Sights in Whangarei
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Old Library Arts Centre
The Old Library Arts Centre exhibits local artists in a wonderful art-deco building. Between this and the library is Pou, an intriguing sculpture consisting of 10 large poles carved with Maori, Polynesian, Celtic and Korean motifs. Grab an interpretive pamphlet from the library. The newest addition is a brightly painted Croatian gumdigger with a gum-seeking stake in one hand and his heart on fire for his woman back home – portrayed upside down and balanced on his head.
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Abbey Caves
The budget traveller’s answer to Waitomo, Abbey Caves is an undeveloped network of three caverns full of glowworms and limestone formations, 4km east of town. Grab a torch, strong shoes and a mate (you wouldn’t want to be stuck down here alone if things go pear-shaped) and prepare to get wet. The surrounding reserve is a forest of crazily shaped rock extrusions. If you’re staying at neighbouring Little Earth Lodge, you can borrow helmets and hire head torches.
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Museum & Kiwi House
West of Whangarei, 5km down the road to Dargaville at Maunu, is the Museum & Kiwi House. The complex includes a veritable village of 19th-century buildings and an impressive collection of Maori artefacts. It also offers a rare chance to see a North Island brown kiwi, although he’s a bit shy and doesn’t always feel the need to face his adoring public.
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Whangarei Falls
The 26m-high Whangarei Falls are the Paris Hilton of NZ waterfalls – not the most impressive but reputedly the most photographed. Short walks provide views of the water cascading over the edge of an old basalt lava flow. The falls can be reached on the Tikipunga bus, leaving from Rose St in the city.
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Quarry Gardens
Green-fingered volunteers have transformed Quarry Gardens, part of the Coronation Scenic Reserve which is an expanse of bush just west of the centre, into a blissful park with a lake, waterfalls, pungent floral aromas, wild bits, orderly bits and lots of positive energy.
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Native Bird Recovery Centre
West of Whangarei, 5km down the road to Dargaville at Maunu, and beside the Museum & Kiwi House is the Native Bird Recovery Centre, which nurses sick and injured birds back to health. Say hi to Woof Woof, the talking tui.
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Quarry Arts Centre
On one side of the Coronation Scenic Reserve, an expanse of bush just west of the centre, the Quarry Arts Centre is an eccentric village of artists’ studios and co-operative galleries.
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Clapham’s Clocks
Clapham’s Clocks is far more interesting than it sounds. This collection of 1400 ticking, gonging and cuckoo-ing timepieces constitutes the National Clock Museum.
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Whangarei Art Museum
The Whangarei Art Museum is an interesting little gallery with changing displays in cute Cafler Park, which spans Waiarohia Stream.
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Botanica
Botanica displays native ferns, tropical plants and cacti, although the ‘restful’ music might have you murderously agitated.
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Pou
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Coronation Scenic Reserve
An expanse of bush just west of the centre that includes two pa sites and abandoned quarries that have been converted into inspiring community projects. Green-fingered volunteers have transformed Quarry Gardens into a blissful park with a lake, waterfalls, pungent floral aromas, wild bits, orderly bits and lots of positive energy. On the other side of the reserve, the Quarry Arts Centre is an eccentric village of artists’ studios and co-operative galleries.
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