8 TOP MUST-DO'S IN COASTAL BAY OF PLENTY

Feel your shoulders relax as soon as you arrive in the Bay of Plenty. Hit by golden beach views, the relentless idea, smell or suggestion of a barbecue, and a series of holiday resorts that ooze with laid-back joviality, it’s a carefree kind of place that instantly soothes.

© AA Traveller 2021

1. Katikati Murals

Open-air Art Murals are a real feature of Katikati. Pull up a map from katikatiopenairart.co.nz and take a self-guided art walk.

‘Barry’, statue in Katikati © Bay of Plenty Tourism

2. McLaren Falls Park, Tauranga

Take your pick of activities found within the 190ha of parkland surrounding Lake McLaren, including many bush walks including a little beauty to a waterfall flanked by glowworms. Waterfall Track takes just 20 minutes and is largely wheelchair accessible.

3. The Historic Village, Tauranga

A charming row of character buildings, fans of great coffee and bespoke artwork will love this street. The Zee Markets are also held here every first and third Sunday of the month from 10am to 2pm and every Friday from 4-8pm.

4. Mt Maunganui

Climb the Mauao which will take you about 40 minutes of sweat-inducing puff, but the views are phenomenal. No less breath-taking is the largely flat walk around its sea-fronting base. You can also check out the Main Beach that has a lively resort vibe with access to shops and cafés all but a two-minute walk away. Lifeguards patrol the surf beach in summer.

Mt Maunganui Beach © Bay of Plenty Tourism

5. Pāpāmoa Beach

Papamoa Beach © Top 10

The Pāpāmoa suburb, south of the Mount, has 16km of pristine beaches. When the sun’s out, there’s no better place to flop and drop.

6. Kiwifruit

Kiwifruit orchard, Te Puke © Bay of Plenty Tourism

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.

7. Mataatua: The House That Came Home

This fully carved Māori ancestral house traversed the globe for 130 years before returning to Aotearoa. One of the tour highlights is the award-winning show, Hiko: Legends Carved in Light, whereby carvings are brought to life via digital illumination.

8. Moutohora Island Tour

Between July and November, a three-hour evening tour frequents Moutohora Island once a week, to witness the return of approximately 168,000 grey-faced petrels.

Moutohora Island/Whale Island © Whakatāne District Council

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