The backpacker accommodation in the YHA Whangarei, Manaakitanga hostel is comprised of a converted villa and a modern wing with a full range of backpacking facilities and room types – twin, double and multi-share. In the hostel’s common areas enjoy the warmth of a log fire in winter or relax in the BBQ area in summer. The accommodation here is quiet and relaxed with the large grounds surrounding the hostel inhabited by a wide range of birds.

The staff at YHA Whangarei are committed to conserving the natural environment around Northland. So join in with the friendly hostel staff in their Matakohe-Limestone Island replanting project to help to restore the native plants and animals to this tranquil island. And make sure you use hostel’s recycling facilities too!

YHA Whangarei, Manaakitanga: Intimate hillside hostel a steep fifteen-minute walk on foot from the centre of Whangarei, with good views over the town from several of the rooms, and glowworms a ten-minute walk away into the bush. - The Rough Guide to New Zealand.

Special features at YHA Whangarei that backpackers love:

• A good range of backpacker accommodation in modern and converted villa rooms.
• One of the more relaxing accommodation choices in Whangarei: a glowing log fire, large bird-filled grounds and beautiful views over Whangarei harbour.
• Short walk to the Abbey Caves area with its thousands of glow worms, stalactites and stalagmites.
• Special hostel involvement in the restoration and replanting of Matakohe-Limestone Island nature reserve. Why don’t you help them out?
• Free car parking and internet access at YHA Whangarei, Manaakitanga. 

About Whangarei

The warmth of welcome you receive in Whangarei, New Zealand’s northernmost city is matched by its year-round high temperatures. A short drive north from Auckland, Whangarei is best known as the base for diving expeditions to the Poor Knights Marine Reserve, one of the top ten dive sites of the world, as rated by Jacques Cousteau himself. Diving and snorkelling at Poor Knights Islands can be easily arranged by the YHA Whangarei hostel staff.

In Whangarei town, enjoy the Mt Parihaka reserve bush walks and free night time glow-worm walks at the intriguing Abbey caves network.  The AH Reed Kauri Park has a canopy walkway through the trees and the Whangarei falls are rated the most photogenic waterfall in all of New Zealand. New Zealand's largest public collection of native ferns can be seen at the Filmy Fernhouse. Animal lovers must visit the Zion Wildlife Gardens, the home of New Zealand’s ‘Lion Man’. Have a lion cub encounter and see the amazing Royal White Bengal Tigers.

Whangarei has a long and rich Maori and European history and is the cultural, entertainment and service centre for Northland. The vibrant Whangarei town basin has many arts and crafts shops, art galleries, museums and a wide choice of cafés and restaurants.

Surrounding Whangarei there are over 100 spectacular Northland beaches! These are some of the finest beaches in the country – Ocean Beach, Matapouri, Whale Bay and Sandy Bay. You will be spoiled for choice in Whangarei.

Top activities to do while backpacking in Whangarei

• Follow Jacques Cousteau’s example and go scuba diving at the Poor Knights Islands, the best sub-tropical diving in the world.
• Explore the many wonderful Northland beaches around Whangarei, including Ocean Beach, Matapouri, Whale Bay and Sandy Bay.
• Get up close and personal with some of the world’s ‘big cats’ including the Royal White Bengal Tiger at the Zion Wildlife Gardens.
• Whangarei’s natural areas of interest include the Abbey Caves networks with glow worms, the Mt Parihaka reserve bush walks, the Filmy Fernhouse and the bird’s eye views from canopy walkway at AH Reed Kauri Park.
• Whangarei’s colourful Town Basin is great for browsing arts and crafts and having a tasty meal.

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