Search results
Top Things to Do. Adventure, culture, serenity, fun with the family and more. A trip to Whakatane has something for everyone. Check out our top picks for your stay. Ōhope Beach. Abundant sunshine, warm waters and safe swimming make Ōhope Beach the perfect summer holiday destination.
- See A Do
Top Things to Do. A selection of the superb activities...
- See A Do
- Do Some Kiwi Spotting in the Ohope Scenic Reserve. Let’s kick off our list of the best things to do in Whakatane with Kiwi spotting! Who would have thought that this little bit of forest between Whakatane and Ohope is home to more than 300 kiwi birds and countless other native wildlife?!
- Ride the Mountain Biking Trails. Do you have a bike? Are you wondering what to do in Whakatane? Don’t! If you love exploring on two wheels, then Whakatane is going to spoil you silly!
- Walk in the White Pine Bush Reserve. For some short walks among some sensational coastal forest, take a stroll in the White Pine Bush Scenic Reserve. The walks are only 30-40 minutes long on loops, making it a great side activity to your time in Whakatane.
- Kayak to Moutohora Island or on the Ohiwa Harbour. Next on our list of things to do in Whakatane is kayaking! Whakatane is one of our top places to sea kayak in New Zealand with our favourite spots including a voyage over to the wildlife sanctuary of Moutohora (Whale Island) or in the Ohiwa Harbour to kayak among the mangroves and pohutukawa trees.
Things to Do in Whakatāne, New Zealand: See Tripadvisor's 11,471 traveler reviews and photos of Whakatāne tourist attractions. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in October. We have reviews of the best places to see in Whakatāne.
Things to Do in Whakatāne, Bay of Plenty Region: See Tripadvisor's 11,361 traveller reviews and photos of Whakatāne attractions.
- Check Out New Zealand’s National Animal at The Ohope Scenic Reserve
- Explore The White Pine Bush Reserve
- Head Over to Moutohorā Island
- Hop on A Scenic Flight
- Pay A Visit to Awakeri
- Get Your Heart Racing at Onepū Mountain Bike Park
- Take A Kayak Or Sup Out on The Ōhiwa Harbour
- Visit The Whakatāne Heads Lookout
- Enjoy A Hike on The Ngā Tapuwae O Toi Walkway
If you’ve ever wanted to catch sight of New Zealand’s national animal, be sure to stop by Ohope Scenic Reservefor an evening of kiwi-spotting. Believe it or not, this area is home to more than 300 of these nocturnal birds, so if you visit at night you’ll have a reasonable chance of spotting one. If you plan to visit during the day though, you’ll en...
Fans of scenic hikes and beautiful coastal forestry are bound to consider the White Pine Bush Reserve one of the best things to do in Whakatāne. This reserveis a stunning conservation area, and it boasts a number white pine trees (otherwise known as kahikatea trees) which are the tallest species in New Zealand. The walks here are typically 30 or 40...
Moutohorā Island (also known as Whale Island) is primarily a wildlife sanctuary for endangered birds, reptiles, and plants. There, guests can walk amongst the bush and listen to bird calls, appreciate the crystal-clear azure waters, or explore the beautiful rock formations that are completely untouched. However, the most popular thing to do here is...
If seeing Moutohorā Island sounds appealing to you, it’s also possible to see it from the air on board a scenic flight. In addition, White Island (where land tours were once allowed) is now best seen from the air. Of, if you’d prefer, you’re able to head inland towards Rotorua’sgeothermal landscape. Whatever scenic flight you choose, you’ll be guar...
Enjoy the Awakeri Hot Springs
If you don’t want to visit Moutohorā but you’d still like to soak your sorrows away, then why not add a trip to Awakeri Hot Springsto your Whakatāne itinerary? Located around 16km from central Whakatāne, this all-natural area boasts natural geothermal pools that feed into a larger swimming pool area. The water is kept at a pleasant 38 degrees Celcius year-round, and the addition of kiddie pools makes this the perfect family pitstop. If you’d like to extend your stay, simply book into the holi...
Hop on a Self-Drive Awakeri Rail Adventure
Whilst in Awakeri, why hop on a rail adventure? There, you’ll travel along a piece of New Zealand’s rich rail history and experience the natural beauty and adventure from the comfort of a rail cart, cleverly adapted to be self-driven along what were once fully-operational rail tracks. All of their rail cars are fully self-driven, meaning you’ll be in complete control of your vehicle. Stop anywhere you like for photos and enjoy taking in the scenery at your own pace. This is a uniquely Kiwi ac...
The next item on our list of things to do in Whakatāne is ideal for all adrenaline junkies. Whakatāne boasts a surprising number of mountain biking trails, but our favourite place for biking in the area is the Onepū Mountain Bike Park. The terrain here is on the flat side so it allows the entire family to pedal along with the best of them! Though y...
Another one of the best things to do near Whakatāne is kayaking or stand up paddleboarding on the Ōhiwa Harbour. This sprawling harbour has several beaches that you can stop at (over 11km of them, in fact), and you can head over to the islands of Uretara, Ohakana and Hokianga if you’re looking for a change of scene. If you’re not sure where to star...
For panoramic vistas over where the Whakatāne River meets the sea, you can’t beat Whakatāne Heads. A favourite spot for couples to visit, we recommend you head there early to catch the sunrise before then going on to enjoy a relaxing morning at Ōhope Beach. Watching the boats leave the harbour as the sun breaks over the horizon is a pretty romantic...
The final thing on our list of things to do in Whakatāne is the Ngā Tapuwae o Toi Trail. The trail name itself means ‘in the Footsteps of Toi’, which explains why it passes through the heart of the land that was overseen by chieftain Toi. This incredible trail is a 16km round trip, and it’s best completed in a clockwise direction to avoid the steep...
Top Things to Do. A selection of the superb activities available during your stay in Whakatāne. Top things to do for kids. With our safe swimming beaches, sunny climate and abundance of nature on our doorstep, the Whakatāne District makes a great holiday getaway with the family. Cultural Discovery.
Take in an authentic Maori cultural experience. Grab a local Mata beer, while listening to stories about Mataatua, the meeting house that came home. Explore Whakatane heads and Moutohora (Whale Island). Celebrate kiwi bird conservation success in the kiwi capital of the world, Whakatane.
