Tauranga Activities and Attractions
The City of Tauranga is blessed with a temperate climate and sheltered harbour providing a sunny aquatic playground for many outdoor attractions and activities. There are two large marinas in Tauranga harbour which are home to over 1,000 boats of all shapes and sizes. From here you can go deep sea fishing, swim with the dolphins or dive the marine reserves, wrecks and reefs that surround the Bay of Plenty region. The seaside town of Mount Maunganui is a short 10minute drive across the bridge and is considered to be the summer holiday capital of the Bay of Plenty. Scenic coastal walks, long white sandy beaches, rolling surf and boutique shopping all add up to providing a laid back beach break. There are 3 natural hot pool complexes in the area with two in Tauranga and one at Mount Maunganui. The most popular walking track is the 3.4km track around the base of Mount Maunganui. The scenery is stunning and the track is visited by an average of a massive 700,000 people each year.
Tauranga harbour is popular for activities such as kayaking, sailing, jet skiing and windsurfing and there are many anchorages and pretty beaches to explore throughout the protected waters. Downtown Tauranga is a vibrant shopping and dining precinct with the historical waterfront redevelopment known as The Strand providing wall to wall bars and character filled restaurants. Many still retain the historical influences in the buildings they occupy. Tauranga has a lively nightlife scene and holds regular events and performances throughout its yearly entertainment calendar. The choice of accommodation in the city is very good ranging from country bed and breakfasts through to luxury hotels, apartments and holiday homes. Holiday parks provide scenic camping areas with good amenities if you are travelling New Zealand by motorhome.
Many Tauranga tours are personalised for smaller groups providing informative and rewarding experiences. Take a tour to see a working kiwifruit orchard, a cultural performance or visit one of the many award winning wineries. One of the Bay of Plenty’s main attractions, the live volcano of White Island is easily accessible from Whakatane, just a short drive away from Tauranga. Popular adventure activities from Tauranga include horse trekking, white water rafting, blo karting, surfing and jet boating. Tauranga is the second biggest port in New Zealand and cruise ships regularly dock here through the summer months. For more information about Tauranga attractions and activities contact our travel agents today.
