Christmas in Whangārei means togs. The district has been called the city of a hundred beaches, and the hard part of Boxing Day is choosing one. These are the places locals take their families, sorted by what you are after, with a few spots in town for days when nobody wants to drive.
Patrolled surf beaches
If you want waves and the peace of mind of lifeguards, go where the flags are.
- Ocean Beach, Whangārei Heads: about 45 minutes from town at the end of the road. A long white surf beach with big dunes, patrolled by the local surf life saving club in summer. Good for body-boarding. There are toilets and parking.
- Ruakākā Beach: half an hour south, 13 kilometres of sand, patrolled in summer, with gentler shallows that suit younger children.
- Waipū Cove: a little further south, patrolled in summer, with shade under the trees and a great body-surfing wave.
Always swim between the flags, and check patrol hours on the Surf Life Saving website before you go.
Calm water for small children
- Matapōuri Bay, Tūtūkākā Coast: about 40 minutes from town. A horseshoe of white sand with a sheltered estuary at one end, rock pools, and a bridge the big kids jump from at high tide. It is busy between Christmas and New Year, so arrive before ten.
- Whale Bay: a short bush walk from the roadside car park near Matapōuri. Sheltered, clear and shaded by pōhutukawa. One of the prettiest small beaches in the country. No shops and no toilets on the sand, so pack for it.
- Ngunguru: a village on an estuary with calm, shallow water that suits paddle boards, kayaks and toddlers.
- Whangaumu (Wellingtons) Bay: tidal pools, trees for shade and gentle water.
- Pataua: an ocean beach on one side and a harbour beach on the other, joined by a footbridge.
- Whananaki: famous for its long footbridge across the estuary, with safe swimming on both sides.
Swimming without the drive
- Whangārei Falls: a 26-metre waterfall five kilometres from the city centre, with viewing platforms, a loop walk and a picnic lawn at the top. A good short outing with visitors.
- A.H. Reed Memorial Park: a boardwalk through the canopy of old kauri, cool on the hottest afternoon.
- Onerahi and the harbour beaches along Whangārei Heads Road: calm water at high tide, ten to twenty minutes from town.
After heavy rain, rivers and harbour beaches can be unsafe to swim in for a couple of days. The "Can I swim here?" pages on the LAWA website show current water quality for Northland swim spots.
In town: the Town Basin and the water jets
On a hot afternoon when the beach feels too far, go to the Town Basin.
- Pūtahi Park has an interactive water feature: 19 jets set into the paving that children run through. They are lit in colours after dark. Bring a towel and a change of clothes, because no child has ever stayed dry there.
- Next to it are mini trampolines, a slack line and the big Town Basin playground, which is designed so children of all abilities can play.
- The Hātea Loop is a flat walk of about four kilometres around the river, good for scooters and prams, with a sculpture trail and the Pohe Island playground and BMX track on the way.
- Cafes, ice cream, the Hundertwasser Art Centre and Claphams Clocks are all within a few steps.
Shady parks for a quiet hour
Mair Park and the Parihaka walks start a few minutes from town. Whangārei Quarry Gardens has a cafe and lakeside paths. Botanica and Cafler Park are a cool green stop in the middle of the city.
A Christmas Day swim
A swim before Christmas lunch is a tradition worth starting. The beaches are quiet until late morning, the water is warm enough by late December, and everyone comes home hungry. Choose a patrolled beach or calm water, and remember lifeguards are not on duty everywhere on Christmas Day.
What to pack
- Sunscreen, hats, rash shirts and a beach shelter. The Northland sun burns in fifteen minutes.
- More water than you think you need.
- Reef shoes for rocky ends.
- A rubbish bag. Most beaches have no bins.
- Something for the car ride home. See our summer holiday book list.
After the beach
Sandy, tired and happy is the right mood for one more surprise. If you book a Santa phone call for that evening, he can ask whether they have been swimming. For babies who are new to the sand, see our baby gift ideas for a Kiwi Christmas.