ōhope Ocean side. Watching the boats depart the harbor as the sun breaks into the great beyond is a heartfelt method for beginning the day.
While you’re here, you’ll likewise detect the Woman on the Stone sculpture that has been investigating this region starting around 1965. It was initially raised to address the popular insubordination of Wairaka, who was the girl of Mataatua guide Toroa. While the men made a beeline for shore, the ancestral ladies were left in the kayaks which started to float out to the ocean. In spite of it being prohibited, courageous Wairaka got a paddle and proved exactly the way that influential ladies could be. Right up to the present day, she is recalled here.
In the event that you’re visiting the region with kids, it merits coming by the jungle gym and climbing region here as well – it’s perfect for venting before sleep time!
10. Partake in a Climb on the Ngā Tapuwae o Toi Walkway
The last thing on our rundown of activities in Whakatāne is the Ngā Tapuwae o Toi Trail. The path name itself signifies ‘in the Strides of Toi’, which makes sense of why it goes through the core of the land that was administered by tribal leader Toi.
This mind boggling trail is a 16km full circle, and its best finished in a clockwise bearing to keep away from the steepness that you’ll confront assuming you go counterclockwise.
As you stroll along the path, you’ll pass the lovely Kōhī Point, see local shrub, the pleasant Ōtarawairere Ocean side, and different clifftop perspectives that provide fantastic vantage focuses for photographic artists.
To cover the entire thing, we prescribe allotting approximately 5 hours to the path. You can probably achieve it somewhat speedier on the off chance that you stroll at a good speed, yet you’ll need to represent rest breaks and landscape stops!
We trust that this rundown of unbelievable activities in Whakatāne has assisted with cushioning your impending travel agenda. In the event that you’ve as of late visited the region, what did you do while you were here?
We love catching wind of your experiences, so go ahead and reach out!