Whitianga
A holiday town on Mercury Bay and the transport hub of the peninsula's east coast, with a long beach, a marina, boat tours and fishing. It is the main base for exploring the area.
Whitianga faces Mercury Bay. In front of the town lies Buffalo Beach, about 4 km long. The wharf offers fast sightseeing boats to Cathedral Cove, deep-sea fishing boats and dolphin-watching tours. Captain Cook observed the transit of Mercury here in 1769, which gave Mercury Bay its name. The town has supermarkets, restaurants and motels, making it a good base camp. A small ferry takes just one minute to reach Ferry Landing on the opposite shore, from where you can walk to Shakespeare Cliff and Cooks Beach.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Shakespeare Cliff Lookout & Lonely Bay
- Cooks Beach
- Cathedral Cove (Mautohe)
- Matarangi Beach
- Hahei Beach
- Hot Water Beach
- Castle Rock (Motutere)
- Otama Beach