Explore Mercury Bay

Whitianga offers an outstanding lifestyle in beautiful natural surrounds and a beachside holiday to remember forever. Whether you're a long-time local or first-time visitor, welcome to All About Whitianga!
Eat your way through Whitianga!
Whether it's deliciously fresh local dishes with a choice of relaxed, intimate and fun surroundings, or classic fish and chips takeaways on the beach, you’ll never run out of great food to try in Whitianga.
8 Great Reasons
to Visit Whitianga
Get inspired and connect with local businesses, events, things to do, places to visit and ways to surprise your family and friends.
There are things to do rain or shine – making Whitianga a great destination for the whole family.
Two author sessions held each Thursday 29th May - 26th of June. The inaugural Coromandel Peninsula Writers Festival is your chance to meet talented New Zealand authors! View dates and details for each session below.
Come and join us for this special opening night gala. We welcome you to the inaugural Peninsula Writers' Festival. Come and meet the writers!
Sign up and join the Wāhi Tukurua team for the launch of the Every Bite programme which aims to help you reduce food waste in simple, practical ways.
In March activities are coordinated as part of Seaweek - events to celebrate the moana-sea along with agencies, businesses, and community groups. There are usually plenty of activities to get involved in during Seaweek - pencil this date in your detail as more details to come!
Weekly events and activities at various times run at the Mercury Bay Library throughout the year and over the school holiday periods. And of course come on in any day they are open to get your favourite books for some excellent reading!
POSTPONED for April - we'll keep you posted when the next Thirsty Thursday is rescheduled! Get ready to come and grab a coffee in your reusable cup the next Thirsty Thursday! The team from Wāhi Tukurua - Mercury Bay Resource Recovery Centre will be on hand to have a chat about reducing single use cups.
Whether you're looking for restaurants, shopping and markets, trades & services, or personal and professional services, it's all here in Whitianga!
Stay engaged with community stories and local articles from the past and present.
If you need to know when the weekly 2025 rubbish and recycling collection dates are for the Mercury Bay, Whitianga and the wider Thames Coromandel District area read on! There's a handy PDF download so you can know when the next kerbside rubbish and recycling collections are in your area on the Coromandel Peninsula.
If you are heading to the Coromandel Peninsula, Whitianga is definitely worth a visit, no matter what time of the year. Summer, spring, autumn or winter, rain or shine there’s plenty to do to keep the whole family busy. In this article there are top tips and excellent ideas for things to do when you plan your visit to Whitianga.
Do you dream of making delicious light Hot Cross Buns every year but just seem to end up with rock cakes? Why not try some or all of these tips gathered by the All About Whitianga team when making your Hot Cross Buns this year.
This May and June, Whitianga will host the inaugural Peninsula Writers Festival, a vibrant celebration of literature, storytelling, and community. The festival will bring together eight diverse Coromandel Peninsula writers, offering attendees a unique opportunity to engage with each author at individual author sessions.
Food waste is a growing issue in Aotearoa, but a programme delivered by the Zero Waste Network and local waste minimisation group Wāhi Tukurua, is helping Mercury Bay residents make simple changes that have a big impact.
Inspired by the natural world and Project Kiwi, Opito Bay based author Brett Howes has published his first captivating book ‘Kaula the Kiwi”. The book is a collection of interlinked poems that combine New Zealand wildlife, local personalities, Coromandel Peninsula landscapes, and whimsical storytelling. In this article Brett shares his inspiration and how his book takes young and mature readers on an engaging journey that blends education, community conservation, stunning illustrations and a generous sprinkle of humour.
Composite Image above: Author Brett Howes and Kiwi Egg illustration by Jessica Howes. All images in this article are subject to copyright and all rights reserved.