LOCAL ATTRACTIONS
To view a list of local business attractions, check out our Activities listing.
For a map of the Whakatane walking tracks click here
For a map of the Whakatane Heritage trail click here
For a map of Whakatane parks click here
Image from www.colourandlight.co.nz
Whakatane is host to many natural and man made attractions that has made our town an activity destination in its own right. The town is fortunate enough to have close access to the Ocean, River and Lakes and it is in these areas that we believe you will discover Whakatane.
Whether you're young or old, love adventure or prefer the sights, Whakatane has an attraction waiting for you.
Beaches, Bushwalks, Islands, Historical Sites, SK8 Parks and Playgrounds plus much more.
Kohi Point
Kohi Point walkway winds its way around the steep terrain that forms the headlands between Ohope Beach and Whakatane. A 2-hour walk from Ohope the track first finds magnificent vistas of Ohope Beach and then discovers Otarawairere Bay. Average fitness is required as there are some extended inclines.
The track has access to the site of Tois Pa or Kapu Te Rangi. A Historical reserve steeped in Maori Tradition.
The walk forms part of a 7-hour loop walk called The Nga Tapuwai O Toi walkway or the Footsteps of Toi. This track, in it entirety, takes in Whakatane, the Mokorua Bird Walk and the Ohope Scenic Reserve.
Otarawairere Bay
Otarawairere Bay is located between Whakatane and Ohope and is only accessible by walking from either West End, Ohope or Whakatene. The short walk (which is part of the Kohi Point walkway) over the hill from Ohope will take about 20 minutes and is suitable for any fitness level. However, if you want a longer walk take the Walking Track from Whakatane which will take you about one and a half hours. The beaches at Orarawairere are secluded and feature sheltered waters, rock pools and shells.
Whakatane Heads
The Whakatane Heads is one of the first landing sites by Maori on their arrival to New Zealand. These days the Whakatane heads is the entrance to the Whakatane river and is poular with local boaties who cross the river bar as they head out to sea. The Whakatane heads has a fantastic surf break when there is a north easterly swell of 2 metres or more. The Whakatane heads is a great picnic area for the family and excellent fishing from the rocks ensures the Whakatane heads is used by many fisherman all year round.
Whakatane River
The Whakatane River rises in the heavily forested Urewera Country some 3 ½ miles west-north-west from Lake Waikaremoana. Adjacent watersheds are Rangitaiki to the west, the Mohaka to the south, and the Wairoa to the south-east. Ruatahuna lies beside the Whakatane River only 6 miles north of its southern watershed, and here the river is crossed by the Rotorua-Waikaremoana main highway in a more or less extensive clearing in the dense forest. The main part of the river lies in the angle of a major fault which is a northern extension of the Wellington fault. The rocks of the catchment are mainly Triassic and Jurassic greywackes, sparsely fossiliferous, with some Tertiary sandstones at Ruatahuna. The Bay of Plenty coastal plain extends as a broad valley some distance up the Whakatane River, but above this the river flows through gorge-like topography. It floods more or less seriously once or twice a year, inundating about 1,000 acres of land. The catchment area is 601 sq. miles, with minimum flows of about 200 cusecs, and flood flows of about 30,000 cusecs. Locals and visitors use the Whakatane river for a number of recreational uses including white baiting, fishing, boating, swimming and waka ama events.
Wairere waterfall
Wairere waterfall was once a prominent landmark, one of three given to Toroa, the leader of the Mataatua waka, by his father Irakewa. Although now largely obscured by the development of the town, the falls remain one of the most beautiful and historically significant sites in Whakatane.
Te Urewera Forest - Lions Hut
Te Urewera is a well-used park, particularly by Tuhoe who regard the forest as a 'food basket'. Local hunters hunt for deer and pigs.
Anglers and trampers have a wide range of tracks and huts to choose from.
The Whakatane Lions Club built a 40-bed education hut in 1969. The 'Lions Hut' is available for all to use, and many school parties make it a base for their summer camps.
Schools have been regular visitors since the hut was opened.
Lake Rotoma
Formed by the Rotoma eruptions, this eastern-most lake has two distinct basins. The lake has a small outflow through porous pumice substrate to Lake Rotoehu, and has some outflow to groundwater. Lake Rotoma is the cleanest of all the Rotorua Lakes, with around 11 metres depth water clarity and no invasive lake weeds. This is likely to be because only 15% of the catchment is in pasture, and this is not intensively farmed. However the lake has a high risk of lake weed infestation from nearby Lake Rotoehu or other lakes.
Ohiwa Harbour
Ohiwa Harbour is a stunning place. It’s a natural paradise, an ancestral home, a long-valued food source, and a wonderful outdoor playground. But Ohiwa is also highly vulnerable. We share a special responsibility - to respect and care for this place we love.
Ohiwa is one of New Zealand’s most unspoilt harbours. The coastal margins are home to many rare and migratory birds. The estuary shores have healthy saltmarsh and plant communities. There is high conservation value across islands, foreshore, saltmarsh and wetlands.
For centuries, Ohiwa has been of huge importance to Maori. It is a traditional mahinga mataitai (food gathering place), a taonga, a treasure to be looked after with pride. Because such a special place needs to be cared for, a strategy has been drafted that will help us protect your harbour.
Tauwhare Pa - Ohope Beach New Zealand
Tauwhare Pa is a preserved pre-European Maori occupation site dating from
around A.D 1700. This was about the time that most of the pa sites around
Ohiwa Harbour where built.
The pa terraces with panoramic views across Ohope and Ohiwa Harbour are
easily accessible with a small trek only minutes from the Ohope - Opotiki
road. The parking for the pa site is just around the corner from Ohope
Beach.
In times of occupation houses and a marae or meeting-house were positioned
in the heavily defended top terraces. The lower terraces were used for
cooking houses and drying fish.
30 People would have built and lived in this pa probably going elsewhere
to fish and garden in some times of the year. From Tauwhare Pa you can see
other evidence of Maori Pa sites in the distance.
The site is sacred to the Maori people of the Eastern Bay of Plenty and
you are asked to enjoy and respect it.
Volkner Rocks Marine Reserve
Te Paepae Aotea ( Volkner Rocks ) consist of three andesitic rock stacks or pinnacles that rise to approximately 113 metres above sea level. The pinnacles are geologically linked to the active andesitic volcano of White Island. Large schools of pelagic and reef fish are found within the boundaries of the marine reserve and some species are locally rare due to the unique convergence of oceanic and subtropical currents at this southern location.
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