19 Free & Cheap Things to Do in Tauranga & Mt Maunganui© NZPocketGuide.com
19 Free & Cheap Things to Do in Tauranga & Mt Maunganui

19 Free & Cheap Things to Do in Tauranga & Mt Maunganui

© NZPocketGuide.com

Free Activities in Tauranga and Mt Maunganui

The Bay of Plenty hub is bustling with things to do, what’s more, there are heaps of free things to do in Tauranga and Mt Maunganui! (As well as cheap things to do too). Whether you’re looking for hikes, art galleries, food to try, and social events to attend, it’s all happening here in Tauranga.

So, what to do in Tauranga? Whether you are in the city to find work or and just passing through, there are a number of free things to do in Tauranga and Mt Maunganui so that you don’t break the backpacker budget. Stay in one of the 10 Best Budget Accommodation in Taupo to keep accommodation costs low and fill up your time with some of these free and cheap activities in Tauranga.

1. Hike Up Mt Maunganui – FREE

Don’t waste any time to soak in those views from the summit of Mt Maunganui, aka, Mauao or “The Mount”. There are a number of walking tracks up and around The Mount, but the 30-minute climb to the summit rewards you with panoramic views of beaches, Tauranga city and the Pacific Ocean. One of the main things to do in Mount Maunganui for locals and traveller s looking to stay in shape is to tackle a morning run up and down “the Mount”.

Location: Follow the boardwalks on Marine Parade, Mount Maunganui until you are faced with a huge mountain with walking tracks. (You can’t miss it!)

NZPocketGuide.com© NZPocketGuide.com

2. Take a Trip to McLaren Falls Park – FREE

When you ask the locals what to do in Tauranga they’ll send you to McLaren Falls Park. Just a 20-minute drive out of Tauranga is McLaren Falls Park. You can fill up a whole day here walking through the different sections of native and exotic trees, around the super reflective Lake McLaren, and marvel at the McLaren Falls at the entrance of the park. We recommend taking the 10-minute waterfall track to the unnamed waterfall pictured below! For more epic waterfalls, see 12 Most Wonderful Waterfalls in New Zealand.

Location: McLaren Falls Park, off State Highway 29

NZPocketGuide.com© NZPocketGuide.com

3. Check Out the Blowholes on Leisure Island – FREE

Islands don’t come more accessible than Leisure Island (Moturiki). Simply walk across a footbridge connecting the island to Mt Maunganui’s main beach and take a 10-minute stroll on a track leading to a blowhole. This leisurely stroll is one of the top things to do in Mount Maunganui.

Location: Mt Maunganui Beach, Marine Parade, Mount Maunganui

NZPocketGuide.com© NZPocketGuide.com

4. Culture Yourself at the Tauranga Art Gallery – FREE

The free-entry Tauranga Art Gallery is ever-changing with exhibitions and artwork to inspire! Go in and check out what displays they have on offer this month! This is also one of the most popular Tauranga activities for kids.

Location: Corner of Wharf and Willow Street, Tauranga

NZPocketGuide.com© NZPocketGuide.com

5. Relax at the Saltwater Hot Pools – CHEAP

For those chilly days, relax at the Mount Hot Pools at the base of Mt Maunganui. Prices are very reasonable at around NZ$20 for general admission. Alternatively, many accommodation providers in town can offer deals on the hot pools if you want to save a few more dollars. See more activities like this in the 8 Luxury Activities in Tauranga.

Location: Adams Avenue, Mount Maunganui

Mount Hot Pools© Mount Hot Pools

6. Hit One of the Markets – FREE

There’s always something going on in Tauranga and Mt Maunganui and markets are usually involved. Check out the Little Big Markets in Coronation Park, Mt Maunganui, every first Saturday of the month during summer 9am-2pm, for food, crafts, design and art. The Tauranga Farmers Market is bustling with stalls and shoppers from around 8am to 12pm on Saturdays too. It is held at the Tauranga Primary School on Fifth Avenue/Cameron Road. Finally, if you are up early on Sundays too, the Tauranga Market is held at the Historic Village on Seventeenth Avenue West on the first and third Sunday of each month. See more experiences like this in the 9 Things to Do in Tauranga for Foodies.

Location: Tauranga and Mount Maunganui

Pexels© Pexels

7. Go on a Street Art Crawl – FREE

There are some pretty impressive murals spray-painted onto the walls of Tauranga. Finding them is not only a great way to explore the city centre, but it provides you with some pretty neat photo-ops! Check out the car parks and parking buildings around Spring Street, the huge construction worker mural down the Grey Street service lane, and a few more artwork on 53 The Strand, 176 Cameron Road and 24 Dive Crescent.

Location: Tauranga City Centre

NZPocketGuide.com© NZPocketGuide.com

8. Go Indoor Rock Climbing – CHEAP

Test your climbing skills at Rocktopia! The indoor climbing venue is not only an affordable activity, but it’s a great thing to do on a rainy day. With an array of easy clip n’ climb walls to the challenging “rock on” walls, all abilities can kill some time here! Admission is less than NZ$20!

Location: Triton Avenue, Mount Maunganui

Rocktopia© Rocktopia

9. Do Some Surfing at Mt Maunganui – FREE

When the swell is up, hit Mt Maunganui Beach for some wave-riding fun. There are heaps of surf shops around Mt Maunganui that often have deals of surf hire. (Obviously, the less time you hire a board for, the cheaper it is). Alternatively, some hostels in town offer free board hire for their guests, such as Pacific Coast Lodge so take advantage! Surfing is truly one of the most popular Tauranga activities.

Location: Mt Maunganui Beach

Pexels© Pexels

10. Do a Foodie Crawl Around Tauranga and Mt Maunganui – CHEAP

Ice creams, coffee, fish and chips… The seaside city has many specialities that you have to try while mooching around. Mt Maunganui locals would boast that Copenhagen Cone, Adams Avenue, Mt Maunganui does the best ice cream in the bay, while others would say you can’t go wrong with a Kiwi classic fish and chips from Bobby’s Fresh Fish Market on Dive Crescent, Tauranga. See Cheap Eats in Tauranga and Mt Maunganui and The Foodie Guide to Tauranga for inspiration.

Location: All over Tauranga and Mount Maunganui!

Pexels© Pexels

11. Take a Trip to Papamoa – FREE

Enjoy 16km of golden-sand beach in the largest suburb of Tauranga, Papamoa. Its a popular holiday destination for Kiwis and for good reason. Either head to the beach or enjoy hikes and mountain bike trails in the Papamoa Hills – great things to do while keeping the costs down. Find out more things to do there in our 7 Awesome Things to Do in Papamoa.

Location: 20 minutes drive east of Tauranga city centre down State Highway 2.

Angela Cosgrove Bay of Plenty Tourism© Angela Cosgrove Bay of Plenty Tourism

12. Wander Around the Te Puna Quarry Park – FREE

This disused quarry turned spectacular garden is a must-see in Tauranga! Maintained by passionate volunteers, Te Puna Quarry Park is packed with sculptures and a mix of native and exotic plants. There are plenty of photo opportunities along the network of easy-going walkways, including magnificent views over the Bay of Plenty.

Location: End of Quarry Road, Te Puna.

itravelNZ on Flickr© itravelNZ® on Flickr

13. Unwind in the Fernland Spa Pools – CHEAP

Relax in 100% mineral pools for around NZ$13 per person or book yourself a private pool for around NZ$15 per 30 minutes. The main pool surrounded by trees is a great place to relax and chat with friends. Fernland Spa also has camping accommodation.

Location: 250 Cambridge Road, Bethlehem.

NZPocketGuide.com© NZPocketGuide.com

14. Hang Out at Memorial Park – FREE

Memorial Park is Tauranga’s premier park with plenty of space to relax, kick a football around or let the kids loose in the playgrounds. There’s a picturesque water feature backed with views of the harbour, making for a damn good place to hang out with friends. If that wasn’t enough, there are free barbecues and mini-golf!

Location: Memorial Park between 11th and 7th Avenues.

Pumpmeup on Wikipedia© Pumpmeup on Wikipedia

15. See the Magnificent Kaiate Falls – FREE

Kaiate Falls, otherwise known as Te Rerekawau Falls, is just a 30-minute drive from Tauranga. Take a 1-hour loop walk to the upper part of this multi-step waterfall before making its way down to the base of the falls. Check out these 12 Most Wonderful Waterfalls in New Zealand for more unmissable waterfalls.

Location: Take State Highway 2 to Kairua then turn onto Welcome Bay Road. Travel 5km (3 miles) then turn on Waitao Road then onto Kaiate Falls Road. Part of the journey is on a gravel road.

russellstreet on Flickr© russellstreet on Flickr

16. Walk Around the Historic Village – FREE

Step back in time on this street in Tauranga grand historic buildings and cobbled streets. And yes, the shops are still trading, selling art and gifts. It’s a must-see in Tauranga!

Location: 17th Avenue West.

Robert Engberg on Flickr© Robert Engberg on Flickr

17. Visit the Elms Mission House – CHEAP

See one of New Zealand’s oldest buildings at the Elms Mission House & Gardens. When accessing the grounds visitors will be able to check out a kauri building built in 1847. There are also guided tours of the house to get an insight into how the early settlers of the area lived and learn about early European and Maori relationships. There is a small admission fee of NZ$7.50 for locals and NZ$15 for international travellers which includes a guided tour.

Location: Mission Street.

Schwede66 on Wikipedia© Schwede66 on Wikipedia

18. Take a Trip to Te Puke – FREE

If you’re in Tauranga, don’t miss a visit to the Kiwifruit Capital of New Zealand! Nearby are four stunning beaches, bush walks and waterfalls in the nearby hills, and a beekeeper park. Find out more in our 7 Top Things to Do in Te Puke.

Location: Te Puke is a 25-minute drive from Tauranga.

Air55 on Wikipedia© Air55 on Wikipedia

[CLOSED] Do Some Free Honey Tastings at Mossop’s Honey – FREE

See live bee displays and try real manuka honey at the Mossop’s Honey store near Greerton. It’s a great place to pick up some New Zealand honey souvenirs and learn a little bit more about the fascinating honey-making process.

Location: 761 State Highway 29, Tauriko.

Mossop's Honey - Tourism Bay of Plenty© Mossop's Honey - Tourism Bay of Plenty

More About Tauranga and Mt Maunganui

That’s it for our list of cheap and free things to do in Tauranga and Mt Maunganui. For more free stuff, check out the 50 Best Free Things to Do in New Zealand.

Author

Laura S.

This article was reviewed and published by Laura, editor in chief and co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. Since arriving solo in New Zealand over 10 years ago and with a background in journalism, her mission has been to show the world how easy (and awesome) it is to travel New Zealand. She knows Aotearoa inside-out and loves sharing tips on how best to experience New Zealand’s must-dos and hidden gems. Laura is also editor of several other South Pacific travel guides and is the co-host of NZ Pocket Guide’s live New Zealand travel Q&As on YouTube.

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