Moutohora - Lexie Brown

Lexie Brown and Moutohorā

In early 2021, The Bachelorette New Zealand's Lexie Brown paid a visit to long admired Moutohorā / Whale Island 

misslexiebrown "I’ve looked across the water at Moutohora all my life and only this year did I get to actually visit. @whakatane.nz, @whiteislandcafe & @moutohora took me over and it was a pretty special day for me in a place I call one of my homes. We saw loads of native birds and even a Tuatara in the wild and he was unreal 🥰 From the hot water beach, I could see Putauaki in the distance and it was a perspective I hadn’t seen him from before ⛰ You can only visit the island if you jump on a tour and I couldn’t not recommend it enough, especially if you’re local 💕" 

Coffee and gluten-free brownie

Café Awa

Born out of a love of good coffee, today Café Awa is a favourite of both coffee lovers and foodies alike. 

Moutohora Island tour_Strike 2

Moutohorā: Island Sanctuary Tour

Discover the rare beauty of one of New Zealand’s little-known treasures, Moutohorā / Whale Island a pest-free oasis.

More stories from Whakatāne

Trekker walking past Wairaka

Whakatāne River Walk

Bordered by the Whakatāne River on one side and bush-clad cliffs on the other, Whakatāne's commercial centre must have one of the most scenic settings any town could wish for.

Toi's Challenge Competitors at the finish line

Toi's Challenge is a beautifully hard run or walk

This is a stunning loop-journey from Whakatane, heading around the spectacular Pacific Coast to Ohope, along the sand, then inland through forest that is roamed by kiwis, back to town. The track is the stage for annual Toi's Challenge, founded in 1996, and one of New Zealand's iconic trail events.

Dr Ranginui Walker

Ranginui Walker

Part two of our daily instalments featuring inspirational Māori leaders from the Eastern Bay of Plenty for Māori Language week: Dr Ranginui Joseph Issac Walker