Tauranga
Tauranga City is located in the sunny Bay of Plenty on the North Island's east coast 3 hours from Auckland and 1 hour 30 minutes from Hamilton. The climate is warm and the sheltered waters of Tauranga harbour are perfect for outdoor activities. There are many orchards in the area offering all kinds of fresh fruit from small roadside stalls to large fruit barns. The City itself is vibrant and busy with a large business heart. The older part of Tauranga is down on the harbour front and has become the food and wine centre known as The Strand. This section is full of historical buildings which have been renovated into funky cafes and restaurants. There are also several old hotels along the trail. Dolphin watching out in the ocean off the coast is a rewarding experience. Many of the dolphin watching tours offer you the opportunity to swim with them. Fishing charters depart from Tauranga harbour which has two huge marinas. Sports and Game fishing charter boats target local fish species including snapper, hapuka, tarakihi and marlin. Mayor Island is an extinct volcano now designated a wildlife refuge and marine reserve. A trip out to here takes about 3 hours and once there you will find plenty to do. The swimming and snorkelling is good and there are some great walks among a healthy population of native birdlife. Tauranga’s surrounding countryside provides the perfect stage for action activities such as white water rafting, jet boating and mountain biking. There are some beautiful rivers in the district with lovely picnic spots. Mills Reef Winery is the perfect stop off for a long liquid lunch.
Mount Maunganui is a 15 minute drive away across the bridge and has one of the most beautiful stretches of beach in New Zealand. Holiday makers flock to the mount on mass over summer for surfing, swimming and fun in the sun. The beautiful walk around the Mount is well worth wile, as is a soak in the hot pools which are nestled at the bottom of the 232metre volcanic plug. Tauranga and Mount Maunganui have a great choice of accommodation from hotels and motels to self contained apartments and holiday homes. The township of Mount Maunganui is one long street of arts and crafts, boutiques, cool bars and eateries in a typical beachside atmosphere. It has beaches on both sides. Pilot bay in Tauranga Harbour is a safe, calm swimming beach, while the rolling surf and pure white sands of the main beach go all the way down to Papamoa. Here you can try your hand at land sailing, clay bird shooting and combat laser tag. Visit Te Puke, the kiwifruit capital of the world a 30 minute drive away. Tauranga has a lively entertainment scene and plays host to many festivals and annual events.