Hang on to summer and play spot-the-kiwi in Whakatāne.
Hang on to summer and play spot-the-kiwi in Whakatāne
There’s one place in New Zealand where you’re guaranteed to spot a kiwi no matter when you visit.
In fact, you can find up to 10 of them scattered around the Whakatāne town centre – and if you’re keen to track down the lot there’s even a handy Kiwi Wandering Trail map.
Yes, these kiwi don’t move; rather they’re life-size bronze statues that pay tribute to the North Island brown kiwi which is prolific in this part of the world. But while these guys in particular might be easy to find, there are many other gems in the Whakatāne District that require a little local knowledge to uncover.
Stretching from Matatā and along the coast to just past Ōhope/Ōhiwa Harbour in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, the district’s boundary also reaches south to encompass Whirinaki and Ruatāhuna in Te Urewera.
With its waters staying warm well into May and officially recognised as the Sunshine Capital of New Zealand last year by Niwa, Whakatāne is a magnet for lovers of the outdoors year-round.
You may have never heard of Moutohorā/Whale Island but a visit to this pest-free sanctuary is your chance to experience some of our most endangered flora and fauna in its natural habitat. A four-hour tour of the island includes a visit to a kekeno (New Zealand fur seal) colony and a soak in your own geothermal pool in the sand at a hot water beach, Onepū Bay/ Sulphur Bay. Along the way keep your eyes peeled for the likes of tuatara, tūturiwhatu (New Zealand dotterels), kākāriki (red-crowned parakeets) and tīeke (North Island saddlebacks).
Back on the mainland, explore the coastline between the riverside Whakatāne township and Ōhope Beach on the excellent Ngā Tapuwae o Toi, or Footprints of Toi, trail.
As well as beautiful scenery, native forest, seabird colonies, historic pā sites and tall stands of mighty pōhutukawa trees, the 16km walkway also takes in secluded Ōtarawairere Beach which can only be accessed by foot or water.
This pretty bay is also 15 minutes’ walk or a short kayak or paddleboard from Ōhope Beach’s western end; avoid high tide which makes its western side inaccessible.
In the southern part of the district you’ll find one of New Zealand’s most ancient podocarp forests at the
‘Whakatāne is a magnet for lovers of the outdoors’
Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park, complete with towering tōtara, rimu, matai, kahikatea and miro trees. The guardians of this taonga, or national treasure, are local iwi Ngāti Whare, which works with the Department of Conservation to ensure it is looked after for the generations to come.
To experience a different sort of taonga, another of the region’s gems is Mataatua Wharenui, a carved Māori meeting house that travelled the world for 130 years before returning to Whakatāne where it was rebuilt in 2011. Known as ‘‘The House That Came Home’’, the wharenui belongs to Ngāti Awa, which runs tours by Māori storytellers so you can learn more about its rich history and cultural significance.
And if those bronze teasers in the middle of town didn’t satisfy your kiwi curiosity, join a night walk with the Whakatāne Kiwi Trust through one of the town's scenic reserves from April to June. You might just see one of these elusive birds in the wild.
‘The wharenui belongs to Ngāti Awa’