Whakatane's Summer Arts Festival has been an Anniversary Weekend highlight for over twenty years and includes the Molly Morpeth Canaday Art Award and exhibition, a Jazz concert and Shakespeare in the Park. click here for more info...

The Whakatane Sport Fishing Club runs one of the biggest fishing tournaments in NZ, with a prize pool of over $120,000. The waters of the Eastern Bay are well known sport fishing grounds and the heaviest catches are well over 50kg. click here for more info...

Unfortunately this great event has been postponed until further notice due to can you believe it a lack of rain! The rain came too late! Make a plan for next year as the racing club are sure that the weather won't effect the event again. The Whakatane Racing Club's summer races is a great day out for the whole family. The event attracts crowds of over 10,000 who gather to experience a country race meeting, music and stalls and all the entertainment that goes with it. click here for more info...

The Whakatane Sport Fishing Club runs one of the biggest ladies fishing tournaments in New Zealand every summer. click here for more info...

The popular 'Whale of a Swim' is an open water swim event from Whale Island to the Whakatane River mouth, also know as The Heads. It attracts entrants from all over New Zealand who enjoy the unique and spectacular environment and one of the few opportunities for an ocean swim event. click here for more info...

Surf Life Saving New Zealand 2008 National Championships being held at the Whakatane Surf Life Saving Club, Ohope Beach. More than a 1000 Lifeguards will compete in everything from the ironman to surf boat racing, ski races, beach sprints and swimming races will be happening at the nationals, when the beach is set up there will be four arenas stretched over a kilometre and a half of beach. click here for more info...

The annual Mataatua Waka Ama regatta takes place during April on the Whakatane River and attracts over 400 competitors from around the region. click here for more info...

2008 is going to be the biggest ODYSSEY yet! The Odyssey is a three-day mountain bike endurance event that starts in Whakatane, and include the Rotorua Lakes and hills and will finish in Taupo. Odyssey loosely means an epic journey and is the perfect word for the new 3-day mountain bike event that will take riders from Whakatane to Taupo along some spectacular unseen tracks that will, like an odyssey, challenge participants to reach new limits and explore untouched territory. click here for more info...

Pinarello R4: Rotorua, Rotoiti, Rotoehu and Rotoma. Take in some of New Zealand's most beautiful scenery as you cycle from Rotorua to Whakatane. The unique 90km course has been designed to pass four stunning lakes as it winds up the undulating terrain of State Highway 30. Riders will pass forest sections, over the Rotomas to the Rangitaiki plains, rolling through Te Teko to Awakeri and onto the finish in Whakatane. click here for more info...

Watch this space for new never before used format! The ultimate challenge takes place in Whakatane in May each year - the Whakatane Great Outdoors 24hr Adventure Race. Teams from around New Zealand compete in a gruelling and challenging race covering over 100km of rugged bush and water-ways around the Eastern Bay. click here for more info...

The Ohope Ordeal offers a long course (40km), with a mid-race climb that soars to over 450 metres, and a short course (20km) option. On a clear day there are spectacular views over Ohiwa Harbour and out to White Island (Whaakari) and Whale Island (Moutohora). The mix of riding terrain is diverse, with lengthy stretches of single-track and meandering farmland cattle trails, as well as swooping pine needle and shingle covered forestry roads. click here for more info...

The 2008 Event is shaping up to be very exciting with a few new categories and a support group for Monty's Novices. More information available in February. Whakatane Great Outdoors Monty's Revenge Multisport event is day of adventure on one of the most scenic courses in New Zealand taking in seascapes, cliffs, bush and river vistas. Monty's Revenge is an acheiveable 57km course that includes run, bike and kayak sections and is open to individuals or teams. click here for more info...

The Beacon Business and Leisure Show is an annual event which showcases local businesses, activities and services. We offer free admission to the public and have various exciting and interactive events and activities planned for both attendees and visitors alike. It is our goal not only to showcase our businesses and lifestyle but to reach the people of our region and reinforce the fact that the Eastern Bay of Plenty has everything; after all... It's All Here. click here for more info...

The BirdsaPlenty festival is held in October each year in the Whakatane and Opotiki Districts and includes the Godwit welcome and a variety of field trips and seminars. The festival is a first of its kind in New Zealand and celebrates the abundance of bird life in the Eastern Bay and the work of conservation groups in the region. click here for more info...

Unlike most race days, the Brumby Race Day is a chance for all types of horses to stretch their legs round the track. A great event for the whole family to enjoy. click here for more info...

The popular Bay of Plenty Electricity's 'Toi's Challenge' running and walking event takes place in Whakatane during November each year. The event takes in one of world's most scenic multi terranin routes - Nga Tapuwae o Toi (in the footsteps of Toi). The 18.5km kilometre course captures the essence of the Whakatane district and includes sea cliffs, Ohope Beach and native bush. click here for more info...

Whakatane District has a number of events to celebrate Christmas including a Christmas Parade and Christmas in the Park. click here for more info...

The National Championship Summercross is held at Awakaponga each year, where entrants compete for the Title of the New Zealand Dirt Bike Federation Champions, making it one of the most important meets in New Zealand. click here for more info...