In this page, you will find informations and advices we can give, based on our experience
Tauranga - North Island
Tauranga is located on the northeast coast. The main attraction of this part of the island is its volcano: Mont Mauganui. As the area is also renowned for its beautiful beaches, we advise you to avoid weekends and public holidays.
Further south lies Te Puke, the kiwi capital of the world. We expected to find kiwi stores everywhere, but we didn't find any! We did, however, see a lot of plantations.
There are only three toll roads in New Zealand, but two are in Tauranga: the Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road and the Takitimu Drive Toll Road. Pay close attention to the signs in this area, as you only have 5 days to pay online (https://tollingonline.nzta.govt.nz/). They're really not expensive, costing just over NZ$2.
Mount Mauganui
Loop of 4km - 1h00 - Elevation gain 230m
1h30
Free
Several hikes are possible, the most interesting of which leads to the summit of Mont Mauganui. The view over the bay is nice. But it's best to avoid being there at midday, especially as there isn't much shade on the paths.
For photos, late afternoon is best, as in the morning, the view of the town is against the light.
Kaiate Falls
600m one way - 10min - Elevation gain 200m
1 hour
Free
Easy to get to, you really need to get down to the waterfall and not stop at the first little falls you come across. Kaiate is lovely in its green setting.
Access: approx. 20 km south of Tauranga.
Te Puke
No hike
15 minutes
Free
Lodging
We have tested :
Copyright Magali and David BELLEC