Whitianga is a small town in Mercury Bay, on the Coromandel Peninsula, south-east of Auckland.
Whitianga is one of the oldest inhabited sites in New Zealand, Kupe’s tribe having settled here around a thousand years ago. It was here that Captain Cook stopped to observe the transit of Venus in 1769, an event which is marked by a granite cairn at Cook’s Beach.
The Mercury Bay Museum holds records and artefacts of Whitianga’s long history.
The area is best known for its natural beauty and its beaches. Most remarkable is Hot Water Beach, where hot volcanic springs seep to the surface. At low tide visitors can dig their own spa pools in the sand. The water can be as hot as sixty degrees Celsius.
There are many options for exploring the beaches and coves by boat, the most stunning of which is Windbourne, an eighty year old schooner.
Every August Whitianga hosts a scallop festival, with cooking competitions, live bands and copious seafood.
