Outdoor Activities in Whakatāne
Top Outdoor Activities in Whakatāne, New Zealand
Outdoor Activities in Whakatāne
Category types
Outdoor Activities
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17 results sorted by traveller favourites
- Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, number of page views, and user location.
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Scuba & Snorkelling • Swim with Dolphins
Boat Tours • Fishing Charters & Tours
Fishing Charters & Tours
What travellers are saying
- Paul BChesterfield, UK1,697 contributionsA great expanse of clean beach. Great for families and plenty of free parking close to the beach. Life guards at the swimming areaWritten 6 January 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Jackie DWhakatāne, New Zealand68 contributionsThe scenery is amazing and it is a great walk into the township - it has lots of wide space for bikes and trikes etc... the walk takes you along the back of the township so you can stop for a nice coffee or treat on the wayWritten 7 January 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- lawc22Penang Island, Malaysia167 contributionsa nice pit stop for short time towards driving Whakatane. the surrounding is pristine and clean. Nothing much though except for the beach and wooden piers.Written 17 October 2018This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Ash R1 contributionJust did this trek today with my girlfriend and it was super cool. We parked on the north end of Seaview road (where it meets Hillcrest road). This is a great place to park as it’s halfway up the hill and the starting point is tricky to find from Whakatāne town centre.
We did one of the shorter loops as a part of the track is currently closed due to a landslide. That being said, we still walked something like 11kms so it was more than enough with all of the hills.
Something I didn’t know before we started was that when you get to Otarawairere Bay you need to walk along some rocks next to the ocean. We did the crossing 1-2 hours after high tide and it was fine. If it was dead on high tide who knows if it would have been possible.
Overall a super cool experience, highly recommend.
Ps you can get some handy maps from the information centre in the town 😊Written 8 October 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - MandyNew Zealand5 contributionsWe stayed at Whirinaki Adventures the night before we started our 3 day tramp through the beutiful Whirinaki Forest. We had a comfortable 3 bedroom cottage as our accommodation for the night. It was comfortable, clean and had a great heater in the lounge. We used their shuttle service to get to the start of the track and to pick us up at the end. They also do meals but we took our own. The hosts are very welcoming and accomodating. I highly recommend Whirinaki Adventures ltdWritten 5 August 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- MonsoonMeowSydney17 contributionsThe owner John is very knowledgeable and spends a good amount of time with riders at the beginning to ensure they become familiar with the horses and understand about the joy of riding a horse that doesn't have a cruel bit in it's mouth. Very responsive horses! My husband rides with us as a family but he's a reluctant, nervous rider and even he felt very safe.
We enjoyed stunning scenery and impressive views of Whakaari / White Island.
Come prepared and open-minded to learn something new from John the horse whisperer.
Visited Jan 2023Written 13 December 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Craig H28 contributionsFirst, thanks to George at the company for getting my wife Sandra on the plane. Then Marcus, our pilot, who did a first class job in flying us out to the islands and back. Marcus was very knowledgeable and provided us with plenty of opportunities to take great photos. The flight over Whale and White Islands was a truly memorable experience. We have travelled a bit and rate this experience right up there. Keep up the great work White Island Flights.Written 11 January 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- DebJTravelsTorquay, Australia10 contributionsIt wouldn't surprise me if Kenny had organised the magical sunny and still morning on Ohope beach as everything about our kayak trip was perfect. Safety and comfort were first on the list and I set out with a comfy life vest and wetsuit shorts he supplied. Barely a minute into our paddle he pointed out a young seal who was also enjoying the still water and lack of crowds. The beauty of a local and knowledgable guide meant I didn't miss the gannets which flew overhead or the penguins that darted past us. Kenny has the charm and humour of an ex Glaswegian and has lived in the area for about 30 years. We paddled to coves and rock pools that you could never have found on your own while he explained the history of the magnificent Bay of Plenty. We pulled the kayaks onto a deserted beach and enjoyed a delicious muffin and cup of tea (he even had a great selection of herbal teas). On the trip back we could see the volcanic White Island in the distance as well as the closer islands off Whakatane. Kenny took some great shots of me paddling and made sure I was back on the beach in time to drive to Auckland for my flight home. I'm already planning a return trip and will definitely be arranging another trip with KG Kayaks. It was great value as well as great fun.Written 15 October 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- _kjvthompsonTauranga, New Zealand10 contributionsWe took three of our grandchildren on the boat trip to Moutohora Island yesterday. It was a beautiful day and Tania, Mac and Fiona looked after us very well, sharing their knowledge about the Island. We were delighted to get a really good look at a Tuatara and fleeting glimpses of Tieke. The grandchildren also had a great time trying to dig a hot water pool.Written 17 April 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- sarahjayRotorua, New Zealand3 contributionsThis is hands down one of the coolest experiences I’ve had! Everyone was so friendly and helpful, right from the start we knew we were in good hands. The dolphins were amazing and spending the better part of a day on the boat was so perfect. We saw a shark, flying fish and a couple of tuna. Whale Island is beautiful and the water was so warm. There were even baby dolphins and seals! 10/10 recommend! We will be coming back another time for sure.Written 8 January 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Nikki MCheltenham, UK59 contributionsTop tour with lovely family company. Highly recommended. Interesting info on the conservation of the island. Great swimming and snorkelling we had a fabulous time. Thank you so much.Written 27 February 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Lauren1 contributionI've been a few times up the river with the Kiwi Jet boat tour family and each time has been unique and exciting. The crew are amazing people that make you laugh and share their love for adventure and the trip up the river never gets old as it is truly beautiful. Great for all the family and friends. A must do around Whakatane !Written 29 April 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- CraigCambridge, New Zealand3 contributionsA huge thanks to Mick, Adrian and Erin for putting together what turned out to be an epic trip out to White Island that I will never forget!
Great communication from Erin from my initial enquiry, quick answers to any questions and follow up confirmation that the trip was definitely on, made booking a breeze.
Mick gave us a comprehensive safety briefing at the wharf and a run down of what the plan for the day was. What a fishing weapon the boat is - comfortable, stable, fast and with great sound on board - we were out at White Island in no time at all, ready to start the day deep dropping.
For those that hadn't deep dropped or jigged before, all was explained in an easy to understand way - with encouragement, tips and advice offered throughout the day.
Bombs away! - First drop and despite a few tangles on board we landed a couple of nice fat Bluenose for the bin.
Mick worked hard to keep us on the fish and Adrian was a super star ensuring we were all ready for the next drop - whether that was baiting up, re-rigging, sorting out a tangle or hooking up on the jigging set up to hand over to clients. It ran like a well oiled machine with good banter and conversation thrown in.
We caught a great variety of fish - Bluenose, Kingfish, Tarakihi and my fish of a lifetime - a monster Bass.
Do yourself a favour, book a trip with Mick and Erin - you definitely won't be disappointed. Their passion for what they do is evident in how stoked they get when their clients catch great fish.
Thanks team for a once in a lifetime trip! - that's enough from me, I'll let the photo's do the review justice😁Written 29 April 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - torontotraveler99Toronto, Canada15 contributionsWe went on a Whale Island guided tour and had an amazing time with Phil and Steph and their two daughters. They were wonderful hosts, knowledgable guides, had lots of stories to share and really cared about their guests. Their commitment to maintaining Whale Island (working with the Department of Conversation) is strong; they have contributed significant personal time to maintaining the fragile eco-system on the Island. Our tour was scheduled for around 4 hours but lasted almost 6 hours as we were all having a good time and Phil and Steph were happy to just let us enjoy the day. It was an excellent day!
I would highly recommend any excursion with Divework ChartersWritten 22 February 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Sn0wmanCannock148 contributionsI've heard from many people that swimming with dolphins is a wonderful experience. Likewise I've heard that the warm, calm and clear waters off the North Island's east coast is the place to do it.
However, my track record on whale and dolphin trips was 0 for 2. Apparently there was even a pod of dolphins in Milford Sound - the day before we were there.
So, it was with mixed optimism that I booked on this trip to swim with dolphins. Apparently the hit rate was 95% - pretty good odds, with December being a favourable time.
At the base we were kitted out in wet suits and flippers, before slapping on a load of sun tan oil. The morning conditions had been perfect, but by the afternoon the wind and swell had picked up a bit.
Our party consisted of around 10 people which allowed the company to take out their high-speed boat. The boat was in good condition and the crew were very competent. Combining a high-speed boat with a bit of swell makes for a very exciting ride and we were soon out into the known dolphin areas.
However, the dolphins had other ideas. Despite the best efforts of the crew, the nearest we got was a fleeting glimpse of an dorsal fin. What we did see was lots of diving birds, a spectacle by itself.
Whilst it was disappointing to be part of that 5%, and going 0 for 3, the companies policy for not inducing dolphin encounters and minimising interference has to be applauded. We were offered a voucher for another trip the next day - but it was time to catch a plane home. Maybe next time...Written 31 January 2008This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
