Whangarei (New Zealand)

Whangarei is a port city in New Zealand (on North Island's northern part) and Northland Region's capital, with population around 60,000. The city is linked with Auckland (via Highway 1, approx 160 km / 100 mi to the south) and with Dargaville (via Highway 14, approx 55 km / 34 mi to the southwest). Freight trains connect to Auckland. Whangarei Airport (approx 7 km / 5 mi from downtown) serves regularly scheduled domestic flights (by Air New Zealand) connecting with Auckland. Flights by Sunair connect to Claris (Great Barrier Island), Hamilton (Waikato NZ), Tauranga and Rotorua.

The city is served by Northport (deepwater seaport for cargo and passenger ships) located at Marsden Point - approx 30 km (19 mi) southeast of Whangarei. In 2007, Port Whangarei (in the upper harbour) was officially closed to commercial shipping) and its cargo operations transferred to Marsden Point.

Several cycleways/walkways connect downtown with the Whangarei's suburbs Kamo, Onerahi, Raumanga and Maunu. Among the city's best-known tourist attractions are Mount Parihaka (241-m 790-ft high volcanic dome) with road access and walking tracks (through Parihaka Scenic Reserve), Hatea River (flowing through the city and into Whangarei Harbour), Art Museum, Hundertwasser Arts Centre, Quarry Arts Centre.

As cruise port, Whangarei NZ is visited mainly by smaller-sized luxury ships from the fleets of luxury companies like RSSC-Regent Seven Seas, Oceania, Azamara.