INCLUDING THE BAY OF ISLANDS VISITOR GUIDE 2019 Welcome to Northland Piki mai taku manu, kake mai taku manu. Ki te taha o te wainui, ki te taha o te wairoa Ka tü te Rupe ki tai, Ka whaka kii kii NAMES & GREETINGS / NGÄ KUPU Ka whaka kaa kaa, No reira Nau mai, haere mai ki Te Tai Tokerau. Northland – Te Tai Tokerau New Zealand – Aotearoa Spectacular yet diverse coastlines, marine reserves, kauri forests, and two oceans that collide make Northland an unmissable and Caring for, looking after unforgettable destination. Subtropical Northland is a land of people - hospitality contrasts where every area is steeped in history. – Manaakitanga Northland is truly a year-round destination. Spring starts earlier and Greetings/Hello (to one person) summer lingers longer, giving you more time to enjoy our pristine – Tena koe sandy beaches, aquatic playground, and relaxed pace. Northland’s Greetings/Hello (to two people); autumn and winter are mild making this an ideal time to enjoy our a formal greeting walking tracks, cycling trails, and road-based Journeys that are off – Tena korua the beaten track and showcase even more of what this idyllic region has to offer. Greetings/Hello everyone (to more than two people) Whether you are drawn to Mäori culture and stories about our – Tena koutou heritage and people, natural wonders and contrasting coastlines, or adrenaline adventures, golf courses and world luxury resorts, we Be well/thank you and a less welcome you to Northland and hope you find something special here. formal greeting – Kia ora We are glad you came. How are you? – Pehea ana koe? I am well – Kanui te pai See you later – Ka kite Until next time/until we Motuarohia (Roberton Island) meet again – Ma te wa Cover Image: Cape Reinga ©David Kirkland northlandnz.com NORTHLAND INCLUDING THE BAY OF ISLANDS VISITOR GUIDE | 1 NORTHLAND’S VISITOR CENTRES CONTENTS Let the local experts at Northland’s information centres help you make the most of your stay. Map, Drive Times & Climate 2 BAY OF ISLANDS I-SITE VISITOR CENTRE Offering a wide range of services and information including all accommodation, attractions, The Peoples of Northland 4 activities, bus, train and ferry bookings – plus a great range of retail gifts are available including locally made products. You can find us in the heart of Paihia next to the wharf. The Wharf, Marsden Road, Paihia Culture & Heritage 5 Phone: 09 402 7345 Email: [email protected] Must Dos Before You Leave 8 RUE BOOING AN INFORMATION CENTRE We can be found on the Russell wharf. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff are here to ensure you make the most of your stay in the Bay of Islands. Free booking Northland Journeys 10 service on accommodation, tours, cruises and transport. Plus assisting with your next destination options. Russell Wharf Ancient Kauri Forests 13 Freephone: 0800 633 255, Phone: 09 403 8020 Email: [email protected], www.russellinfo.co.nz Aquatic Playground, Coastal Paradise 14 WHANGAREI I-SITE VISITOR CENTRE Let our local experts help you make the most of your stay. Uncover the local secrets, the hidden gems, the best deals. Free booking service | gift shop | café. Easily found on SH 1, southern entrance to the city. Open 7 days. Walking Tracks 16 Tarewa Park, 92 Otaika Road, Whangarei Phone: 09 438 1079 Cycle Trails & Mountain Biking 18 Email: [email protected], www.whangareinz.com WHANGAREI THE HUB INFORMATION CENTRE Food, Wine, & the Culinary Scene 20 Te Manawa the Hub Information Centre is situated at the heart of the picturesque Town Basin precinct. Our friendly team will help you uncover the local secrets, the hidden gems, the best deals. Free booking service. Open 7 days. Arts, Crafts & Shopping 21 Town Basin, 91 Dent St, Whangarei Phone: 09 430 1188 Email: [email protected], www.whangareiNZ.com Annual Events 22 HOKIANGA I-SITE VISITOR CENTRE All bookings and information on accommodation, activities, tours and attractions - plus a great range of retail gifts are available including locally made products. Conveniently located in a new purpose built building with lots of parking and a café next door. BAY OF ISLANDS 24 29 State Highway 12, Opononi Phone: 09 405 8869 Email: [email protected] WHANGÄREI & TUTUKAKA COAST 36 FAR NORTH I-SITE VISITOR CENTRE Full booking and information services for all accommodation, attractions, activities and tours around the Far North & Northland - plus a great range of retail gifts are available including locally made products. KAURI COAST & HOKIANGA 46 Located in the beautiful Te Ahu building with a café, library, museum, free Wifi and lots of free parking. Te Ahu, Cnr Matthews Ave & South Rd, SH1, Kaitaia Phone: 09 408 9450 Email: [email protected] TOP OF THE NORTH 54 The official guide to the Northland Region is published by Big Fish Creative. PO Box 832 Whangärei 0140, Northland Inc would like to sincerely thank Te Warihi, Janet and New Zealand Ph +64 9 430 3434 Poutama Hetaraka for their contribution to both design and words The publisher has made every endeavour to [email protected] for this publication. Tenei te mihi kau i a koutou nga ringawera. ensure accuracy of all material, but accepts no responsibility for consequences arising from www.northlandnz.com any errors or omissions which may occur. www.facebook.com/Northland.NZ 2 | MAP, DRIVE TIMES & CLIMATE DRIVE TIMES TOP OF THE NORTH Auckland Airport - Whangärei .............. 2.5 hrs BAY OF ISLANDS Whangärei - Bay of Islands ................... 1 hr KAURI COAST & HOKIANGA Bay of Islands - Cape Reinga ................ 3 hrs WHANGÄREI & TUTUKAKA Cape Reinga - Hokianga ....................... 3 hrs Hokianga - Auckland Airport ................ 4 hrs Drive times are approximate CLIMATE WHANGAROA The sun shines brighter and the water is warmer in beautiful subtropical Northland. BAY OF ISLANDS We just don’t do sub-zero temperatures ... ever. AVERAGE TEMPERATURES Summer (December to February) ....... 24°C high, 14°C low HOKIANGA Autumn (March to May) ................................... 21°C high, 11°C low HARBOUR Winter (June to August) ................................... 16°C high, 7°C low Spring (September to November) ...... 19°C high, 10°C low - Northland is New Zealand’s warmest and the only 100% subtropical region with 2000 sunshine hours on average each year. - The hottest months are January and February, however winters are still mild. - Daylight saving takes effect from September to April, making the warmer evenings lighter and longer. KEY TO MAP Twin Coast Route Alternative Tourist Drives Other Major Roads Twin Coast Cycle Trail i-SITE Visitor Centres Airports Cities northlandnz.com NORTHLAND INCLUDING THE BAY OF ISLANDS VISITOR GUIDE | 3 Helping you get WHANGAROA BAY OF ISLANDS around Northland HOKIANGA HARBOUR KAMO RAUMUNGA OMAPERE OKAIHAU TIKIPUNGA MORNINGSIDE RAWENE KERIKERI ONERAHI OKARA KAIKOHE OTANGAREI PORT KAIKOHE OHAEAWAI AHIPARA OKAIHAU KAWAKAWA EAST COAST KERIKERI PAIHIA PUKENUI WAIPAPA WAITANGI For more times and more information visit: www.buslink.co.nz 4 | THE PEOPLES OF NORTHLAND Aotearoa (New Zealand) is home to people from THE PEOPLES many cultures and many lands. But before significant migration from around the world, there were two peoples, Mäori and Päkehä (people of European OF NORTHLAND descent). To learn about New Zealand’s history and to gain an insight into the coming together of Mäori and Päkehä, you need to visit Northland first. Northland is where it all began... LANDING ON THE SHORES More than over a thousand years ago the great discoverer Kupe, on the ocean-going double hulled waka named Matawhaorua or Matahao, arrived and named this place Aotearoa. Kupe and his crew had travelled thousands of miles across the Pacific Ocean guided by the stars, the sun and the moon, the currents, clouds, the wind and the birds. Today, many iwi trace their ancestry back to Kupe and some of the oldest traces of Mäori settlement, or kainga, can be found in Northland. Kupe returned to his homeland from Hokianga to inform his people of his discovery and so began many migrations. THE ARRIVAL OF EUROPEANS In the late eighteenth century Europeans arrived, initially on voyages of exploration, followed by traders, whalers and sealers. News of the temperate climate, the fertile land and the potential of kauri logging and kauri gum filtered back to the homelands - a big motivation for the migration which followed. Most of the region’s European population today is of British descent; many other ethnicities live in Northland including He aha te mea nui o te ao? the Croatian community from the Dargaville area north, with What is the most important thing in the world? a particularly strong heritage around Kaitäia. Waipü, a small He tangata, he tangata, he tangata town in Bream Bay, has a strong Scottish heritage and hosts It is people, it is people, it is people one of the country’s most successful Highland Games, held — Mäori proverb annually on New Year’s Day. More than 150,000 people now call this region home. Together, we are the Peoples of Northland. northlandnz.com CULTURE & HERITAGE | 5 CULTURE & HERITAGE Mäori language, culture, stories and traditions are strong TREASURE in Northland and you will see evidence of this throughout the region. Whether in an intricate bone or pounamu to discover (greenstone) carving, Mäori pou (carved wooden posts), HISTORY visual shows, museums, historic sites, waka trips or to encounter guided forest walks, our history is everywhere. Daily from 10am Closed 25 Dec In Whangärei immerse yourself in Mäori culture in a unique visitor 2 York St, Russell experience that offers a fascinating insight into the rich history of russellmuseum.org.nz the indigenous people of New Zealand. The Bay of Islands, known for its beauty and climate, is one of New Zealand’s most significant historic areas and the scene of early contact and conflict between the Mäori people and European Est 1819 settlers, who began arriving in the late 18th century.