Whakatane: Māori Culture, City Walks and Nature

Whakatane brings Māori cultural heritage together with trails through the town centre and nearby landscapes. Collections, changing art exhibitions and historic wayfinding sit alongside natural attractions and places for recreation. The scale varies too: a self-guided walk through town takes about an hour, while the entire Ngā Tapuwae o Toi Walkway takes five to seven hours.

Māori Taonga, Museum and Town History

The Whakatāne Museum’s collection and research facility, Te Whare Taonga o Taketake Whakatāne, preserves more than 600,000 objects. The Māori taonga collection includes significant examples from Ngāti Awa. The museum offers a wide range of resources and services for researchers, students and the public, both on site and increasingly online. Otuawhaki is of great significance to Ngāti Awa as a fishing ground and place of learning.

Contemporary art is also part of the town’s cultural offering: the Whakatāne Art Gallery has four exhibition spaces featuring changing exhibitions. The Historic Trail runs through the town centre and along the riverbank. Map markers point out its attractions, and most stops also have information panels. The route can also be used as a guide to Whakatāne’s historic places.

Town Walks and a Longer Hike

The Kiwi Wandering Trail is a self-guided treasure hunt through the centre of Whakatane. Along the way, you can find ten life-size bronze kiwis. The trail begins at Te Kōputu a Te Whanga a Toi and ends at Wairaka Centennial Park. At about 1.6 kilometres and roughly an hour for the return trip, its timeframe is easy to plan; allow extra time for stops.

The Ngā Tapuwae o Toi Walkway is on a different scale. The best starting point is the Whakatāne end of Mokorua Gorge, on Pacific Coast Highway. The trail runs above Whakatane along the cliff edge and passes several pā sites. You can walk individual sections or take the 16-kilometre circuit; the full route is listed as taking five to seven hours. Check trail conditions and access before setting out.

Parks and Kiwi Nature

Wairaka Centennial Park is by the Whakatāne River at the Heads and is described as a family-friendly recreation destination. Its play features include a slide inspired by Whakaari, several climbing structures and water fountains. As facilities can change, it’s a good idea to check the latest information before visiting.

Whakatāne Kiwi Trust’s Kiwi Hub is an educational centre about the North Island brown kiwi and conservation work in local sanctuaries. Its children’s area offers nature-based activities. The hub is behind the Whakatāne isite building at 144 The Strand. As the exhibits and operations can change, check the latest information before visiting.

Kiwis were first released into the nearby Mokorua Bush Scenic Reserve in 2009. Their calls are best heard during the first two hours after sunset; kiwi sightings are not guaranteed. Kohi Point Scenic Reserve covers 154 hectares of native bush. It extends from the ridgeline above Whakatāne Heads through the valley to Otarawairere and along the coast to the western end of Ōhope Beach.

Whakatane and the Wider Region

To understand the landscape, it’s also worth looking at the Whakatane District: it has more than 50 kilometres of coastline, and Te Urewera accounts for about 40 percent of its 4,400 square kilometres. The fertile Rangitāiki Plains are a growing area for kiwifruit, olives, citrus fruit, avocados and a wide variety of berries. These regional features are distinct from Whakatane itself, whose character is especially evident in its collections, town walks and named places.

When looking for a holiday rental in Whakatane, you can choose your focus: the museum, gallery and town routes, or nearby natural attractions. The short duration of the Kiwi Wandering Trail and the much longer Ngā Tapuwae o Toi Walkway can help you weigh up your planned activities and preferred pace for the day.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Murupara, Ohope, Taneatua, Edgecumbe, Minginui, Nukuhou, Awakeri, Matata.

For the main travel overview: Whakatane District.