Guidebook for Cooks Beach
Food Scene
Head here before 3pm for great coffee, AMAZING cakes/slices inc. GF, and great lunch options - the cabinet food is always fabulous and the Nachos are a large serve if you're after a classic!
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The harbour house cafe
11 EsplanadeHead here before 3pm for great coffee, AMAZING cakes/slices inc. GF, and great lunch options - the cabinet food is always fabulous and the Nachos are a large serve if you're after a classic!
Eggsentric is a local hangout for the last 20+ years. Fresh local fish caught daily is their speciality. Great salads and the desserts haven't changed in 20years for a reason! They also have a little organic shop that stocks fresh ciabatta bread (you'll have to be quick though, it sells out by 10am), limited fruit, veges, fresh fish and organic pantry staples. Lunch is around $20, dinner $30 for a main meal.
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Eggsentric Cafe And Restaurant
1049 Purangi RdEggsentric is a local hangout for the last 20+ years. Fresh local fish caught daily is their speciality. Great salads and the desserts haven't changed in 20years for a reason! They also have a little organic shop that stocks fresh ciabatta bread (you'll have to be quick though, it sells out by 10am), limited fruit, veges, fresh fish and organic pantry staples. Lunch is around $20, dinner $30 for a main meal.
Delicious & innovative ways to eat macadamias! Fresh, roasted, oil, covered in chocolate..the list goes on! Owners are incredibly knowledgeable & you can even walk around the orchard.
Cathedral Cove Macadamias
335 Lees RdDelicious & innovative ways to eat macadamias! Fresh, roasted, oil, covered in chocolate..the list goes on! Owners are incredibly knowledgeable & you can even walk around the orchard.
The pizza and beer is great. It has a bohemian vibe and is very chilled. Friday nights = jugs of sangria and live music!
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Lukes Kitchen
20 Black Jack RdThe pizza and beer is great. It has a bohemian vibe and is very chilled. Friday nights = jugs of sangria and live music!
Blue ginger offers great asian cuisine. They often have vegan slices and lots of GF/DF options. Highly recommended. Dinner is usually served between 5pm-ish and 8pm ish (check the time before going)
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Blue Ginger
10 Blacksmith LnBlue ginger offers great asian cuisine. They often have vegan slices and lots of GF/DF options. Highly recommended. Dinner is usually served between 5pm-ish and 8pm ish (check the time before going)
If you want to be drooling over your burger - go here! Big meals for a little price + GF buns are only 50 cents! Delicious burgers, desert specials weekly. Decent size burgers for $10 and the chips are double fried.... Must visit if you're into a good burger.
Hangry burger
Blacksmith LaneIf you want to be drooling over your burger - go here! Big meals for a little price + GF buns are only 50 cents! Delicious burgers, desert specials weekly. Decent size burgers for $10 and the chips are double fried.... Must visit if you're into a good burger.
Fletcher works here as a Barista Tues - Sat - you can grab one of his fabulous coffee's 8am - 2.30pm. Food from 11am-9pm, casual dining so no bookings required. Think Texas BBQ - slow cooked meats, beautiful tacos and crunchy chips.
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The Vessel
37 Captain Cook RdFletcher works here as a Barista Tues - Sat - you can grab one of his fabulous coffee's 8am - 2.30pm. Food from 11am-9pm, casual dining so no bookings required. Think Texas BBQ - slow cooked meats, beautiful tacos and crunchy chips.
A proper fish n chip shop run by a wonderful Scotswoman. Scottie serves great chips ($3.50 a scoop), fresh fish (pay a bit more and get something other than Hoki, you wont regret it) as well as awesome spring rolls and other deep fried goodies. You'll happily eat here for about $7 - $10 depending on your choices.
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The Frying Scotsman
27 Captain Cook RdA proper fish n chip shop run by a wonderful Scotswoman. Scottie serves great chips ($3.50 a scoop), fresh fish (pay a bit more and get something other than Hoki, you wont regret it) as well as awesome spring rolls and other deep fried goodies. You'll happily eat here for about $7 - $10 depending on your choices.
Parks & Nature
Historical site where Captain Cook plotted the Transit of Mercury. Great space for a picnic, stunning views for your instagram photos. You should not miss this! 2min drive or 10min walk up to the lookout. Add 1/2 hour to walk to the secluded lonely bay - a beautiful shell beach with rock pools to explore at low tide.
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Shakespeare Cliff Lookout
Historical site where Captain Cook plotted the Transit of Mercury. Great space for a picnic, stunning views for your instagram photos. You should not miss this! 2min drive or 10min walk up to the lookout. Add 1/2 hour to walk to the secluded lonely bay - a beautiful shell beach with rock pools to explore at low tide.
Timing is everything. You can only dig a personal hot pool at lowtide and over summer there are hordes of people. Go at low tide first thing in the morning and its idyllic - you'll almost have the place to yourselves. Great surf spot, if swimming, please be cautious, this is a dangerous beach and children should be watched at all times. There are also great cafe's here to grab a bite to eat. The beach is free to access but you pay for parking over summer that funds the shower and toilet facilities.
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熱水海灘
Timing is everything. You can only dig a personal hot pool at lowtide and over summer there are hordes of people. Go at low tide first thing in the morning and its idyllic - you'll almost have the place to yourselves. Great surf spot, if swimming, please be cautious, this is a dangerous beach and children should be watched at all times. There are also great cafe's here to grab a bite to eat. The beach is free to access but you pay for parking over summer that funds the shower and toilet facilities.
Paddle board hire and coffee cart over summer, this place is a mecca for families with kids. Borrow our kayaks and head up the river with a picnic for some peace and quiet and sit on the riverbank and admire the natural beauty around you. Free BBQs available.
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Purangi Regional Reserve
210 Captain Cook RdPaddle board hire and coffee cart over summer, this place is a mecca for families with kids. Borrow our kayaks and head up the river with a picnic for some peace and quiet and sit on the riverbank and admire the natural beauty around you. Free BBQs available.
Drinks & Nightlife
On a friday before 7pm for the happy hour! Free gourmet nibbles and $6 drinks (quality wines too! This is a classy place). Head next door to the local pub - The Whitianga Hotel - afterwards for a $15 quality pub meal and usually live music/ dancing from 9pm. Just be sure to check the last ferry time so you can get back to Cooks Beach!
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Salt Restaurant & Bar
1 Blacksmith LnOn a friday before 7pm for the happy hour! Free gourmet nibbles and $6 drinks (quality wines too! This is a classy place). Head next door to the local pub - The Whitianga Hotel - afterwards for a $15 quality pub meal and usually live music/ dancing from 9pm. Just be sure to check the last ferry time so you can get back to Cooks Beach!
Fabulous wines - the Rose is a stand out! Get a tasting board and try them all. Beautiful platters, traditional italian food at lunchtime and woodfire pizzas. Head up after 4pm on a Sunday for the local handmade taco truck (and more than often live music). Tacos (GF) are usually $8 each, 2 for $14, 3 for $21, wine tasting for two and a platter is around $60 for two people. If you're in Cooks Beach this place is worth checking out, the view is stunning.
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Mercury Bay Estate
761 Purangi RdFabulous wines - the Rose is a stand out! Get a tasting board and try them all. Beautiful platters, traditional italian food at lunchtime and woodfire pizzas. Head up after 4pm on a Sunday for the local handmade taco truck (and more than often live music). Tacos (GF) are usually $8 each, 2 for $14, 3 for $21, wine tasting for two and a platter is around $60 for two people. If you're in Cooks Beach this place is worth checking out, the view is stunning.
The ribs and pizza's are FANTASTIC. Check it out, the beer doesn't disappoint, the food is good. Highly recommend a spot by the fire at night it's magic. GF options available.
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The Pour House
7 Grange RdThe ribs and pizza's are FANTASTIC. Check it out, the beer doesn't disappoint, the food is good. Highly recommend a spot by the fire at night it's magic. GF options available.
Check it out, the beer doesn't disappoint and unless you're Gordon Ramsay, the food is good, just standard cafe fare. The service here is so warm and friendly, you should pop in just so you walk out with a smile from the lovely staff. Plus they do $1 hot wings on Fridays!
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Hot Water Brewing Co
1043 Tairua Whitianga RdCheck it out, the beer doesn't disappoint and unless you're Gordon Ramsay, the food is good, just standard cafe fare. The service here is so warm and friendly, you should pop in just so you walk out with a smile from the lovely staff. Plus they do $1 hot wings on Fridays!
This has moved up the road and is currently only operating a cellar door sales, that said the fejoia liquor is worth trying! As is the cider (you never know if you'll be able to drink a jug or if one glass will be you done for the night!). “Go for the people and stay for the Spirits” - pretty much sums it up! Its bohemian in the best way.
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Purangi Winery
501 Purangi RdThis has moved up the road and is currently only operating a cellar door sales, that said the fejoia liquor is worth trying! As is the cider (you never know if you'll be able to drink a jug or if one glass will be you done for the night!). “Go for the people and stay for the Spirits” - pretty much sums it up! Its bohemian in the best way.
Shopping
Beautiful clothing, homeware and accessories. Its also a fabulous hair salon if you need someone to do your hair for a special event!
Stilo Hair & Co.
30 Monk StBeautiful clothing, homeware and accessories. Its also a fabulous hair salon if you need someone to do your hair for a special event!
Beautiful clothing, homeware and accessories. Stock all the up-market NZ designers like deadly ponies, kowtow and karen walker. Their store is super cute and worth checking out!
Agnes & Annabel
2 Mill RdBeautiful clothing, homeware and accessories. Stock all the up-market NZ designers like deadly ponies, kowtow and karen walker. Their store is super cute and worth checking out!
Essentials
You can walk here (or to New World) which is 10min from the ferry. You can also drive which takes 35min.
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Whitianga Countdown
24 Joan Gaskell DrYou can walk here (or to New World) which is 10min from the ferry. You can also drive which takes 35min.
Locally owned and operated this the perfect place to stock up on groceries!
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New World Whitianga
1 Joan Gaskell DrLocally owned and operated this the perfect place to stock up on groceries!
Getting Around
This is the best way to get to Whitianga. A 30min walk from our house along beautiful coastline on a safe footpath (you could take a pushchair, there is a little uphill part but its very do-able). $7 return for an adult, $5 child. (no senior fare, only adult rate). It does finish around 10.30pm so you need to be back at the wharf at least 15min before the last ferry. Runs to later times over summer months and new years eve.
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Whitianga Ferry
1153 Purangi RdThis is the best way to get to Whitianga. A 30min walk from our house along beautiful coastline on a safe footpath (you could take a pushchair, there is a little uphill part but its very do-able). $7 return for an adult, $5 child. (no senior fare, only adult rate). It does finish around 10.30pm so you need to be back at the wharf at least 15min before the last ferry. Runs to later times over summer months and new years eve.
Arts & Culture
Next door to Alan Rhodes pottery is the "Artist's House" a stunning example of mud brick building and beautiful to explore. They have beautiful pottery and artwork for sale, including many smaller affordable pieces, as well as unique and custom large pieces. You can also take flax weaving classes for $35 (a bargain in my opinion! Bookings required for classes)
Alan Rhodes Pottery
1369 Tairua Whitianga RdNext door to Alan Rhodes pottery is the "Artist's House" a stunning example of mud brick building and beautiful to explore. They have beautiful pottery and artwork for sale, including many smaller affordable pieces, as well as unique and custom large pieces. You can also take flax weaving classes for $35 (a bargain in my opinion! Bookings required for classes)
If you're into history then this is a must-see. Ranging from artifacts from the earliest inhabitants right up to Captain Cook and the wreck of the Buffalo sailing ship, then on to more modern settler artifacts. Personally this is on my must do list for new -visitors to the area!
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Mercury Bay Museum
11a The EsplanadeIf you're into history then this is a must-see. Ranging from artifacts from the earliest inhabitants right up to Captain Cook and the wreck of the Buffalo sailing ship, then on to more modern settler artifacts. Personally this is on my must do list for new -visitors to the area!
Great studio supporting the work of local artists and New Zealand artists generally. Something for all budgets.
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Moko Artspace
24 Pye PlGreat studio supporting the work of local artists and New Zealand artists generally. Something for all budgets.
Gary and Julie Nevin are wonderful artists. Would highly recommend checking out their handmade mud brick home which is a work of art. Beautiful flax weavings / bags, pottery and paintings are available for purchase. Julie also runs flax weaving workshops by appointment for a very reasonable fee.
the artist house
1367 State Hwy 25Gary and Julie Nevin are wonderful artists. Would highly recommend checking out their handmade mud brick home which is a work of art. Beautiful flax weavings / bags, pottery and paintings are available for purchase. Julie also runs flax weaving workshops by appointment for a very reasonable fee.