I lived in this area for more than five months so I thought I’d share with you what you can discover and experience in the Bay of Plenty region.
Mount Maunganui
Mount Maunganui is a beautiful little town near Tauranga with many shops and great cafés in the centre. At the beach you can take surf lessons or rent a surfboard. In any case you should walk the Mount Maunganui Track. It takes about 40 minutes to walk steadily uphill until you reach the top and enjoy a great view of the sea and the city.
Papamoa Beach & Hill
I lived on a camping site in Papamoa for the whole duration of my work. The village is nice and quiet and the Papamoa Beach Domain is a beautiful beach that is not as crowded as the one in Mount Maunganui. You can also take surf lessons there or rent surfboards. I especially enjoyed sitting on the beach at sunset and listening to the waves.
Just outside Papamoa is the Papamoa Hill Reserve. A 45 minute walk leads to the top of the mountain where you have a great view over Papamoa, Mt Maunganui, Tauranga and Te Puke.
Hobbiton
For every fan of Lord of the Rings it is an absolute must to visit the film set in Matamata. It's not the cheapest, but for the tour through Middle-earth it's definitely worth it in my opinion.
Blue Springs
This place is definitely one of my favourite places on the North Island of New Zealand. The water is simply indescribable blue and crystal clear. You can either take a long hike or just stroll along the water until you want to get back to the car.
Rotorua
Redwoods - Whakarewarewa Forest
The Redwoods & Whakarewarewa Forest is one of the city's most spectacular natural treasures. The forest is known for its network of magnificent mountain bike and hiking trails. Especially the Redwoods Tree Walk attracts hundreds of tourists.
Te Puia
In Te Puia are the famous Pōhutu geyser, mud pools, hot springs and silica formations. You will also find the local kiwi bird and lots of information about the Maori culture.
McLaren Falls Park
McLaren Falls Park is a 190 hectare park at Lake McLaren with many different walking trails. A highlight is the short and easy Waterfall Track where you can see fireflies after dark.
Lake Tarawera
The walk from the waterfall to the lake leads along the Tarawera River through private forest. Therefore you have to pay a small fee before you go there. You can do this easily at the Kawerau i-Site or online. In total you should plan at least 3 hours for the hike.
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xx
Nina