Sporting & Recreational Facilities in the Whakatane Area

Whakatane has a wide range of sporting, recreational, and cultural clubs around the district. Whether you enjoy Touch Rugby or Tennis, or you are theatrical or creative, Whakatane has a lot of variety to offer in the way of recreational clubs and facilities. View our Sports Clubs & Societies Page here for more information on Sports Clubs in Whakatane.

Aquatic Centre: 
The Whakatane Aquatic Centre was opened in December 2001. This extensive facility includes a gym, two spa pools, hydroslide, a 25 metre indoor swimming pool, the original outdoor 33m swimming pool, which is seasonal, and a learners/beach recreational pool. For more information click here. 

The Whakatane Amateur Swimming Club, Whakatane Underwater Club and several of the schools within the area use the facilities on a regular basis for swimming tuition and training. Aquarobics and swimming lessons are available to members of the public.
The Aquatic Centre's pool and barbecue facilities can also be hired for organised events. For details contact the Pool Manager on 07 308 4192.

Sunny Gymz:
Sunny Gymz Fitness Centre offers you:
Qualified/Experienced Personal Trainers.
Body Shape Packages available.
Fat Loss a specialty.
Nutritional Support - Eating Plans.
Personal workout programmes.
33 exercise classes a week.....includes Les Mills Body Pump, Body Step, Body Balance plus in-house classes, Swiss Ball, Sculpting and Boxout.
Supplement Sales.
Full changing room facilities including saunas.
Click here for more information

Sports Grounds:

Rex Morpeth Park has 16 hectares of open playing fields that provide excellent year round facilities for rugby, soccer, cricket, athletics, tennis and croquet.

The grounds are available for short-term hire. Enquiries should be made to the Parks and Recreation Department at the Whakatane District Council.

Red Conway Park is a continuation of Sullivan Lake Park that stretches from King Street to Arawa Road.
Walkways joining the surrounding residential areas run through this 2.5 hectare area of grassed open space. Red Conway Park is used for mainly general recreation, with rugby and squash facilities.

Warren Park is named after a former Councillor and Mayor of Whakatane Borough for 24 years, Mr HG Warren, MBE, JP (1895 - 1983). This park has a large grassed area, attractive rose gardens and playground. An 80 year old eucalyptus tree is a prominent landmark in the north-west corner.
Several different sports grounds are marked out, including hockey and touch rugby fields. Changing rooms and toilet facilities are also provided.

Eve Rimmer Park is named in honour of Whakatane's Eve Rimmer, a paraplegic Olympic Gold medallist in track and field events. This park is used for rugby league and is home of the Whakatane Netball Association. The Nita Shannon Netball Complex was officially opened on 3 May 2003.

Rugby Park Whakatane is home to all our major sporting fixtures and is our main rugby venue.
Click here for more info.

Playgrounds and Skate Parks :

Playgrounds can be found in most of Whakatane's parks and neighbourhoods. The two listed playgrounds are close to the central business area and are popular with locals and visitors.

Wairaka Playground (28 Muriwai Drive, Whakatane) attracts many people because of its location at "The Heads", providing fun and entertainment for both children and adults.

Ocean Playground (McAlister Street, Whakatane) is an integrated adventure facility, providing appropriate challenges for all children, including those with physical disabilities. This playground provides fantastic opportunities for children to experience structured activities and creative play, which provides the opportunity for interaction between children. The Tracks Skate Park, River Edge Skate Park & Miniature Railway are also situated in this recreation area.

Skate Parks have proven to be very popular for providing challenges and opportunities for young people's recreational needs. These are situated at the River Edge Park - Whakatane, Maraetotara Playground - Ohope Beach, Morrison Street Reserve - Taneatua, Civic Park - Murupara, and Eivers Park - Te Teko.

CYCLING

There are a number of BMX Tracks and Bike Parks in Whakatane and the surrounding area. Click here to view details. 

Bike tracks are located at Warren Park (Eivers Road, Whakatane), Eve Rimmer Park in Whakatane, Onepu Bike Park, Rawhiti Mountain Bike Park and Civic Park in Murupara. These cycle tracks provide another exciting recreational outlet for young people.

Onepu Mountain Bike Park is available free for the public to use for mountain biking and running or walking and has four main trails to choose from. The trails have gentle rolling terrain which will suit any type of rider, from beginners to advanced with BMX style jumps as well. While you are there check out the Onepu Wetlands boardwalk.  For more information including maps click here.

Rawhiti Mountain Bike Park is a purpose built park that can be accessed off Wainui Rd from Ohope and has a 15 kilometre network of tracks ranging from the kiddies loop known as Lollipop to Sleepyhead, a specially designed track with jumps and drop-offs for the more adventurous. Rawhiti Mountain Bike Park is in a privately owned forest and requires a permit to enter. For more information click here.

Whakatane Bike Park offers a multi-use biking facility at Warren Park on Eivers Road. A great place for free style BMX, pump skills track, mountain biking and an exercise circuit. For more information click here.

Indoor Facilities and Hall for Hire

WHAKATANE WAR MEMORIAL HALL
7 Short Street, Whakatane
The War Memorial Complex has ample parking and provides cultural and sporting facilities for many organisations in the District.
07 306 0500

AWAKERI EVENTS CENTRE: 07 304 8277
Fully Furnished Lounge area,
Capacity 150.
Large deck area with outlook onto Awakeri Park.
Air conditioning and Heating.
Bar facilities at club prices.
Click here for more information.

OHOPE HALL
Ōhope Hall was built in 2000 and is primarily a sports hall, used for indoor netball, indoor bowls, badminton, aerobics, karate and indoor soccer. It has some fixed seating, storage space, and indoor and outdoor toilet and changing facilities.
Ph 07 306 0500 

SURF AND SAND CONFERENCE PARK
Are you hosting a small/medium conference or seminar and are you looking for a venue with a difference? This is it! Surf & Sand offers superb conference facilities for up to 100 delegates and excellent accommodation for groups of up to 45 people.

We are located at Ohope Beach and the edge of Ohiwa Harbour, just 15 minutes from central Whakatane and only 25 minutes away from Whakatane airport.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CHECK OUT THEIR WEBSITE.
www.surfandsand.co.nz 

Hall for Hire

Awakeri War Memorial Hall, contact David and Karen Miller, phone 07 308 7204, 027 450 5949
Edgecumbe War Memorial Hall, Phone Lois Smeaton on 304 8048
Galatea War Memorial Hall, contact P Ilsley, email p.ilsley@clear.net.nz, phone 07 366 4764
Manawahe Hall, contact Enid Valentine email enid@cheekykiwi.co.nz, phone 07 322 1069
Murupara War Memorial Hall 07 366 5896 
Murupara Sports Pavillion Council's Murupara Service Centre office 07 366 5896
Otakiri Hall, Contact Otakiri Primary School,Otakiri Road, RD3, Whakatāne. After hours & school holidays phone Kris Burn 07 304 8101
Taneatua War Memorial Hall Diane Yalden email yalden.m.d@xtra.co.nz 07 312 9335
Te Teko Pavilion Contact the Council  07 306 0500
Te Teko War Memorial Hall, contact Priscilla Morrison, phone 07 322 8111
Waimana-Nukuhou War Memorial Hall Christine Kora 07 312 3585
Awakaponga Hall L Mexted 07 322 2298
Nukuhou North Settlers Hall, contact Mrs Diane Price, phone 07 312 3002
Port Ohope Yacht Club, Contact: Derek Cassells-Brown, phone 07 312 6323
Taneatua School and Community Hall, contact Taneatua Primary School 07 312 9365
Thornton Hall, contact Des Loyde 304 8984
Whakatane Rowing Club Hall  07 308 6932

For a full list of Whakatane's leading Conference, Event and Function venues please click here