Looking Forward

L ooking Forward

After moving to Waipū Cove to open the Cove Cafe, Loyd and Mike fell in love with Northland; they enjoyed exploring the area including regular visits to Whangārei but they could see the potential for more.

The vision for the Quay was to bring the Whangārei community a restaurant which celebrated all aspects of the area. This included using locally-grown produce, locally-sourced seafood, meat and other ingredients, wherever possible. They also employed friendly and down-to-earth people from within the community embracing and enhancing the natural beauty of the unique setting, right on the waterfront in the heart of Whangārei.

Lloyd and Mike opened the Quay in July 2016 and felt very lucky that the community took it to their hearts almost straight away. The Quay is located right on the Hātea River with the best outlook in Whangārei, no wonder diners flock there for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

From Lloyd’s perspective, “The Town Basin has grown hugely over the past five years due in part to the council's vision for the area and in part to the local community embracing it the way that they have. The Town Basin is now vibrant, colourful and bustling, with three wonderful restaurants and a selection of great cafes. From cocktails to modern Asian to oysters with a glass of wine at the edge of the marina, the Town Basin currently ticks most of the boxes. With the recent addition of the new children's playground, it is now an even more inclusive space, perfect for families and for couples alike wanting to enjoy the best part of Whangārei”.

A year after opening the Quay, they were lucky enough to take over the lease of what was then Love Muscle and opened No8, Whangārei’s first modern Asian restaurant. No8 has found its niche in the market offering an eclectic mix of some of Asia's finest flavour profiles ranging from Thai to Japanese to Indian. In 2020, Mike and Lloyd opened Loco offering a South American Salsa vibe to the Town Basin with colourful umbrellas, charming staff, great cocktails and South American-inspired food. It has quickly become a hotspot bringing fun and adding another layer to the Town Basin.

Mike and Lloyd are excited to be a part of the continual development and growth within the Town Basin, looking forward to the ongoing collaboration with existing and new businesses in the area. They are particularly looking forward to the opening of Hundertwasser which they believe is a real asset to the area for locals and visitors alike to enjoy before dining at one of their three amazing restaurants. Whangārei love it here!

Three beautiful restaurants in the Town Basin