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Visit the Bay of Plenty
CREATIVE KATIKATI
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Known as New Zealand’s mural town, Katikati has around 60 pieces of art depicting the people and events that have shaped the place. Take a guided mural tour at the weekend, snap a selfie with ‘Barry’, a typical Kiwi bloke reading his newspaper and marvel at the other sculptures. The Haiku Pathway, the only one outside of Japan, winds past Uretara Stream and features more than 40 haiku poems carved into river boulders. There are lots of unique attractions here. Soak in a thermal pool at Sapphire Springs while listening to tūī sing, stroll around the Katikati Bird Gardens and admire the camellias and magnolias.
Check out the Western Bay Museum for local history. Visit in summer for the popular Twilight Concerts; spread out a rug, unpack your picnic and relax for some great Saturday night entertainment. Katikati’s prosperity owes much to horticulture. Avocados, kiwifruit, nashi pears, citrus fruit, flowers and vegetables are all grown here, and you can meet the locals and stock up on provisions at the local market every Friday from 4-6pm at the A&P Showgrounds. Don’t forget to visit The Wine Portfolio Cellar Door to taste the finest selection of wines, or drive the Katikati Cuisine Trail to meet 10 local artisans and try their fare. Pop into the Katikati Information Centre on Main Road for more details.
Sculpture, Katikati
Tourism Bay of Plenty
TAP INTO TAURANGA
When in Tauranga, stroll along the attractive waterfront and linger in the shops, grab fish and chips from Bobby’s Fresh Fish Market and, if you’re visiting on a Saturday, peruse the weekly farmers’ market.
Visit Tauranga’s Historic Village, a charming row of character buildings where New Orleans seems to have met Kiwiana. Lovers of great coffee and bespoke artwork will love this street, while those with a penchant for all things home-made (or homegrown) won’t be able to resist the Historic Village Market. Held every first and third Sunday of the month. The Strand reserve runs the length of the waterfront and features nine Hairy Maclary bronze sculptures, tidal stairs, a pier for ‘bombing’ and a pontoon. If you’re an art-lover, visit Tauranga Art Gallery and ask staff for a map detailing a walk which passes the town’s street art and public installations. Don’t forget to take part in Tauranga’s citywide game – Tauranga Rocks. The concept is simple: hundreds of small painted pebbles have been stashed in parks, gardens and public spaces. If you find one, hide it again for someone else to uncover.
LIFE'S A BEACH AT MT MAUNGANUI
IMMEDIATELY GET TO GRIPS WITH THE LOCAL LINGO BY REFERRING TO MT MAUNGANUI AS ‘THE MOUNT’ AND THEN JUST AS QUICKLY ADOPT THEIR LAID-BACK LIFESTYLE.
Sitting on a peninsula, the town’s surf-centric Main Beach ranks among the top 25 best beaches in the world, while Pilot Bay occupies the other side with a beautiful band of shoreline that is ideal for swimming.
While the beaches are startling, it’s Mt Maunganui that instantly draws the eye. A commanding presence at one end of Main Beach, it’s also known by its Māori name of Mauao. Warn your legs that there’s a thighburning set of steps to the top, or opt for a flatter, 45-minute walk around the foot of the Mount. Both walks present eye-punching ocean views and once complete, there are geothermal salt-water hot pools at the base. Watersports are de rigueur here. Charter a boat, water-ski, try parasailing and stand-up paddleboarding, or rent a kayak straight off the beach. For an experience to brag about, visit the Classic Flyers Aviation Museum and enjoy a flight in a World War II biplane.
Mt Maunganui Beach
Tourism Bay of Plenty
UNWIND IN PAPAMOA
Just a 15-minute drive from its big sister Mt Maunganui, Pāpāmoa offers a totally different holiday experience. There are no crowds, and the nightlife is subdued. Enjoy the tranquillity and the sound of the waves tumbling gently on the warm golden sands. Parents will love the laid-back atmosphere and there’s plenty to keep the kids happy. If you need an adrenalin rush, try blokarting on a three-wheel landsailer. There’s also an excellent range of restaurants and cafés, and if you’re after a spot of retail therapy then Pāpāmoa Plaza, Fashion Island and local markets are sure to satisfy. While entire days can be enjoyed on Pāpāmoa’s beach, there are plentiful active options. The Pāpāmoa Hills Regional Park/Te Rae o Pāpāmoa overlooks the beach and boasts views from Mt Maunganui to Whakatāne. There’s a network of walking and running tracks to explore here, which are open daily from 6.30am to 7pm in winter and until 9pm in the summer.
Pāpāmoa Beach
Tourism Bay of Plenty
AN ENORMOUS MODEL KIWIFRUIT STANDS ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF TE PUKE, HINTING (ALBEIT NOT SUBTLY) AT THE TOWN’S GREATEST EXPORT. YES, THIS IS THE KIWIFRUIT CAPITAL OF NEW ZEALAND.
TASTY TE PUKE & MATATA!
Te Puke is also home to over 1000 avocado orchards and various bee farms. At the Comvita Visitor Centre, one of the country’s leading honey producers, there’s a virtual beehive, honey tour and shop. For family fun, the Looking Glass Garden is where fairy tales and nursery rhymes come to life. Scattered with sculptures, miniature houses and secret hiding places, it’s really special. Thirty minutes further down the coast, Matata boasts some of the best surfcasting in the country, and its nature-made merits are extensive. The Matata Wildlife Refuge Reserve has walkways and picnic tables and 5km along the shoreline there’s a stellar birdwatching shelter.
Kiwifruit tour, Te Puke
Tourism Bay of Plenty
ŌHOPE BEACH
Known as the seaside playground of the Eastern Bay of Plenty, Ōhope Beach is 11km of unspoilt sand perfect for swimming and surfing and, unsurprisingly it’s held the title of the nation’s best beach.
Explore Ōhiwa Harbour, separated from Ōhope by a giant sandspit, and look out for the godwits migrating from Alaska.
Other activities on this prime piece of coastal land include golf at Ōhope’s 18-hole international course and hopping on board a fishing charter boat to check out the abundant marine life.
From Ōhope, pack a picnic and your togs and climb over to the secluded Otarawairere Bay, a beautiful beach that can only be reached by a 15-minute walk or a gentle 10-minute kayak.
`Ōhope Beach
Tourism Bay of Plenty
EVENTS IN THE BAY OF PLENTY
• If you love to tap your toes, the annual Tauranga National Jazz Festival is held every Easter weekend.
• Meat-free food, ethical products and sustainability come together every October at the Vegan Vibes festival in Mt Maunganui.
• With the reputation as ‘the summer music festival you just can’t miss’, Mt Maunganui’s Bay Dreams attracts a whole host of international acts.
• Stunning gardens meet floral trails at the annual Bay of Plenty Garden and Art Festival, usually held in November at over 70 gardens in the region.
• Tauranga Arts Festival delivers a world-class programme of leading artists and performers every October.
• The iconic Mt Festival of Multisport has been part of the Mt Maunganui summer lineup since 1990, making it one of New Zealand’s longest running triathlons.
© Tourism Bay of Plenty
ABOVE MAIN IMAGE: Dolphins, © Tourism Bay of Plenty
