Why I Love It Here: Tarns from More FM’s Breakfast Club
Published on 01 October 2026
Looking for the best things to do in Whangārei and Whangārei Heads? More FM Northland Breakfast Club co-host Tarns shares the local places she loves most, from exploring rock pools at McGregors Bay and walking the stunning coastal tracks of Whangārei Heads to enjoying family-friendly beaches, great local food and summer camping adventures.
Whether you're a local looking for new ideas or a visitor planning a Northland getaway, discover some of Tarns' favourite Whangārei experiences.
Why I love peering in rock pools:
"My favourite spot is McGregors Bay at low tide in Whangārei Heads. My family and I love to go for a walk around the rocks looking for creatures - if you look closely, you might spot an octopus! If you hit the rocks around the left and head out at low tide, that's the best place to get a chance to see them."
Where to find it: McGregors Bay, Whangārei Heads
Why I love the walking tracks in Whangārei Heads:
"Mount Aubrey is one of our favourite hikes. It's so gorgeous, that walk. You can go straight up and down, or you can walk to the top, down the other side and right around as part of the Reotahi Coastal Walkway. It's just so beautiful."
Where to find it: The Mt Aubrey carpark is at Tiller Park on Reotahi Road, Whangārei Heads
"The Smugglers Bay walk is amazing as well. That bright blue water and the headland track... you get to the viewpoint near the beach and you know you're going to have the best swim."
Where to find it: Access to Smugglers Bay and the Bream Head Scenic Reserve is via the Urquhart Bay carpark, end of Urquhart Bay Road, Whangārei Heads.
Why I love grabbing a bite in Whangārei Heads:
"One of our go-tos is McLeod Bay Fish & Chips Takeaway. They've got the best fish burgers; the fish hangs right out the sides of the burger. My tip? Get a vanilla milkshake with it."
Where to find it: 5 Reotahi Road, McLeod Bay
"We often stop in at the Four Square Parua Bay for a post-beach or walk ice-cream. You can always tell a good summer shop when there's sandy footprints on the floor and half the customers are wearing hooded towels."
Where to find it: 1379 Whangarei Heads Road, Parua Bay
Why I love Bocky Boo Gelato:
"Bocky Boo is a favourite place for ice-cream in town. We often take our labrador Tess - she sits patiently under the table waiting for drops of ice-cream to fall through the cracks. My favourite's the really chocolatey one. It's so good."
Where to find it: 71 Cameron Street, Whangārei
Why I love a baked treat:
"European-style bakery All You Knead has the best cinnamon buns. Oh, they're just delicious."
Where to find it: 8 Vine Street, Whangārei
"We also get cinnamon buns and pies from Taimahi Trust, a training space for young people with intellectual and learning disabilities. Their chorizo and bean pie is delicious and they're very good people."
Where to find it: 19 Bank Street, Whangārei
Why I love a camping holiday:
"In summer you'll find us at the Puriri Bay campground in Whangaruru. You book really early and get right under the pōhutukawa trees on the beach. There's a lovely beach that's great for swimming, and there's a little stream where the kids can make dams and spend hours trying to stop the water from flowing. They just love it. We often walk up the top of the hill and right around the peninsula - there's little beaches to stop for a swim along the way."
Where to find it: 1009 Whangaruru North Road, Whangaruru.
Why I Love It Here in Whangārei:
"One reason I really love it here in Whangārei is our beaches. If I can get two kids and a dog on the beach to run around during the middle of winter, it must be a very special place."
Thank you to Tarns for sharing why you Love it Here in Whangārei! Catch Toast and Tarns on More FM Northland's Breakfast Club (91.6)