This charming collection of 1600 ticking, gonging and cuckooing timepieces is housed in a building shaped as a sundial. There are all manner of kooky and kitschy items displayed alongside the more august specimens, such as the venerable 1690 English-built grandfather clock.
© RogerMechan/Shutterstock
Clapham’s National Clock Museum
Bay of Islands & Northland
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
Mangawhai Heads
28.89 MILES
Mangawhai's main claim to fame is the surf beach and its large hilltop car park fills up quickly in peak season. To the south a narrow spit of sand…
Kauri Museum
29 MILES
The giant cross-sections of trees at this superb museum are astounding in themselves, but the entire industry is animated through life-sized reproductions…
Mangawhai Museum
29.91 MILES
One of regional NZ's best museums, this spectacular building shaped like a stingray is on the main road linking Mangawhai village to Mangawhai Heads…
Ruapekapeka Pā
21.04 MILES
For 10 days in January 1846, 1600 British troops bombarded 500 Māori warriors hunkered down in a pā (fortress) composed of trenches, tunnels and wooden…
Abbey Caves
1.97 MILES
Abbey Caves is an undeveloped network of three caverns full of glowworms and limestone formations, 6km east of town. Take a torch, strong shoes, a mate…
Whangārei Quarry Gardens
1.31 MILES
Green-fingered volunteers have transformed this old quarry into a blissful community park with a lake, waterfalls, pungent floral aromas, wild bits,…
Botanica
0.58 MILES
Native ferns, tropical plants and cacti are displayed in this little council-run fernery and conservatory, set on the edge of cute Cafler Park. The park…
Kiwi North
3.42 MILES
Five kilometres west of Whangārei, this park complex includes 19th-century buildings, the Whangārei Museum displaying Māori and colonial artefacts, and a…
Nearby Bay of Islands & Northland attractions
1. Whangārei Art Museum
0.05 MILES
Whangārei's public gallery has an interesting permanent collection, but the two large gallery spaces usually house temporary exhibitions by regional and…
2. Te Kākano
0.13 MILES
Fans of the late Austrian-born architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser will instantly recognise his influence in this colourful, irregularly shaped, one…
3. Pou
0.5 MILES
Set between Whangarei's old and new library buildings is this intriguing sculpture consisting of 10 large poles carved with Māori, Polynesian, Celtic,…
4. Botanica
0.58 MILES
Native ferns, tropical plants and cacti are displayed in this little council-run fernery and conservatory, set on the edge of cute Cafler Park. The park…
5. Quarry Arts Centre
0.86 MILES
An eccentric village of artists’ studios and co-operative galleries where you can often pick up well-priced art and craft.
6. Whangārei Quarry Gardens
1.31 MILES
Green-fingered volunteers have transformed this old quarry into a blissful community park with a lake, waterfalls, pungent floral aromas, wild bits,…
7. Abbey Caves
1.97 MILES
Abbey Caves is an undeveloped network of three caverns full of glowworms and limestone formations, 6km east of town. Take a torch, strong shoes, a mate…
8. AH Reed Memorial Kauri Park
2.16 MILES
A grove of immense 500-year-old kauri trees has been preserved in this lush tract of native bush, where a cleverly designed boardwalk leads you…