Whakatane, New Zealand

The main settlement of the eastern Bay of Plenty, WHAKATANE is a 14,000-strong town sprawled across flat farmland around the last convulsions of the Whakatane River. The dull suburbs surround an attractive centre wedged between the river and bush-clad hills that rise steeply from the town. The town itself has little to recommend it but that is about to change, with the re-erection of the Great Carved House and its interpretation centre. Whakatane's real appeal lies off the coast, either swimming with dolphins, or on trips to the bird sanctuary of Whale Island and volcanic White Island, which billows plumes of steam into the sky. Back on land, there are walks along the spine of hills above the town and to the viewpoint at Kohi Point, and you can body-surf and sunbathe at Ohope Beach.