Nau mai, Welcome to Whakatāne

Whakatāne is the heart of the Eastern Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. From endless coastlines to ancient forests, we're blessed with breath-taking landscapes, rich culture and plenty of sunshine. The perfect place to unwind, explore nature and connect with locals. We guarantee you'll want to stay a little longer…

Discover Our Summer

Whakatāne is the ultimate summer destination. Come and see why.

Food truck at Local Wild Food Challenge Event

Events

Our events calendar celebrates the plentiful sunshine and diverse, spectacular coastlines of the Whakatāne District, which is blessed with an abundance of wild food and artisan food producers.

See and Do

Native forests, white sand beaches, tasty fish, friendly people. All of New Zealand in one package.

Ngā Tapuwae o Toi Trail

Nga Tapuwae o Toi, or the ‘Footprints of Toi’, is a walking trail that captures the essence of the Whakatāne District.

Friends walking in bush section of trail

Top Things to Do

A selection of the superb activities available during your stay in Whakatāne.

>> See & Do <<

Golf

The Eastern Bay of Plenty’s sun-filled golf courses offer crisp, dry greens year-round, coupled with spectacular scenery.

Moutohorā Eco Sanctuary

One of the best-kept secrets in Aotearoa. The island is a remnant volcano and is home to a number of rare and endangered plants, birds and reptiles.

Kaimoana

We're blessed in the Eastern Bay to have a wide selection of kaimoana / seafood to experience!

Eco Experiences - Give back to nature

The Whakatāne District is blessed with diverse and thriving natural environments - why not give back?

>> O ur Stories <<

The iconic East Coast road trip

Our top tips when road-tripping from Whakatāne around the East Cape and onto our neighbours at Tairāwhiti Gisborne.

Need a break from the sun?

Here are our top tips on what to do in Whakatāne when you need a break for the sun and are looking for inside activities.

Best Beach 2024: Winners announced

You went, you swam, you voted... the New Zealand readers’ poll to find Aotearoa New Zealand’s Best Beaches for 2024.

>> What's On? <<

Toi's Challenge 2024

One of Whakatāne's iconic annual events this is a multi-terrain 18km loop on the beautiful coastal Nga Tapuwae o Toi track, Ōhope beach and native bush trails.

Parade to honour Olympic medallists

The Whakatāne District is gearing up to celebrate its local Olympic heroes with a special parade in honour of Dame Lisa Carrington, Hayden Wilde, and Stacey Waaka.

Whakaari Waiata

We’re excited to announce the Whakaari Waiata Remembrance Concert at Ohope Beach Golf Links on Saturday, December 7, 2024, marking the 5th anniversary of the Whakaari White Island eruption.