Whangarei, New Zealand


Tantalizingly close to New Zealand’s northernmost point, an exquisite landscape revered by the Maori people, subtropical Whangarei beckons with its countless natural attractions, including breathtaking Whangarei Falls and the pristine beaches of Waipu Cove. A bit farther north, the magnificent Bay of Islands evokes a cluster of emeralds that has been cast into the shimmering sea. In the Abbey Caves, feel childlike wonder while exploring passages draped with otherworldly bioluminescent glow worms, and as a quirky diversion, examine over 1,600 historic timepieces at Claphams National Clock Museum. Gaze at the yachts docked next to the splendid Town Basin Marina Village, where you might pick up a memento of this enchanting port of call.