Living life at the edge of the sea
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| Here's what you'll see when you arrive at White Island by helicopter - an altogether awesome view. |
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The popularity of the Bay of Plenty region continues to soar as more people discover the region's irresistible mix of coastal lifestyle, adventure activities and great dining experiences.
Spectacular beaches attract surfers year round, with Mount Maunganui providing a focus for wave culture. For diving and angling enthusiasts, there are offshore islands, reefs and fishing grounds to visit.
In terms of adventure, local specialities include tours of the marine volcano White Island, blokarting (land sailing), sky diving and dolphin encounters. Or if you're looking for pampering and relaxation, hot pools and spas can be found in many locations.
The name Bay of Plenty pays tribute to the region's ability to produce great food. Around the city of Tauranga are swathes of orchards and gardens growing everything from kiwifruit and citrus fruit to avocados and culinary herbs. Add to this a thriving local wine industry and plentiful fresh seafood and you'll see why the region's restaurant culture is so well developed.
Key Features
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Mauao (Mount Maunganui)
Guarding the entrance to Tauranga Harbour, Mauao was the landing place of the Takitimu waka. Takitimu was one of the ocean-going migration canoes that made the trip from Hawaiki to New Zealand in about 1290 AD. | |
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Beach life
The stylish surf town of Mount Maunganui buzzes with adventure and activity. There’s everything from surf lifesaving and beach volleyball to kite surfing, parasailing, jet skiing and surfing competitions. | |
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White Island
Walking on an active volcano is a once in a lifetime opportunity. White Island hisses, fumes, belches and rumbles with geothermal action. It's accessible by launch and helicopter from Whakatane. |
Key Tips
- The Bay of Plenty is just a few hours’ drive from Auckland on the Pacific Coast Highway and only an hour from Rotorua and the Coromandel.
- Tauranga airport is located over the harbour bridge in Mount Maunganui, only five kilometres from the city centre.
- More than 80% of New Zealand’s kiwifruit is grown in Te Puke - the kiwifruit capital of the world.
- Running along the Tauranga waterfront, The Strand is the place to find a great bar or restaurant.
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MEMORY:
Submitted by Ellie from United Kingdom
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i luv new zealand!!! new zealand is honestly on of the nicest places i've ever been to & i've only seen half the north island!?!
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www.newzealand.com Pages
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Bay of Plenty Gourmet Tour
Take a virtual tour of the wine, food and garden experiences on offer.
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Backpacking
New Zealand is ideal for travelling in the backpacking style. And more and more people are now choosing this kind of holiday.
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Winter in Bay of Plenty
You won't need to pile on the layers in the coastal Bay of Plenty during winter. Our mild days are still ideal for fishing adventures or outdoor walks during your days and soothing hot pools and local cuisine and wine in the evenings.
BAY OF PLENTY
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Population: 178,000
Area: 12,247km2
Seasonal Tips
DURING YOUR VISIT
Winter's a time for bush walks, horse trekking, sailing and fishing. You'll still see kite-surfers on the harbour and wave surfers at the beach, in spite of the cooler temperatures.
For a food and wine adventure, visit the Bay of Plenty's two award wining wineries - Morton Estate and Mills Reef. Then wrap up the day with a therapeutic soak at the Mount Maunganui Hot Pools. The salt water pools are naturally heated to 39°C from a geothermal spring.
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| SURFING THE MENU |
Join two surfed crazed chefs as they travel around New Zealand filming their TV show 'Surfing the Menu'. Find out how you can go to the same places, do the same activities and have the same experiences as them.
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