Whitianga and Buffalo Beach

Location of Whitianga

The town of Whitianga on the Coromandel Peninsula in New Zealand has been occupied for over a thousand years. Originally by Maori.

Buffalo Beach, Whitianga

Its original name was  Te Whitianga a Kupe –which means  Kupe’s crossing place.  Whitianga is believed to be where Kupe first landed in Aotearoa (the Maori name for New Zealand).  The original Pa is on the Ferry Landing side of the river.  The first European settlement was also on that side of the river.  Whitianga was a leading timber and kauri gum port.

Dolphin watching

Today it is the largest town on the Coromandel peninsula and is a favourite with holiday makers.

The Lost Spring

Things to do in Whitianga:

Ride the Banana boat

Swim at Buffalo Beach

Surf at Simpson's beach

Go out on a glass bottomed boat

Go out game fishing on a charter boat

Kayak to Cathedral Cove

Visit the museum

Chillax in the thermal pools at the Lost Spring

Fish off the wharf

Buy fresh fish and crayfish from the fishing boats

Go to the Saturday market

Go on the passenger ferry to Ferry Landing

Go to the Scallop festival

Go on a horse trek