Tauranga & Mt Maunganui – Guide for Backpackers

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Tauranga City

The most populated and fastest-growing city in the Bay of Plenty, Tauranga, has been treating us with its glorious waterfront setting since the late 13th century when the first Maori settled here.

Backpackers and locals alike can’t resist having a beer or coffee along The Strand. For Tauranga’s nightlife and coffee house scene is found on this stretch along the waterfront.

On the other hand, there’s 17th Avenue complete with historic wooden buildings and cobbled lined streets: a rare sight in New Zealand.

Street art dotted around the city and the Tauranga Art Gallery are also worth checking out for free! Plus, grab some Cheap Eats in Tauranga and Mt Maunganui.

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Water Activities in Tauranga

It’s all well and good gazing at the Pacific Ocean from the comfort of a city cafe, but it would almost be a crime to not get out onto the water while visiting Tauranga. The waters of the Bay of Plenty have been known to offer sights of humpback and pilot whales, orcas, seals, common dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, and Hector’s dolphins.

With that, there are opportunities to do dolphin swimming with a couple of activity providers in Tauranga, such as Dolphin Seafaris (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor) and Orca Wild Adventures (on Viator and Tripadvisor).

There are also trips departing to some of the offshore islands like Matakana, Karewa Island, Motiti and Mayor Islands. Check out Bay Explorer on Viator and Tripadvisor for an island and wildlife cruise.

Like any other New Zealand coastal city, there is no lack of fishing charter tours in Tauranga. Take a deep-sea fishing charter to catch some whoppers.

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Outskirts of Tauranga

Waterfalls, treetop adventures and relaxing hot pools all surround the city of Tauranga. For a recreational stop when heading out of the city, visit the Te Puna Quarry Park along State Highway 2 to see the transformation of this disused quarry into gardens full of sculptures and, well, other garden necessities.

On State Highway 36 towards Rotorua, is the aerial obstacle course Adrenalin Forest, which reaches 20 metres high. When a day of hardcore adventuring ends, head to the Fernland Spa hot mineral pools for a soak surrounded by native trees.

There are some natural wonders to check out too within driving distance of Tauranga in the form of these waterfall parks:

McLaren Falls Park

A 10-minute drive south from the city on the State Highway 29 will lead you to McLaren Falls Park. Of course, the waterfall is the highlight but walking tracks around the lake make it worthwhile. By day, make use of the free BBQs in this stunning picnic area. By night, stay in the campgrounds or the McLaren Falls Park Hostel, so you can go see the glowworms lining the Waterfall Track.

Omanawa Falls

[Update: while this attraction is popular, it’s a dangerously steep cliff walk with a history of injuries, some fatal – visiting the falls is not recommended until there is safer access].

Kaiate Falls

More waterfall action lies southwest of Tauranga, a 25-minute drive which is signposted off Welcome Bay Road. Take advantage of the detours off the main waterfall track to go to different lookouts.

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The Mount at Mt Maunganui

It’s no surprise that this seaside town is named after the prominent mountain that sits at the end of the town. But to avoid confusion, the mountain is referred to as The Mount or Mauao.

This dormant volcano is sacred to the Tauranga iwi (tribe). It also simply has to be climbed when visiting Mt Maunganui! Find the walking track at the end of Mt Maunganui Beach. This fairly steep walk to the summit takes 20-30 minutes. After you have taken in the 360 views, take your time to head down the mountain, spotting sheep and wood pigeons along the way. At the base, you can treat yourself to a dip in the saltwater hot pools.

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Mt Maunganui Town

Mt Maunganui has all the components for a holiday getaway in New Zealand: enormous beach, surf, ice cream and fish n’ chips. Check if your hostel hires out surfboard for free. Otherwise, surf lessons and hire are available on the bay.

Apart from the obvious long walks on the beach, it’s worth exploring the town for the shops and cafes along Mt Maunganui’s main street or at the Bayfair Shopping Centre. Chill out with some craft beer at Astrolabe beer garden or Mt Brew Co, or indulge in ice cream at Copenhagen Cones and fish n’ chips.

When the tide is low, walk out to Moturiki (Leisure) Island, which is just off the shore of Mt Maunganui Beach. You can watch the blowholes at the seaward end. Plus, get the best views of the mountain, the beach and waves!

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Papamoa

Papamoa is a large suburb next to Mt Mangagui with yet more endless stretching beaches backed with sand dunes. It’s really the perfect spot for drift karting or three-wheeled land sailing. In fact, there’s a whole park dedicated to the unique sport at the Blokart Recreation Park.

Inland, don’t miss the Papamoa Hills. What used to have 10 Maori pa (fortified) sites, now has walking tracks to viewpoints over the coastline. On a clear day, you can see as far as Maketu and Whakatane in the south to the Coromandel Peninsula in the north. The hills also have mountain biking at the Summerhill Recreational Trails through forest and hilly terrain.