For a beach holiday in New Zealand, Tauranga and Mount Maunganui are ideal destinations. Separated only by a glistening harbour, which is spanned by a vehicle bridge, they could almost be viewed as one city. Either centre is a perfect base for exploring the surrounding region. Tauranga is the main centre of the Bay of Plenty and it’s also one of New Zealand’s fastest growing cities – and it’s no wonder, because this buzzing little city enjoys a lovely setting, tucked between harbour and rolling hills, and a great climate with generous sunshine.

Just across the bridge, Mount Maunganui is named for the hill that rises dramatically from the coast and lords over the surrounding landscape. Set on an isthmus, The Mount is bordered by water on two sides. A long stretch of golden sand beach and rolling surf overlooked by beautiful homes and apartments on the seaward side make this New Zealand’s answer to Australia’s Gold Coast. On the other side, a sheltered harbour beach with views across to Tauranga City – Pilot Bay – is perfect for families and for launching boats and kayaks.

Aside from a myriad of activities in and on the water, from fishing to surfing, Tauranga and Mount Maunganui offer great walking and hiking, as well as adrenaline-pumping adventures on white-water rivers.

Sights & Destinations in Tauranga & Mount Maunganui

Mount Maunganui

The dramatic landmark for which the beachside community of Mount Maunganui is named, this mountain is situated at the end of the isthmus that shelters Tauranga Harbour from the Pacific Ocean. Take the easy coastal walk around the base or, for a more strenuous activity, hike to the summit. Both tracks are very popular, well maintained and offer superb views.

Mount Maunganui Main Beach

Mount Maunganui and Tauranga are situated on a sweeping arc of coastline offering an endless selection of excellent beaches, but Main Beach is right at the heart of the town – right across the road from a number of cafés and holiday apartments – and it offers a wide area of perfect white sand running down to a patrolled surf beach.

McLaren Falls Park

Situated inland from Tauranga, on State Highway 29 to Tirau, McLaren Falls Park is a 170-hectare area of picturesque parkland offering a number of walking trails. At the heart of the park is McLaren Lake, perfect for kayaking and trout fishing, while the stunning McLaren Falls are the starting point for white-water rafting expeditions on the Wairoa River. A number of rare native birds can be found here, including North Island Brown Kiwi. Stay overnight in one of three hostels, or make use of the camping areas.

Tauranga Harbour

Marine Park at Sulphur Point offers great views of Tauranga Harbour. Stop and watch the action at one of New Zealand’s busiest ports or have a look at the powerboats and yachts moored at the marina. If you’re lucky, you might catch one of the city’s regular sailing regattas or races. Numerous cruises and fishing charters depart from this area too.

Activities in Tauranga & Mount Maunganui

Walking and hiking

The iconic Mauao is the setting for two of New Zealand’s most popular short walks. Stroll around the base track is 3.4 km long and is walked by approximately 700,000 people per year. The appeal lies in the stunning and ever-changing coastal views – keep an eye out for sea lions or whales offshore, and watch the boats coming and going from Tauranga Harbour. The summit track is an uphill walk that takes approximately 30 minutes, but the reward is spectacular views in every direction – up and down the Bay of Plenty Coast and inland, across Tauranga Harbour, to Tauranga City itself. The Crimson Trail is a series of walkways highlighting New Zealand’s much-loved ‘Christmas tree’ the stunning red-flowering Pohutukawa, and its cousin, the Rata. The Mount Maunganui Crimson Trail is one of the most easily accessible of the trails – collect a brochure from the Tauranga i-SITE. For a selection of short walks and multi-day tramps, head inland to the Mamaku-Kaimai Forest Park. These forested mountains are the reason for the Bay of Plenty’s gentle climate, as they protect the region from cold southerly winds. Beautiful waterfalls, lush green ferns and Kauri trees make this an iconic example of New Zealand native forest.

White-water rafting and kayaking

Away from the coast, Tauranga is also famous for its white-water adventures. The Wairoa River is said to offer some of the best white-water conditions anywhere in New Zealand, starting with gentle Grade 2 cascades and building to thundering Grade 5 rapids. The departure point for rafting and kayaking expeditions is McLaren Falls in McLaren Forest Park.

Blokarting

Just down the road from Mount Maunganui, at Papamoa, is the world’s only purpose-built tar-sealed blokart track. This adrenaline-pumping activity is like an on-land version of windsurfing and, even if you’ve never tried windsurfing, it’s easy to learn and a lot of fun.

Fishing

A spectacular coastal setting makes Tauranga an excellent base for fishing adventures. Join a fishing charter and head offshore to experience deep-sea fishing at its finest. Snapper, Kingfish, Hapuku and marlin are a few of the species that can be caught in the area. For trout fishing, head inland to Lake McLaren.

Hot pools

Mount Maunganui is well known for its Hot Salt Water Pools, conveniently located across the road from the beach, right at the base of Mount Maunganui. Several pools of varying temperatures are available, including a children’s pool and a slightly cooler ‘active pool’ for swimming. Therapeutic massages are available. There are other pools in the area too, including mineral pools at Fernland Spa Thermal Mineral Springs.

Boat cruises

Options for boat cruises abound in this marine Mecca. Go dolphin-spotting – or even swim with these fascinating animals – or just soak up the scenery. Fishing charters are also available.