The Guide to Tauranga for Couples
Celebrating a special occasion or simply seeking a romantic getaway? Tauranga is an effortlessly romantic city with beautiful sweeping beaches, glistening waters across the harbour and a wealth of romantic restaurants, parks and boutique accommodations. Whether it’s on your honeymoon itinerary of New Zealand or it’s in the plans for a weekend escape, Tauranga will certainly set the tone right. Find out how in this honeymoon guide to Tauranga.
Things to Do in Tauranga for Couples
- Pack a picnic for McLaren Falls Park
- Team up on a kayaking tour to see the glowworms with Waimarino Kayak Tours
- Watch the sunrise from the top of The Mount
- Take a romantic stroll on the beach
- Join Fun Top Fun New Zealand for their romantic tour of Tauranga
- Swim with dolphins with Dolphin Seafaris or Orca Wild Adventures
- Look out for love birds on a birding tour with Foris Eco-tours
- Take on an escape room challenge together
- Treat your loved one to a romantic dinner at Tauranga’s restaurants.
For elaboration on each suggestion, take a look at the 9 Romantic Activities in Tauranga for Couples.
Romantic Adventure Activities
Tauranga makes a great base for experiences together, both on land and on the water. One way to test your teamwork is by paddling in a double kayak on an evening glowworm kayaking tour. Join Waimarino Kayak Tours for their evening experience having a gourmet picnic on the lakeside of Lake McLaren before paddling to a romantic glowworm canyon. For more information on Waimarino Kayak Tours, check them out on Viator and Tripadvisor.
Speaking of Lake McLaren, even spending the day by the lake and exploring McLaren Falls Park is a romantic way to spend your time. Venture up short walks to picturesque waterfalls, wander through beautiful flower gardens and pack a picnic to have by the lake. Find McLaren Falls Park just 20 minutes from Tauranga. For more activities like this, see the 19 Free & Cheap Things to Do in Tauranga.
Connect with nature and each other on one of Tauranga’s wildlife tours, such as dolphin swimming or bird watching. Join either Dolphin Seafaris (on Viator and Tripadvisor) or Orca Wild Adventures (on Viator and Tripadvisor) for a day out on the water seeking pods of common dolphins and even swimming with them in their natural environment. If being a couple of love birds is more your thing, however, join a full-day bird-watching tour with Foris Eco-tours. For more information on Foris Eco-Tours, check out Viator and Tripadvisor.
For more suggestions, take a look at the 10 Romantic Activities in Tauranga for Couples.
Romantic All-weather Activities
Don’t let the romance end just because the weather isn’t playing ball. There a couple of great options to enjoy Tauranga rain or shine, starting with a hot pools experience. Soak in natural mineral hot pools at either Mount Hot Pools (9 Adams Avenue, Mt Maunganui) or Fernland Spa (250 Cambridge Road, Bethlehem), both offering the option to up the romance in their private hot pools.
Another option for couples who love to solve challenges together, Tauranga has a couple of fantastic escape rooms. Choose a wacky theme at Escape Rooms Tauranga (75 Elizabeth Street) or Flummox Escape Rooms (27 Spring Street) and see if you can solve the puzzles to escape your chosen room within the timeframe!
For more ideas, check out the 10 Romantic Activities in Tauranga for Couples.
Romantic Restaurants
Aside from fine dining bistros, which we list and recommend in The Luxury Guide to Tauranga, there is a wide range of eateries in Tauranga to treat your loved one to.
Spice up your evening at Macau Bar Kitchen and Lounge (59 The Strand), an Asian restaurant where the banquet menu for two is a great option to share a variety of foods. Or swap the spice for the subtle tomato and mozzarella flavours of Osteria (91 Maunganui Road), a romantic Italian restaurant.
For something a little different, try Izakai (19 Girven Road, Mt Maunganui) serving an intriguing range of Japanese dishes with a New Zealand and Maori twist.
Finally, treat your other half to waterfront dining at the Halo Lounge & Dining (51 Dive Crescent), a relaxing fine dining eatery where you can enjoy a candlelit European-style dinner.
For more recommendations, head on over to The Foodie Guide to Tauranga.
Honeymoon Accommodation in Tauranga
- Seascape Villa B&B
- Hotel on Devonport
- Trinity Wharf Tauranga
- The Tauranga on the Waterfront
- Matua Lodge
- The Clarence Hotel
- The French Country Lodge
Find out more about our top recommendations in the 5 Best Romantic Accommodation in Tauranga.
More About Tauranga
- 10 Tauranga Must-Dos
- 10 Best Hotels in Tauranga
- The 3 Motu Trails: Bike Trails in Eastland & Bay of Plenty
- The Complete Travel Guide to Tauranga
That’s it for our honeymoon guide to Tauranga. You can find even more honeymoon tips in The Honeymoon Guide to 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.