Whāngārei
Whāngārei is the northenmost city of New Zealand. Only 2.5 hours from Auckland,  it is a thriving city with a vibrant arts community. The waterfront is a popular place to relax and watch the boats from a café. Whāngārei is a great base if you are wanting to day trip nearby to the Bay of Islands, Cape Reinga or 90 mile beach.