Whakatane Car Rental Deals

Ohope is a small town and a top holiday destination just out of Whakatane. Its crowning glory is Ohope Beach, a pristine coastal jewel that stretches for 11 km. It’s safe for swimming (with patrols on watch over summer) and surfing, with the western end being especially popular for surfers. Ohope’s gently rolling seas also invite stand-up paddle boarding, even for first-timers and relative beginners.

The north end is close to many walking tracks to explore on foot. At Ohope Scenic Reserve you’ll be treated to the sight of blooming stands of scarlet pohutukawa trees against the hills. Toi’s Track leads back to Whakatane, past ancient pa sites, native forest, bird colonies and coastal views. Or if you head over the headland from the west end of the beach you’ll reach secluded Otarawairere Bay, where you can relax with a picnic or possibly try your hand at snorkelling in the sheltered waters.

The Ohiwa harbour is ideal for fishing and water skiing, while windsurfers can head to the Ohiwa passage. Its offshore islands can be explored by kayak. There’s plenty of bird life to be seen here, with godwits nesting on the shore after migrating from Alaska each year.

While there’s more than enough to keep you occupied in and around the water (and we haven’t even mentioned the fishing yet), it would be amiss not to mention the Ohope golf course. It is one of the top links courses in the country and you will be spoiled by amazing views out to the Pacific Ocean and White Island from the green.

Worked up an appetite? There are a handful of restaurants and cafes to choose from at Ohope, or head back to Whakatane for a wider range of choices.

The township of Ohope is conveniently located just a few minutes’ drive from Whakatane in your rental car. It’s worth an afternoon or even a full day trip.

To experience true Maori culture while in Whakatane you must pay a visit to Mataatua — The House that Came Home. After more than a century spent away from its home, travelling to Australia and the UK, this ancient meeting house has returned to its rightful place. This amazing building is the only Maori meeting house to have gone overseas.

Now rebuilt in its original home, it is back where it belongs with Ngati Awa, a Bay of Plenty tribe. You will be guided personally through the building hearing about its travels and its restoration, and about the tribal ancestors. The building’s intricate carvings are authentic living examples of Maori heritage which you are encouraged to inspect and even touch. It is an intimate, immersive and extraordinary experience in every way.

You can opt for the full marae experience. This ceremonial experience begins with a karakia (prayer), karanga (welcome call) and hongi (greeting with the pressing of noses together). You can also add on a hangi meal for lunch or dinner.

At the end of your tour, the stories of Ngati Awa are further brought to life through an astounding light show facilitated through cutting-edge digital technology. This is called HIKO Legends: Carved in Light and has won an award for its creative approach.

Scenic tours branch out to sites that are mentioned in your marae experience, from the sacred waterfall of Te Wairere to a spiritually significant cave at Te Ana o Muriwai.

You will find the Mataatua Wharenui along Muriwai Drive close to the waterfront.

The Whakatane Museum is spread over two locations. Open seven days a week, the museum and its display galleries are at Esplanade Mall on Kakahoroa Drive. Its collections storage and research centre is found just minutes away on Boon St and it's open weekdays. Entry to both is by donation.

The Whakatane Museum — also known as Te Kōputu a Te Whanga a Toi — is the local arts and culture hub. Close to the river, it includes the Horizon Energy library, the museum and three gallery spaces. The modern facilities are a pleasure to browse.

The Whakatane Museum is all about social and physical history, plus art and technology. With close to a million pieces in its collections, the Whakatane Museum includes a host of Maori treasures from Ngati Awa, Ngai Tuhoe, Ngati Tuwharetoa, Ngati Rangitihi and Te Whakatohea. The Te Kohika collection is notable for housing items from one of the most significant swamp excavations in the country.

Exhibits are artfully arranged and carefully curated, and include features on White Island and Whale Island, as well as Maori stories and legends (including the origins tale of the Mataatua voyaging canoe), alongside the timeline of European settlement. The galleries have frequently revolving exhibitions featuring contemporary artists.

The museum also boasts a major collection of archival material, including historic documents from around the Bay of Plenty region. Its comprehensive photographic collection is an amazing record of the past century or so of the district, with around 500,000 images from the local newspaper, the Whakatane Beacon.

White Island, also known as Whakaari, is the only active marine volcano in New Zealand. Lying 50 km off the coast from Whakatane, you can see it from the town itself.

The island has experienced dozens of small-scale eruptions since the early 1800s. In December 2019 there was a significant eruption that resulted in the tragic death and injury of visitors on the island. Consequently, there are currently no on-land tours of the island in operation.

There are still several ways to experience the unforgettable sights of Whakaari/White Island, including scenic flights, on-land lookout points and by visiting the Whakaari/White Island Experience Room at the tourist information centre.

Marine life is also abundant around White Island. This means that the area is ripe for fishing and diving, too. Operators offer dive tours and you can charter a boat for a fishing outing, even a multi-day one.