6 family friendly activities Whitianga
A great holiday in Whitianga starts with great accommodation in the best location. We’ve got that covered with your choice of two spacious holiday homes, Sybil’s Place or The Publican’s, as your holiday base. Once you’ve arrived, we’ve got some suggestions to make the most of your Coromandel holiday with the young ones in tow.
From swimming spots to the best places for an ice cream treat, there’s activities that cater to all ages and interests!
1. Buffalo Beach: easy family fun
For families, Buffalo Beach is the ultimate go-to. It’s a long sandy beach with safe swimming, endless shell collecting and sandcastle building. And the best part? It’s less than a minute’s walk from Sybil’s Place and The Publican’s – making it a simple, low-effort option.
Pack a picnic, togs, boogie boards, sports balls, buckets and spades for hours of fun. We have some beach supplies at our holiday homes, but if you’re looking for something more, The Glasshouse Emporium is an affordable shop just a two-minute walk away – grab kites, sandcastle equipment, fishing rods and more. On the way home, grab an ice block or delicious real fruit ice cream at the Buffalo Beach Four Square. When you get back, our holiday homes have hot outdoor showers to wash away the sand!
Summer activities:
– The Banana Boat offers fun rides and tours on their inflatable banana, departing from Buffalo Beach during summer.
– Surf Coromandel offers surf lessons at Buffalo Beach Reserve near Taputapuatea Stream during summer.
2. Wild Wood Mini Golf Whitianga (temporarily closed)
Classed as one of New Zealand’s best mini golf courses, Wild Wood Mini Golf is a must-do for children and adults alike! Navigate through 18 holes of miniature golf, surrounded by lush gardens, banana trees, and mesmerising water features. Spot the turtles in the ponds as you play! The course owner, Darren, is a national mini putt champion, and the course is well kept.
The mini golf course is a 5-minute drive or 15-20 minute walk from The Publicans and Sybil’s Place. There are refreshments and ice cream available on-site, and great rates for larger groups. Make sure to stop at Wild Wood for a day of family fun!
Wild Wood is currently closed. Check Google for up to date information on re-opening.
3. Whitianga Bike Park and community gardens
Looking for an active, free day out? No matter the weather, the Whitianga Bike Park is great for an outdoor day! This volunteer-maintained park offers trails for all skill levels – dedicated kiddies trail, exciting pump track, jumps, mountain biking trails, and easy-riding trails for the whole family. Located on Moewai Road, just a 6 minute drive from Sybil’s Place and The Publican’s holiday home. Bring your own bike or use one of the many complimentary bikes available on-site.
The park also has picnic and BBQ facilities (just bring your own gas bottle!) alongside play areas and enjoyable walking trails. While the bike park is free, donations are strongly encouraged to contribute to its ongoing maintenance.
Planning a holiday with a group?
Take a look at our family-friendly holiday homes!
4. Ferry ride and ice cream at The Eggsentric Cafe, Flaxmill Bay
Family fun is just a ferry ride away! To the east of Whitianga township is another beautiful section of the Coromandel Peninsula. Instead of taking the 35-minute drive around, jump on the ferry which connects you to Ferry Landing in under 5-minutes. The Whitianga Ferry operates almost continuously between Whitianga Wharf and Ferry Landing. The kids will love the ferry ride over!
Head down to the Whitianga wharf – a 5-minute walk from The Publican’s and Sybil’s Place. You can buy ferry tickets on-board with cash or card. Once you’re at Ferry Landing, it’s a short walk to Front Beach and Flaxmill Bay. The Eggsentric Café is a must-stop! Located at Flaxmill Bay, they offer a range of delicious home-baked goods, fresh cabinet items, kitchen meals, coffee and delicious ice creams!
If you have small children – Flaxmill Bay offers safer, shallower swimming. Front Beach has a steep drop off and can have large waves.
Extra walks in the area
Whitianga Rock Walk – As soon as you hop off the ferry at Ferry Landing, there is a quick 15-minute return walk up Whitianga Rock historic reserve to the remnants of a Māori Pā site. Stunning views looking back over Whitianga.
Shakespeare’s Cliff Walk – From Flaxmill Bay, you can take the cliff path up to Shakespeare’s Cliff Reserve and lookout. Moderate 25-minute walk to the summit, which rewards you with stunning views across Mercury Bay, offshore islands and Cook’s Beach.
5. Great movies at Mercury Twin Cinemas
If the kids are wanting to see the latest blockbuster movies or the weather isn’t looking flash, look no further than Mercury Twin Cinemas! It’s a wonderful family-run movie theatre screening the newest mainstream and independent films with Dolby Stereo sound, air conditioning and comfortable seating. There’s a movie for everyone, plus a fantastic treat and candy bar (+ beer and wine for the parents!).
Mercury Twin Cinemas also offer specials for children’s birthday parties and larger groups. Just a 6-minute walk from The Publican’s and Sybil’s Place, it’s the perfect place for whole-family fun!
6. Meet the animals at Whiti Farm Park
Rain or shine – Whiti Farm Park offers an affordable, fun day for the whole family. Meet, hand-feed, cuddle and interact with over 40 species of friendly farmyard and exotic animals, birds and reptiles. Farm machinery, a train, a fire engine and old fashioned games are dotted around the park to inspire, intrigue and educate. Spend the day meandering through eight acres of mature park surroundings and a native bush. The farm park is located just a 10-minute drive south of Whitianga on State Highway 25.
Stay at our highly-rated holiday homes in Whitianga
Our holiday homes, Sybil’s Place and The Publicans are two of Whitianga’s top-rated holiday rentals – based on hundreds of positive guest reviews across Airbnb, Booking.com and Bookabach. For more than 14 years, we’ve been hosting guests from all over the globe, taking pride in exceptional cleanliness, excellent communication, and fully-equipping our homes to ensure our guests have comfortable, fuss-free and unforgettable holidays in Whitianga.
Are you looking for an excellent base for your next family or group getaway? Would you like to stay in a classic kiwi holiday home just steps away from the beach? Check out our family-friendly holiday homes Sybil’s Place and The Publicans.
When you book with us directly, you save on platform fees and get the guaranteed best price!