Whitianga just begs to be strolled. As the
largest town in the region, you can get
that shopping done, linger for a delicious
meal, enjoy a beach walk or a picnic at
one of the many parks described in the
following pages.
It is the gateway to the ocean, and its
marina area offers tours and hires for
diving, fishing and sightseeing. Or rent a
bike to tour the area on two wheels.
Whitianga is a cozy charming town, yet
it offers most of what you might need on
your trip, from chemists, clothing and
shoe stores, restaurants, coffee shops,
hardware stores, and markets. Need
accomodation? Find campgrounds,
B&Bs, Holiday Parks and motels.
harbour TREES and Lovers rock
R
obinson Road hugs the southern shoreline of the Whitianga Harbour, with a lovely
treeline greenstrip that enjoys a vista of the marina and passing boats. If towing your
own boat, there is a loading ramp with parking at the site of old trading post at the
bend of Robinson Road.
Walk inland a few blocks along Arthur St. to find Hllton Park with a flat, grass covered
playing field, adjoining the Mercury Bay School fields.
It won’t take long for the kids to
discover the rope swing! Benches
and picnic tables are also available.
To the right of Lover’s Rock, near the road, is a carved stone store
room. A Heritage Trail sign tells the rock’s history.
T
he rock just shown in the swing photo is the base of what is now called Lover’s
Rock. This small tree covered rocky hill, known by the Maori name Motuto, was
the scene of an 1820 massacre, led by Te Morenga of the Ngapuhi on the area’s Hei,
Whanaugu and Paoa peoples. It was not a pretty scene.
The attack was in retaliation for the murder of the niece of the ruthless Maori warlord
named Hongi Hika, whose forces had quickly embraced the Europeans’ muskets.
Many who fled the attack swam toward Te Ana, seen across the harbour. They were
shot as they swam. Many are buried in the area, so the area is an ‘urupa’ and a Ngati-
Hei Wahi-Tapu.
Sheltered
I always feel humbled by the majesty of great
trees. It can cause a real sensation of smallness-
of-being, shadowed by the impressive trunks that
stretch up and up. I often feel like a tiny child
craning my neck up to see the boughs, which feel
like they are disappearing into the sky. It’s a
sensation which carries wonder and awe with it,
but also seems like a reminder of our place on
earth, and the importance of respecting these
great trees with so much history.
This is one of the really special places to sit
around the Robinson Road reserve: the bench
feels protected by the great “Guardians” around
it, allowing for plenty of peaceful contemplation
looking out across the Harbour, but dwarfed by
the trees, it also serves as a reminder to keep
things in perspective.
Whitianga
Buffalo Beach Rd.
Esplanade
Ferry
Purangi Rd.
Shakespeare’s
Cliff
To Hahei,
Hot Beach,
Hwy 25
Robinson Rd.
Buffalo
Beach
Cooks
Beach
To
Kuaotunu
Joan Gaskell Dr.
Albert
Racecourse Rd.
[
[
Airport and
Speedway
whitianga
mercury bay
Whitianga
Harbour
