Accessible Whangārei
Learn about accessibility for those with limited mobility or disabilities to help make your visit to Whangārei easier.
The following three meanings have been used to describe accessibility:
Facilities with accessible carparks
- Facilities that have accessible car parks within 200 metres of the main entrance / exit
Wheelchair access into the building or facility
- Entrances into the facility are level
- Entrance doorways are at least 760mm wide
- The main body of the facility is one level or has lift access
Accessible toilets
There is an accessible toilet in the main area of the facility that:
- Has a doorway with a 1200mm clear approach space
- Doorway is 760mm wide
- Has a 90-degree L-shaped grab-rail beside the toilet
Transport
Mobility van & taxi services
Kiwi Cabs and Whangārei A1 Cabs/Blue Bubble Taxis both provide mobility vans.
Public bus service
CityLink Whangārei have ten low-floor, wheelchair friendly buses in their fleet. Phone them to check the availability on your route if you need to catch one.
Mobility scooters and wheelchairs
Wheelchairs are available for use in our Central Library and Te Iwitahi (civic centre). Please ask one of our friendly staff if you require one.
You can borrow a mobility scooter for free from Whangārei Art Museum to get around the Town Basin and the Hātea Loop. It has enough power to complete the entire loop and visit all the experiences the area has to offer.
The mobility scooter was donated to our District by NorthAble in 2014. To use the scooter, phone the Whangārei Art Museum on 09 430 4240 between 10:00am and 4:00pm seven days a week or speak to their in-house staff.
Local Support
Tiaho Trust is a ‘for disabled - by disabled’ organisation that provides information and empowerment services to the disabled community of Whangārei and Northland. Check their website for local support information and resources.
We recommend you...
Enjoy the Town Basin
The Town Basin is a wonderful place for everyone, an international yacht marina with parks, trees and gardens, people, great shopping, art, culture, museums and entertainment, history and heritage. It’s a great place to spend a day wandering. The Hātea Loop is a 4.2km fully accessible, waterside walkway and you will enjoy the Sculpture Trail and Heritage Storyboards along the way.
Visit our 'world-famous' waterfall
Enjoy Otuihau-Whangārei Falls from viewing platforms - the path is sealed for wheelchair accessibility.
AH Reed Memorial Park is a magnificent remnant of original kauri forest. Maturing kauri trees, known to be at least 500 years old, can be viewed close up from a walkway raised through the forest canopy.
There are several loop tracks through the park, and one is designed to be suitable for the less able and wheelchair users. Access to the Canopy Walkway is from the middle car park on Whareora Road.
Wander the gardens
Botanica Whangārei - Fernery, Conservatory and Cacti House has the largest collections of native ferns found in New Zealand and its offshore islands. Next door, subtropical and fragrant plants, including gorgeous orchids and exotic palms, put on an amazing display in the heated conservatory. Spiky treasures such as cacti and succulents thrive in the adjoining cacti house.
Then wander across the pedestrian bridge over the Waiarohia river and smell the roses at Cafler Park & Rose Garden.
Heart of the community and ten carved pou
Relax at the Whangārei Central Library, enjoy books, magazines, art, computer and internet access and refreshments at the café.
At the entrance to the library, you can see ten carved pou representing many of the cultures that enrich Whangārei. In what is believed to be a first for New Zealand and perhaps internationally, only five of the poles were carved by, and represent, Māori. The rest have been carved or decorated by other cultural groups and one, the Generic Pou, represents all cultures.
Discover our heritage
Explore our museums with their very own, unique collections; Kiwi North - Whangārei Museum, Kiwi House and Heritage Park, Waipū Museum, Packard Motor Museum and Whangārei Art Museum.