Tauranga & Mount Maunganui

Sunny Bay of Plenty coast: climb Mount Maunganui for views over white-sand beaches, soak in saltwater hot pools, and explore the surrounding kiwifruit orchards and waterfall parks.

Tauranga lies in the western Bay of Plenty on New Zealand's North Island. It is one of the country's fastest-growing cities and home to New Zealand's largest export port. Across the harbour, Mount Maunganui (known locally as 'The Mount') is the country's most popular seaside resort town. With plenty of sunshine and a mild climate, it's a favourite summer beach destination for New Zealanders.

The focus is the Mount Maunganui peninsula: Mauao, a 232 m extinct volcano, rises at the tip of the peninsula, and the climb to the top takes about 40 minutes, with views over the white sands of Main Beach and the harbour. Main Beach is good for surfing and swimming, while sheltered Pilot Bay on the other side is calm and family-friendly, and the Mount Hot Pools at the foot of the mountain offer saltwater soaking. Marine Parade is lined with restaurants and cafés. Tauranga city has a waterfront walkway and historic mission buildings at The Elms. Inland are McLaren Falls Park (with night kayaking to see glowworms), Kaiate Falls and the Papamoa Hills heritage trail, while to the southeast is Te Puke, billed as the 'Kiwifruit Capital of the World'.

The best season is Dec–Mar, ideal for the beach, though accommodation should be booked early; spring and autumn are mild and good for hiking, and winters are mild with little snow. It's about a 2.5–3 hour drive from Auckland, and there are domestic flights to Tauranga Airport; Rotorua is only about an hour's drive away, and Tauranga is often combined with Rotorua and Hobbiton. During the cruise season (Oct–Apr), large cruise ships frequently call at the port. Allow 2–3 days; having a car is most convenient.

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