This interesting museum recounts the history of the early years of Maori-European contact and also has some fascinating displays about the whaling industry. One of the museum’s main attractions is the 1:5 scale model of Captain Cook’s ship the Endeavour.
Russell Museum
Pompallier Mission
New Zealand’s oldest building associated with the Catholic Church has been used as a printer’s workshop as well as a tannery and storehouse. It is unique in the fact that it is the oldest surviving example of a rammed earth building. There is a museum on site featuring demonstrations of printing, binding, leatherwork and tanning.
Waitangi Treaty Grounds
The Waitangi Treaty Grounds were the scene of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. The site features an elaborate traditional carved Maori meeting house, the Treaty House and a canoe house that features Ngatokimatawhaorua – one of the largest ceremonial war canoes in the world with a hull carved from two huge kauri trees.
Kiwi North – Whangarei Museum & Kiwi House
Kiwi North – Whangarei Museum & Kiwi House is a museum complex that comprises both indoor and outdoor exhibits and is set on 25ha of parkland, 5km west of Whangarei’s city centre. Kiwi North features a nocturnal kiwi house with live kiwi, a colonial homestead dating from 1886 and exhibits on the region’s Polynesian and European history.
Whangarei Art Museum
The Whangarei Art Museum is the major art gallery in the Northland region. It hosts a variety of temporary exhibits.
The museum is in The Hub complex in the Town Basin.
Whangarei Falls
Located 6km north of the city centre, the 26.3m Whangarei Falls are one of New Zealand’s most photogenic waterfalls.
There are several walking trails in the park including the Whangarei Falls Loop (1km; 30 minutes), which crosses the river above the waterfall on a metal bridge and continues to the picnic area at the base of the falls.
Clapham’s National Clock Museum
Clapham’s National Clock Museum is an unusual museum that has been around for over 100 years and now boasts a collection of over a thousand timepieces.
Waipu Museum
This interesting museum makes a big deal about the town’s Scottish heritage with displays explaining about the migration of Scottish Highlanders who moved from Nova Scotia to New Zealand where they established Waipu. There is a genealogy centre on site where you can dive into your family’s history.
Warkworth & District Museum
The Warkworth & District Museum is a small museum that has exhibits of local history. It features a number of restored buildings including the old Warkworth prison.
Sky Tower
At 328m, Sky Tower is New Zealand’s tallest building. The tower offers a great vantage point with excellent views of the city centre and surrounding area. The observation deck features glass floors where you can stand with the city at your feet.
If you’re game, you can try SkyJump and SkyWalk – two adventure activities that operate from the tower.