Whangarei Local Information

Northland Overview

Our Rent-a-Dent branch is located in Whangarei, which is part of the far north of New Zealand called the Northlands region. This region stretches from a narrowing of the North Island peninsula close to the town of Wellsford and extends north to the tip of the North Auckland Peninsula, covering an area of 13,940 km²; a little over five per cent of New Zealand's total land area.

The Northlands is bounded to the west by the Tasman Sea and to the east by the Pacific Ocean. The land is predominantly rolling hill country. Farming and forestry occupy over half of the land, and are two of the region's main industries.

The western coast of the Northland region is dominated by several long straight beaches, the most famous of which is the inaccurately named Ninety Mile Beach in the region's far north. This beach is really only 80 kilometre-long. Two large inlets are also located on this coast, the massive Kaipara Harbour in the south, which Northland shares with the Auckland Region, and the convoluted inlets of the Hokianga Harbour.

The east coast of the Northland region is more rugged and is dotted with bays and peninsulas. Several large natural harbours are found on this coast, from Parengarenga close to the region's northern tip, past the famous Bay of Islands down to Whangarei Harbour, on the shores of which is situated the region's largest population centre. Numerous islands also dot this coast, notably the Cavalli Islands, the Hen and Chickens Islands and the Poor Knights Islands.

Whangarei

Whangarei is Northland's largest city, and is nestled at the foot of hills facing a picturesque harbour. The areas coastline offers some of New Zealand's finest beaches, while the inland has fertile farmland, orchards, native and exotic forests. Whangarei is situated on the western bank of the Hatea River.

Major industries around Whangarei include the cement works at Portland and New Zealand’s only oil refinery which is located at Marsden Point. The New Zealand Refining Co.'s project at Marsden Point was completed in 1964. Near Kamo, 6 km north of Whangarei, coal was mined almost continuously from 1876 until 1955 when flooding caused the last operating mine to be abandoned. Other local industries include boat-building, a brickworks, dairy factories, abattoirs, agricultural-lime works, numerous light-engineering shops, and a glass works.

The approaches to the harbour afford some of the most spectacular scenery to be found in New Zealand. To the north, Bream Head at the harbour entrance forms high bush-clad peaks rising sheer from sea level to almost 500 metres. From a distance these peaks present a jagged outline etched in the sky and in many ways resemble the battle-scarred remnants of some mediaeval castle. Off shore, in Bream Bay, there are little clusters of islands known as the Hen and Chickens. To the south, the dune covered shore line sweeps away to Waipu Cove and Bream Tail, some 20 km distant.

More views of the city of Whangarei: