Notes

Fun Items to Do in Tauranga
Home to New Zealand's top-rated beach, kiwifruit farms, glow worms, street art, and much more, the region is aptly named the Bay of Plenty. Whether you are seeking to relax and for some excitement, you will discover plenty of fun things to complete in Tauranga (the largest city), Mount Maunganui (coastal beach town), and the surrounding region.

It is just a local's playground, a weekend getaway for other New Zealanders, a vital cruise port, and a haven for international visitors.

Unlike cruise visitors, we had several days to explore. While our personal goal was a little bit of relaxation, we couldn't resist many unique and fun things to do in Tauranga and the surrounding area.


Things to do in Mount Maunganui
With so many Things to do in Tauranga and in Mount Maunganui, we opted to begin with the icon – the extinct volcano rising up from sea level, that is both a sacred mountain to the Māori people and the entrance to Tauranga Harbour.

Hike up Mount Maunganui or walk around the bottom
The extinct volcano's Māori name is Mauao, which means “caught by the dawn.” Rising 230 metres above sea level, Mount Maunganui's coastal views from the summit track are unforgettable.

Due to a random turn of events, we didn't ensure it is to the top and had to reverse about midway up. To that point, the walk was steadily uphill but not too steep. It's a popular walk that's now labelled “the best” by one of many Game of Thrones stars.

If climbing Mount Maunganui isn't your thing, another popular track may be the 3.4-kilometre path round the volcano's base.


Start to see the blowhole on Leisure Island
Moturiki (Leisure Island) is really a tiny island accessible with a manmade land bridge from Mount Maunganui Beach. You will see the island in the photos above. The blowhole shoots seawater up at high tide on days with wild surf.

We visited on a calm day, so despite the appropriate timing, there is no splash. However, the island has a wonderful nature walk, offering lots of rock pools and endless views.

Fun things to complete in Tauranga
Tauranga is the biggest city in the Bay of Plenty. Tauranga harbour welcomes nearly a quarter-million cruise ship visitors annually, and the port of Tauranga has become the greatest cruise port destination in New Zealand, and consistently voted the favourite.

Website: https://www.merchantcircle.com/blogs/software-anchorage/2022/6/What-To-Do-In-Tauranga-When-Youre-Bored-In-New-Zealand/2245179