Explore the Whakatane District

More than 50 km of coastline, vast natural areas and distinctive cultural sites shape the Whakatane District. Te Urewera makes up about 40 percent of the District’s 4,400 km². There are also beaches and waterside paths, historic sites and a museum with extensive collections. If you’re looking for a holiday rental, you can start by asking whether seaside outings, hikes or cultural discoveries will shape your stay.

Coast, river and landscape

Ōhope Beach stretches for 11 km, from the entrance to Ōhiwa Harbour to the West End, with easy-to-walk white sand. The beach offers a practical option for anyone who would like to spend time by the sea during their stay. Activities at Ōhiwa Harbour include enjoying the views, walking, fishing and kayaking. If surfing is your main interest, you’ll find the Salt Spray Surf School at the western end of Ōhope Beach. The sheltered, shallow waters and gentle waves there make it easier to learn to surf.

A path along the Whakatāne River offers another way to spend time outdoors: the Warren Cole Walk and Cycleway is 4.3 km long, easy and fully sealed. It’s suitable for walks and family bike rides, with about 10 m of elevation change. This makes it easy to include a specific route for an outing together in your vacation plans, without making a longer hike the focus.

Historic sites and discoveries

The Ngā Tapuwae o Toi Trail includes pā sites of great historical significance and passes through Kōhī Point Scenic Reserve, Ōhope Scenic Reserve and Mokorua Scenic Reserve. Ōhope Scenic Reserve is home to numerous kiwi that were reintroduced through the Whakatāne Kiwi Project. Kaputerangi is considered one of New Zealand’s oldest settlement sites. Kaputerangi Reserve offers sweeping views that illustrate its strategic importance. Wairere Waterfall is another particularly scenic and historically significant place in Whakatāne; the waterfall is illuminated in the evening.

At Whakatāne Museum, the Te Kōputu a te Whanga a Toi and Te Whare Taonga o Taketake galleries feature current and upcoming exhibitions. The museum preserves more than 600,000 collection items and provides resources and services for researchers, students and the public. This offers different ways to experience the culture as you plan your trip: you can schedule a museum visit or focus your discoveries on historic sites and landscapes. A visit to Mataatua can offer an in-depth encounter with the people of Ngāti Awa.

Hikes and regional highlights

Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park offers short day hikes and multi-day hikes, as well as activities such as fishing, mountain biking and horse riding. The outdoor recreation and education centre there is suitable for schools and other groups. The park’s most-used access route runs behind the village of Minginui along River Road to the River Road car park, the starting point for many hikes. This information can help you weigh up shorter outings against a stay with multi-day activities.

The fertile Rangitāiki Plains offer another aspect of the District: kiwifruit, olives, citrus, avocados and a wide variety of berries are grown there. Together with the coast, natural areas and cultural sites, they offer plenty of options for planning a trip. When choosing a holiday rental, you can consider which of these aspects you’d most like to explore during your stay.

More places in the Whakatane District: Whakatane, Ohope, Edgecumbe, Murupara, Matata, Taneatua, Awakeri, Nukuhou, Minginui.

For the broader travel overview: Bay Of Plenty.