The diversity of housing styles, including life style blocks, beachfront properties, established baches, and apartments on the marina, have made the market accessible to a wide range of home owners. Barfoot & Thompson’s Whangaparaoa branch is centrally located at the Pacific Plaza Shopping Centre. Pacific Plaza is the local community hub, and boasts great cafes, restaurants, open-plan food court, large supermarket and a retail experience that attracts shoppers from throughout the Hibiscus Coast. On the education front, three new schools have recently been built to cater for the swiftly growing community of families. There are a now four respected primary schools on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula alone. The brand new Whangaparaoa College, which opened in 2005, also caters for intermediate age children as does Gulf Harbour School and the private Wentworth College. Leisure is a key part of Whangaparaoa’s attraction, and it’s easy to see why, with wonderful beaches to be enjoyed year-round during the Hibiscus Coast’s endless summers. Fishing, swimming, surfing, and boating are all part of the daily mix of activities for Whangaparaoa residents. Local sports clubs include two golf clubs, tennis, netball, football and, five minutes away the Stanmore Bay Leisure Centre provides gym facilities, swimming, squash and basketball courts. At the head of the Peninsula lies the internationally renowned Gulf Harbour Country Club and marina.
