Tauranga
- Whakatane
112 km (70 miles)
Approximately 1.5 hours
Road Conditions: State Highway
The prosperous city of Tauranga sprawls along the edge of an attractive harbour. There’s a well developed café culture and boat charters are available to take you big game fishing, snorkelling or dolphin watching. Nearby Mt Maunganui is a destination for surfing and beach walking.
It’s an easy drive to Te Puke, a town that has turned its kiwifruit industry into visitor entertainment. As you drive eastward, fabulous views of the surf coast are with you nearly all the way. At Matata you can choose to take the main highway through the town of Edgecumbe, famous for its 1987 earthquake, or you can follow the scenic coastal route via Thornton and Paroa.
Whakatane is one of the sunniest towns in New Zealand. Just offshore is White Island, a spectacular active volcano that can be visited by launch or helicopter. Other Whakatane attractions include the museum, an observatory and Maori historical sites. In summer, dolphin swimming is the thing to do.
Scenic Highlights
Te Puna Quarry Park
A dedicated band of volunteers have created a botanical beauty spot on the site of an old quarry.
The Elms Mission House
If you're in Tauranga on a Sunday or public holiday, you can walk through the historic Elms Mission House.
Kaiate Falls
Walk through the forest to Kaiate Falls, where water tumbles down a ravine in a series of cascades.
Tuhua (Mayor Island)
Mayor Island is the summit of a volcano rising from the sea floor. It's both a wildlife and marine reserve.
Motiti Island
Motiti Island is a place to get away from it all. Catch some fish, dive the wreck or just flop on a beach.
Ohope Beach and Ohiwa Harbour
Luxuriate in the sun, sea and sand on beautiful Ohope Beach or paddle a kayak around the bird nesting sites of Ohiwa Harbour.
Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park
The Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park is a living museum of botanical history with 300 kilometres of tracks to explore.
Activities
Bay of Plenty
Horse Treks (3),
Surfing (2),
Theme/Leisure Park (1)
Tour and Sightseeing
Bay of Plenty
Horse Treks (1)
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