Toast’s 'Good Vibes' Guide to Whangārei
Published on 19 December 2024
More FM host and local personality Toast knows a thing or two about finding the best vibes in Whangārei. You’ll often see him and his boys, aged 9 and 15, out and about enjoying all the fun, tasty, and beautiful things in the district, from skateparks to beaches and everything in between.
Hit the skateparks:
"Skating is my way of connecting with the boys; I’m that 43-year-old dad on the skateboard trying not to die. Whangārei has awesome skateparks; our favourites are in Ruakākā, Onerahi, and Riverside. It’s whānau-friendly, and everyone is just chilling out. The Riverside skatepark is a great facility; beginners can start there and slowly move their way up. Everyone is super nice and really encouraging. It's a beautiful piece of Whangārei."
Where to find it: The skatepark on Riverside Drive is part of the larger William Fraser Memorial Park and offers easy parking and access to the rest of the playgrounds and amenities. For more skatepark locations, check out Whangarei District Council's interactive map.
Walk the waterfall:
"My boys have grown up walking the dogs at Otuihau Whangārei Falls; they've been brought up on that track. It's gorgeous; every section is different, and we swim along the river. When the sun is shining through the forest canopy, it's truly magical."
Where to find it: Otuihau Whangārei Falls is one of Whangārei's most photographed destinations and rightly so; not only is the waterfall beautiful but so are the surrounding walks. Park at the main carpark on Boundary Road and walk to the bottom of the falls, otherwise, you can wander to the falls via the Hātea River walkway.
Grab a bite:
"I can't go to the Whangārei Growers Market without stopping at the Hare Krishna Community Cafe. I just tried one of their Pizza bites with feta and pumpkin. We fight over them! The market has the best fruit, especially the strawberries, and the vibe is just delightful."
Where to find it: The Whangārei Growers Market is held every Saturday from 6am - 10am. 17 Water Street, Whangārei. The Hare Krisna Community Cafe is on the opposite side of the road at 26 Water Street - just look for the line of people!
Something sweet:
"Cuppacakes is hard to go by, and I recently had a Little Foodie doughnut. I swear I could smell colour suddenly. Talk about a sugar rush!"
Where to find it: Follow the sweet scent to Cuppacakes (6/4 John Street) and Little Foodie (9 Bank Street), then discover more tasty bites with our guide to 'Six sweet treats to try in Whangārei'.
You can't beat a butcher:
"I can eat my weight in meat, so you’ll often find me at Omak Meats in Te Kamo. It's an old-school butcher where you get a sausage and a joke - it's our version of dinner and a show. Their basic pork sausage is epic."
"I was brought up on bangers, so I'm loyal to a Bunnings sausage sizzle. I don't know what they put on them or on that BBQ, but there has to be a secret as to why they're so good."
Where to find it: Omak Meats are located in Te Kamo Village, 529 Kamo Road.
Beer and good vibes:
"I'm stoked Beer and Loathing has opened on Vine Street; that's my vibe. All of the Town Basin bars and restaurants are great; if you head to Loco on a Sunday, you might be pulled up to partake in some salsa dancing."
Where to find it: You'll find karaoke and live music at Beer and Loathing, 7 Vine Street. For a mix of bars and restaurants, including Asian fusion, Latin and local flavours, explore the offerings at the Town Basin.
Hit the beach:
"Ocean Beach is world-class. We're lucky in Whangārei that you could put on a blindfold, spin around, and hit a good beach, but I have amazing family memories at Oceans. It's perfect for a swim and a surf."
Where to find it: Ocean Beach is located 45 minutes' drive from Whangārei on the Whangārei Heads peninsula. Whangārei Heads Surf Lifeguards patrol in summer and strong rips can form - please swim between the flags.
If there's one thing I'd recommend to summer visitors, it would be:
"To look up what's on at OneOneSix and plan for the Whangārei Fringe Festival. I loved it. There were so many different shows and entertainers, it was whirlwind of entertainment. I saw some shows down at the big top in Pūtahi Park, and you could feel the good vibrations."
Where to find it: The Whangārei Fringe Festival takes place bi-annually in September/October and is an eclectic, energetic city-wide celebration of arts and community. Fringe venues are located throughout Whangārei, including OneOneSix.
Toast waved goodbye to Auckland in 2014 and has been enjoying the good vibes of Whangārei ever since. He joined The More FM Breakfast Club in 2017 and you’ll find him on air alongside John and Flash every weekday from 5:30 am to 10:00 am at 91.6FM.