Marsden Cove and One Tree Pt look set to become an established tourist destination after the success of Northland's inaugural seafood festival.
Around 3000 people descended on the event at Marsden Cove Marina, some coming by coach from Auckland and others arriving by boat.
Organiser and marketing manager of Hopper Developments Paul
Shanahan said Northland's top boutique fisheries and seafood companies served up their finest delicacies with top chef Brenton Low of award-winning Whangarei restaurant a Deco presenting an hourly cooking demonstration.
As the crowd gobbled marine morsels and sipped Northland wines, guitarist Billy TK Junior and poet Sam Hunt provided entertainment.
Highlights included Whangarei's CuisAnn's seafood paella and prawn skewers by Salty Dog of Hikurangi.
People who arrived by boat were allowed to berth in the marina for free for the night rather than drink and sail.
Mr Shanahan said Hopper Developments staged the event at their own expense to establish the area as a tourist destination.
"One Tree Pt and Marsden Cove is more known as an industrial area with the oil refinery and port but it has the potential to become a waterfront boulevard."
Since the marina had become an official Customs port of entry, more international yachts would bring long-term benefits for Whangarei, Mr Shanahan said.
For $35 customers gained entry and were given a wine glass, but food and wine cost extra. Next year's festival would have more chairs and more seafood, he said.
The Northland Seafood Festival had the potential to become bigger than the Bluff Oyster Festival as "we're closer to New Zealand's biggest population base".
Mr Shanahan said people visiting the Bluff festival would have to organise accommodation whereas the Northland festival was a day trip for Aucklanders.
