School Holiday Fun

These school holidays, Discover Our Local, with a visit to Whakatāne

I ēnei hararei kura, Tūhuratia te Rohe, nō reira nau mai, haere mai ki Whakatāne

Discover the beauty and friendliness of Whakatāne town - voted most Beautiful Large Town at the 'Keep NZ Beautiful Awards' | Tūhuratia te rerehua o Whakatāne - te tāone ātaahua rawa atu i ngā whakawhiwhinga o Aotearoa

Explore coastal and ngahere/native bush walking tracks, accompanied by the chorus of native birdsong | Torohia ki tai, torohia ki uta i waenganui i te korihi manu

Hit the road and ride one of our many paihikara/cycle trails | Ekengia paihikara i ngā ara paihikara maha i tō mātau rohe

Learn to eke ngaru/surf at Ōhope Beach, voted New Zealand’s best beach | Akohia te eke ngaru i Ōhope, tātahi nama tahi i Aotearoa

School Holiday Events

If you're in town for a holiday or looking to keep the kids busy and entertained, there's plenty to do! Find out what's on for the school holidays.

Ōhope Beach

Abundant sunshine, warm waters and safe swimming make Ōhope Beach the perfect holiday destination.

Onepū Mountain Bike Park

The Onepu Mountain Bike Park is a great place for all types of riders.

Awakeri Rail Adventures

Travel along a piece of New Zealand's rich rail history and experience the natural beauty and adventure from the comfort of a self-driven rail-cart

Golf

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

Salt Spray Surf School

Experience the fun and thrill of the surfing lifestyle at beautiful West End, Ohope Beach. Local qualified instructors will teach individuals or groups.

The perfect school holiday destination - Whakatāne, often voted the Sunshine Capital of New Zealand, and Ōhope voted NZ's best beach.

Walk in the footsteps of Toi along a stunning coastline and through bush teeming with native birds, or take to the water with a leisurely kayak adventure. We also have great gallery and library spaces for when you are wanting to take some time out from the sun!

Julians Berry Farm and Cafe

Experience one of New Zealand's treasures. Taste our field-ripened berries. Try our famous Julian's berry ice creams, real espresso coffee, and delicious cafe offerings.

Child standing next to Kiwi statue with Moutohora in background

Kiwi Wandering Trail

A self-guided scavenger hunt in Whakatāne, New Zealand, the Kiwi Capital of the World!

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.

Whakatāne Library & Exhibition Centre

The centre hosts the Horizon Energy Group Library, the Whakatāne District Museum display and three gallery spaces.

Wanting to get away from it all? Dig your own geothermal hot pool on a secluded island, immerse yourself in the local history of our area and try our delicious kai!

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.

KG Kayaks

Kayaking adventures at Whale Island, Ohiwa Harbour and Otarawairere Bay. Guided tours and hires for independent travelers, family groups, businesses and schools.

Taste

The Eastern Bay of Plenty lives up to its name with plentiful produce and extraordinary dining experiences.

Tio Ōhiwa Oyster Farm

Tio Ōhiwa Oyster Farm has been producing oysters since 1968.

New experiences, rides and adrenalin-fueled fun for the family not too far from home!

Cycle hub holiday!

Whakatāne makes an ideal holiday hub for rides like Moerangi and Motu Trails - with great stuff to do off the bike. You don’t have to look far for cycle fun in Whakatāne.

Fishing

Whakatāne is undoubtedly one of New Zealand's best fishing destinations. With crystal-clear waters, easily navigable bar and plenty of fine weather, a fishing trip should definitely be on your agenda.

Walkways and Hiking

The Whakatāne District is renowned for its superb walking and tramping tracks. We have both coastal tracks with incredible ocean vistas and awe-inspiring walkways through ancient native forests.

Top things to do for kids

With our safe swimming beaches, sunny climate and abundance of nature on our doorstep, the Whakatāne District makes a great holiday getaway with the family.

Free activities...

Whakatāne Gardens

The gardens comprise rose gardens, a formal entrance, scented garden and areas for bulbs, shrubs and perennials.

Lake Āniwaniwa Playground (Holly's Playground)

Situated on the shore of the lake, with a flying fox and all sorts of other fun things for the kids to discover.

River Edge Park

A fun, diverse and detailed riverside park, adjacent to the Warren Cole walkway.

Vertigraph

The brainchild of Colin Hughes, these picturesque tiles were designed and created by a team of 12 artisans from the Whakatane Society of Arts and Crafts.

Kayaking on Ōhiwa

Ōhiwa Harbour offers wonderful paddling, with plenty of beaches to stop for a rest.

The Heads

A popular spot known to locals as 'The Heads' where the Whakatāne River meets the sea.

Taurahere Tangata

Hidden within this complex mural by American street artist Brian Gonnella, Taurahere Tangata, are many stories, references, and important Tīpuna of the Kopeopeo area.

Tarawera Falls

The spectaular Tarawera Falls is a 35-metre high waterfall on the Tarawera River that flows out of Lake Tarawera and across a lava flow

Kaputerangi

Kaputerangi or Toi's Pā is of major historical significance and is part of the Kohi Point Scenic Reserve.

West End Beach

The western end of Ōhope Beach - commonly just called West End - is the most popular part of the beach.

Whakatāne Library & Exhibition Centre

The centre hosts the Horizon Energy Group Library, the Whakatāne District Museum display and three gallery spaces.

Braemar Springs

Filled with fresh water from deep underground, it’s the perfect spot for a family picnic and refreshing swim on a hot summer day.

Te Tira Hou

A collaboration between Owen Dippie and Tame Iti this mural is titled 'Te Tira Hou' the New Generation.

Lady on the Rock

This bronze statue atop Turuturu Rock lies at the mouth of the Whakatāne River and commemorates the bravery of Wairaka.

Whakatāne Skatepark

The Whakatāne Skate Park offers a seamless blend of street elements, an open-end bowl, and a flowing concrete landscape perfect for skaters of all skill levels.

Kiwi Wandering Trail

A self-guided scavenger hunt in Whakatāne, New Zealand, the Kiwi Capital of the World!

What's on these holidays...

Our area is ripe with activities for families of all ages.

Family activities

Our district is an adventure playground for the whole family. From the magnificent Ōhope Beach to children's playgrounds, walking tracks and fun activities, there's something for everyone to enjoy.

Top Playgrounds

Our pics for playgrounds

Picnic Spots

Our picks for picnics

Top things to do for kids

With our safe swimming beaches, sunny climate and abundance of nature on our doorstep, the Whakatāne District makes a great holiday getaway with the family.

Plan Your Trip

With so many spectacular things to see and do, where extraordinary cultural history touches every feature, enthralling, ever-changing landscapes are so close, and our wonderful people eager to welcome you with open arms, planning your trip here will be an absolute pleasure.

Contact us

As the local isite Visitor Information Centre, we know everything (almost) you need to know about visiting the Whakatāne District. We can help you book and plan your accommodation, tickets, travel and fun things to do while you’re in town.

Ready to lock it in? Still have questions?

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