Leisure Island has fantastic scenery

Leisure Island, also known as Moturiki, is a popular island located off Mount Maunganui Main Beach. This is a walk that is enjoyed by locals and holiday goers for its beautiful scenery, alternative views and much more.

Early Maori settlers lived throughout New Zealand and one of these places they settled was on Moturiki Island, building a terraced pa.

In 1911, the Crown acquired the land and began a quarry to use the granite for building railway lines throughout the Bay of Plenty. The quarry lasted 12 years and created two major attractions, the Moturiki Blowhole and the Mount Maunganui Nature Reserve.

The island was once home to a Marineland Park aquarium. From 1966 to 1981, Leisure Island was a popular destination with swimming pools, bumper boats, a water slide, and a marine mammal attraction.

Sadly, the island closed in 1990, but the former marine mammal attractions remain. In 2011, the islands were filled in and trees were planted. The former water fun park now serves as a beautiful walking track with a rocky landscape and fantastic scenery.

If you’re in Mount Maunganui and are looking for a short, exciting walk somewhere unique… Leisure Island may be just the walk you are looking for.

Accessed from a man-made land bridge, off Mount Maunganui’s Main Beach, Moturiki island is well known for its blow hole on the far end of the island. The views are sought after both as a scenic walk and for photographers. The views you will get to enjoy overlook the Pacific Ocean, Mauao, Mount Maunganui Beach and back along the coast toward Papamoa.

This short walk from Mount Main, taking 10-20 minutes to reach the blowhole, is widely used by people all over. Sim-

■ ply follow the well-marked track, on which is easily walked. At the end of the track, you will find yourself reaching a whole bunch of rocks protruding out from the ground. If you wish, you can scramble over them to enjoy one of the better vantage points.

You will also see people fishing from the rocks from time to time when the Tauranga tides are right.

The rocks that currently surround Moturiki Island have come to exist as a result of the quarry and the constant weathering creating lots of odd shapes and sizes. You will find among all the rocks many rock pools. These pools consist of barnacles, limpets, seashell creatures and more that thrive in the rock pools.

As you have read, Leisure Island is a wonderful place to visit while exploring ‘The Mount’. Take the kids along for a walk, as there is lots of fun to have. Splash about and enjoy the warm rock pools during the summer, but most of all, enjoy the adventure!

Fact file

Location: Off Mount Maunganui Beach – Marine Parade, Moturiki Island, Tauranga, Bay of Plenty

Length of walk: Roughly 500m from the beach

Time Required: From Mt Maunganui beach to the end of Moturiki Island is about a 15 minute walk

Difficulty: Easy

Wheelchair Access: No Toilets: No

Will you get wet: No, unless you choose to splash around in a rock pool

Dogs Allowed: No Cellphone Reception: Yes

Track Quality: Nice, clean, clear tracks

30th ANNUAL

18 - 19 MARCH 2023