Whitianga is a lively town on the Coromandel Peninsula, in the Waikato Region of New Zealand's North Island. The town is located on Mercury Bay, on the northeastern coast of the peninsula and is the second-largest town on the Coromandel Peninsula behind the Thames and the main town on Mercury Bay. Whitianga served as a timber port in the 1800s and 1900s when native forests were being harvested on the peninsula. Ships from Europe sailed into Whitianga's harbor to load up with valuable kauri. Today, the inhabitants are mostly employed with fishing, farming and tourism.
Whitianga during September hosts the Scallop Festival, a weekend of indulgence with more than 60 food and wine stalls, seafood cooking demonstrations and competitions including scallop shucking. Do not miss the chance to participate in one of the most celebrated traditions of this charming town and take in a part of its culture.
Mercury Bay is a large V-shaped bay on the eastern coast of the Coromandel Peninsula on the North Island of New Zealand. It was named by the English navigator Captain James Cook during his exploration journey.
Mercury’s coastline extends some 20 km. On the shore of the bay is the resort town of Whitianga, with its natural harbor which extends inland a further six kilometers southward. Several small islets are located at the southern and northern extremities of the bay, and the Mercury Islands are 10 km to the north. The Whanganui A Hei (Cathedral Cove) Marine Reserve is in the southern part of the bay.
New Zealand is a well-known destination famous for its snow-capped mountains, glaciers, and tasteful wine. Explore the Abel Tasman National Park with its beautiful beaches. Go for a glacier trekking on Fox and Franz Josef and you won’t regret it. Learn about Maori culture at Rotorua, the best city to see Maori shows. Check out the Glow Worms at Waitomo cave. Hang out in Queenstown, the city with the feisty and outdoorsy energy. Don’t forget to do an extreme sport, there are a million activities to choose from, bungy jumping, rafting, skydiving, paragliding, and as the locals say “if it can be done outdoors, it can be done in New Zealand”.
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