Waitangi
The main town and port of the islands, where the hotels, shops, museum and wharf are all clustered around the bay.
Waitangi is the administrative centre of the Chatham Islands, with a population of only about 200. Almost all the guesthouses, supermarkets, petrol stations and car-hire outlets are here, making it the base for most visitors. The small Chatham Islands Museum is housed in the town's council building and covers Moriori and Māori history, whaling and the farming era. Every day at the wharf you can watch fishing boats unload crayfish and paua, and the hotel restaurant is a good place to eat fresh seafood. The airport is about a 20-minute drive to the northwest. Flights from Wellington or Christchurch take about 2 hours.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Kōpinga Marae
- Henga Scenic Reserve
- Moriori Rock Carvings, Te Whanga Lagoon
- Te Whanga Lagoon
- Tuku Nature Reserve & Taiko Camp
- Basalt Columns (Ohira Bay)
- Nīkau Bush Conservation Area
- Tommy Solomon Statue