The Travel Guide to Tauranga on a Budget

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Free Activities in Tauranga

Despite being a bustling city, Tauranga has a surprising array of free natural attractions to check out. First on your list should be hiking up The Mount. Also known as Mauao in te reo Maori, The Mount is an extinct volcano at the end of Mt Maunganui beach. A 30-minute climb to the summit brings you to stunning views of the Mt Maunganui suburb, beaches and the Pacific Ocean.

While you’re in the area, also walk along the Main Beach of Mt Maunganui to find a causeway onto Moturiki Island, also known as Leisure Island. The island has an interesting history which you can read all about on the interpretation panels along a short walk. At the end of the island is a viewpoint with blowholes in the rock pools below.

In the city centre of Tauranga, take the time to walk around, see the wealth of street art spraypainted down laneways and car parks, and head to the Tauranga Art Gallery. The art gallery is free-entry with ever-changing exhibitions. Find it on the corner of Wharf and Willows Street.

For much more ideas for free activities, check out the 19 Free & Cheap Things to Do in Tauranga & Mt Maunganui.

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Cheap Activities in Tauranga

There are a few more things you could be getting up to in Tauranga that have a small admission fee but still won’t set you back too far. For instance, soaking in a natural geothermal hot pool is one of the affordable things to do in Tauranga. Fernland Spa (250 Cambridge Road, Bethlehem) only costs around NZ$14 to relax in their large hot pool, while Oropi Hot Pools (1 Warner Road, Oropi) is cheaper still at around NZ$11 admission.

While spending some time on the beach is a fun free thing to do, you can amp up the experience by hiring a surfboard and hitting the waves. Surfboard shops in Mt Maunganui offer half-day surfboard hires for around NZ$30, while some of the hostels in Mt Maunganui have free hires if you’re staying with them.

And for your dose of New Zealand history in Tauranga, check out the Elms Mission House and Gardens on Mission Street. Take a cheap guided tour (around NZ$15 for international visitors) of the kauri house built in 1847 and tour the picturesque gardens with many photo opportunities.

For more ideas, don’t forget to check out the 19 Free & Cheap Things to Do in Tauranga & Mt Maunganui.

© Tourism Bay of Plenty

Cheap Eats in Tauranga

When venturing to any city on your New Zealand road trip, it can be hard to resist the allure of eateries. Luckily, Tauranga has plenty of great options to dine on the cheap.

In Mt Maunganui, get your beer fix at the Astrolabes Brewbar (82 Maunganui Road) that does NZ$10 beer, burger and chips on Tuesday nights. Taste the New Zealand Mac’s beer while you’re there. Alternatively, Papamoa Beach Tavern (20 Domain Road, Papamoa) does the same deal every Monday night.

For your steak fix, head to The Hop House (297 Maunganui Road) for NZ$15 ribeye steak every Wednesday, while The Bach (Bayfair Shopping Centre) does NZ$16 Kiwi burgers.

Finally, while not exactly a cheap eat, an affordable activity and must-do is getting an ice cream. A popular place is Copenhagen Cone (14 Adams Avenue, Mt Maunganui) with a huge array of flavours that will complement your beach walk.

For more recommendations, head to the Cheap Eats in Tauranga & Mt Maunganui.