Whangarei

It's a fabulous water wonderland, as CHARLOTTE COSSAR reports.

The Maori translation for Whangarei is "Bountiful Land" and according to local residents this is exactly what the town, a two-hour drive north of Auckland, is. Near the top of the North Island, Whangarei offers a different style of living than other New Zealand towns and cities.

It has a small-town feeling with most homes being close to the centre and many having harbour views. The residents are young and old and from all walks of life, giving the town a slightly bohemian feel.

Even the shopping in the heart of the town has a slight artistic edge with its quaint gift shops and boutiques, especially the Town Basin. Here, pottery, artwork and screen-printed fabrics are plentiful as are great cafes overlooking boats moored nearby.

However, the main shopping destination is the Cameron St Mall and it has most of the chain stores.

Part of the Northland lifestyle, water and water sports are the most popular recreational pastimes. A half-hour drive from Whangarei is Tutukaka, a fisherman's paradise. A popular destination for big game fishing, many a large marlin has been caught in these waters. If you don't want to get your hands dirty, there are many beaches and bays where you can take a leisurely dip.

If sea and sand don't interest you, you could visit the Museum of Fishes and Clapham Clocks Museum, have a picnic at Mair Park, bush walk up the Parahaki Track - there are wonderful views of Whangarei and the harbour from the top - or go to the markets from Wednesday to Sunday at the A&P complex.

Situated where it is, Whangarei is the perfect location from which to take day trips. Down the road, 30km south of Whangarei, is Waipu where you can trace your heritage back to the Nova Scotian settlers, and every New Year's Day Highland Games are held. Ten minutes further on is Lang Cove, which has beautiful pohutukawa trees, rolling surf and the odd dolphin gracing its waters.

There is also Marsden Pt Oil Refinery where you can walk along the wharf, throw a fishing line over the side and enjoy the day fishing.

About an hour from Whangarei on the west coast is Dargaville. Here, there are bush walks through Waipoua Forest and one of the country's largest kauri trees, Tane Mahuta. Not far from Dargaville are Kai Iwi Lakes, which are surrounded by forest. A great place to camp, there is beautiful white sand and clear, calm waters offering great swimming, water skiing and canoeing.

Returning after your busy day, the most sought-after areas to live in Whangarei include Riverside, Kensington, Maunu, Mairtown and Kamo and you could pay up to $1 million, depending on land size and views.

Generally, however, for an apartment expect to pay between $250,000 and $350,000 and a unit between $110,000 and $150,000. If you're in the market for a townhouse, these sell for between $140,000 and $250,000 and a three- to four-bedroom home will set you back anything from $110,000 to $320,000.

Attracted by the easy-going lifestyle and fantastic beaches and water sports, the area is popular with Aucklanders wanting to escape big city hassles, foreigners looking for affordable living close to the sea and other people from around the country who want to enjoy a bit more sun.