Getting to Whangārei
Whangārei city is approximately two and a half hours drive north of Auckland or a 35 minute flight from Auckland Airport. Sail into Whangārei Harbour and berth at Marsden Cove Marina or the Whangārei Marina in the heart of the city.
By land
Drive
Self-driving offers you the opportunity to explore along the way to Whangārei. State Highway One is a scenic route with many attractions along the way, or you can follow the Twin Coast Discovery Highway from Te Hana and drive the idyllic East Coast – follow the brown tourist route signs. Be aware that if you detour from main routes, you may encounter unsealed roads.
Car rental companies are located at airports and many other locations and offer a wide range of vehicles. One way hire may be available. You will need to be at least 21 years of age to rent a vehicle and have a current driver’s licence or international driving permit.
Motorhomes offer flexibility for overnighting in holiday parks and camping grounds in beautiful coastal and rural locations.
Coach or Bus
National and regional bus services are widely and conveniently available, departing daily from Auckland Airport and many other centres. The bus terminal in Whangārei is located at the Town Basin, a short walk from central Whangārei city. Hop on, hop off services are available as are charter packages.
By air
Daily direct flights are available from Auckland Domestic Airport, and you can take connecting domestic flights from most other NZ airports.
AirNZ Check In
Online check-in opens 24 hours prior to any NZ domestic flight. You can check-in via your Air New Zealand mobile app, or by clicking on the link in your Air New Zealand online check-in email.
The very latest you'll need to complete your check-in is 30 minutes before departure. This includes checking your bags, so be sure to give yourself plenty of time.
For some flights, and in some scenarios such as connecting to an international flight, or children travelling alone, the check in time is 60 minutes before your flight departs, so please refer to the Air NZ app, check-in email, or e-ticket for your particular flight.
AirNZ Check In
Air New Zealand mobile app
By sea
There are no scheduled passenger shipping services however, Whangārei is a popular port of entry to NZ for international yachties. All arriving vessels must send an Advance Notice of Arrival to New Zealand Customs Service at least 48 hours before arrival. This can be done by email to yachts@customs.govt.nz.
When nearing New Zealand, make radio contact by calling Maritime Radio on 4125 kHz or 6215Khs or Whangārei Harbour Radio on VHF Ch 16. Customs will be informed and you will be directed to the nearest Quarantine Port of Entry.
For Whangārei, this is in Marsden Cove Marina at 35*49.839’S 174*28.530E.
Full details on entry requirements can be found at the Whangārei Marina website.
Visitor guides and maps
View or download visitor guides and maps for the Whangārei District, including the City and Town Basin, Tutukākā Coast, Whangārei Heads and Bream Bay.
Driving in New Zealand
Driving in New Zealand can be very different from driving elsewhere in the world. It is important to understand our rules, and how our roads may differ from what you are used to. We want you to have a safe and enjoyable visit; please take a look at the Driving in New Zealand and Drive Safe website, with information in simplified Chinese, traditional Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Portugese, Spanish and Arabic.
Read Fact Sheets with useful information about self-drive holidays and driving in New Zealand, translated to Chinese, Korean, German, Thai, Portugese, Spanish and Japanese.
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