whangarei heads

Whangerai Heads pronounced "Fanguree Hids" are worth the 23 kilometer drive from the town of the same name, Whangerai.Curvy yes, yet worth driving a little slower to take in the sights along the way. Massive "head" formations are set against the coastline. Having lived in the Southwest, the ocean, beach and bay excursions are so welcome ! Take a splash in the surf as it is quieter here along the east than the more active surf on the opposite side over on the West Coast .

wow, i find the whangarai city a bit bland to look at ,but once you go to the heads it is a total different place. a must see,go to oceans beach,once on the beach to your right you have the rock pools and to the left you have a wonderful white sandy beaches.

Northland's best kept secret, so beautiful, great coastline and surf. Stay at www.saltaccommodation.co.nz

If you've little time in Whangarei then this would be a must do. Great views, lovely drive, stupendous beaches

A short walk from the Whoolshed car park takes you to the beautiful Smugglers Cove beach. Nice views, one of our favorite beach.

Whangarei is really a city of 100 beaches. Whangarei heads also holds a lot of them, from marine reserve to open water areas you can fish.Spend the day or camp over night. There are a few shops out the heads, way, but minimal ones. Load up before you head out, water sunblock and togs!

A pleasant drive out if staying in Whangarei, but if I was a tourist travelling around NZ I wouldn't spend 2 hours driving out to see Ocean beach, it is a lovely beach, don't get me wrong but there a similar beaches around.

There were so many beautiful little bays in particular McKenzie bay and Urquarts, perfect for younger children because the water is so calm and flat. Good for fishing, jet-skiing and even just chilling on your LILO :) good times!!

I have driven out to the Heads many times & I am always impressed firstly the view in all directions up the Harbour , across at the Marsden oil refinery or along Ruakaka beach towards Bream tail There are many walks either to the Gun implacement left from World War 11 or to Smugglers bay or a harder & longer walk to Ocean Beach which is a long sandy beach very popular for Surfers

The Whangarei Heads have some of the most incredible beaches. Amazing walks, boat launch, swimming. You cannot go wrong.

We were very excited to see the Heads but it seemed like we traveled forever in order to get there and when we did it was a bit of an anti climax. Sure it is very picturesque and makes for some pretty selfies, but at the end of the day, to the layman, it is a piece of beach with some rocks at the end of a long road. Been there, done that, no T-shirt.

I might be bias because I live in Parua Bay, but every morning on my drive to work I am always admiring the view. Especially at high tide on a clear day it is just stunning. The beaches are fantastic and popular but it's easy to find a quiet spot and if you know where to go, there is often no one at all :-)

We spent labour weekend here and what an enjoyable weekend it was. Blessed with good weather, we were able to complete several walks in the area, before heading back to the bach and enjoying dinner at sunset. The air is clean, the water crystal clear and the locals friendly. Will definitely return.

Urquarts bay and all the surrounding bays were good. Very windy bays and the view of the refinery was a little too off putting. Great reserves

We went during the week so traffic was not busy , would think in summer very busy. Good to go at own pace and stop at will to look and wonder at the view/s along the way ... We travelled the most of the length toward ocean beach stopped in car park and walk along this wonderful sandy beach tide coming very fast so made sure we did not get trapped with tide.