Tauranga is a coastal metropolitan city in the Bay of Plenty region and the fifth most populous city in New Zealand, with around 3% of the national denizens. It was inhabited by Maori late in the 13th century, colonized by Europeans in the early 19th century, and was constituted as a city in 1963.

The city lies in the north-western corner of the Bay of Plenty, on the south-eastern periphery of Tauranga Harbour and prolongs over an area of 141.91 square kilometers and encompasses the communities of Bethlehem, Greerton, Matua, Otumoetai, Papamoa.

Let’s drill down a little more into it, Tauranga is one of New Zealand’s main centers for business, international commerce, culture, fashion, and horticultural science. The Port of Tauranga is New Zealand’s largest port in terms of gross export cargo and efficiency. Tauranga is one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing metropolia and due to its rapid population growth, Tauranga has evolved to be New Zealand’s fifth-largest city, surpassing Dunedin and the Napier-Hastings urban areas.

Here are a few places and pieces of attraction to visit in Tauranga.

1. Mount Maunganui

The iconic Mt. Maunganui with an altitude of 232 meters above sea level is located 5kms away from the city center. It is a 10 mins ride from Tauranga and is a tourist appeal famous for its sandy beaches, high ocean waves for surfing, and Pilot Bay’s relaxing water. Initially, it was an independent township until Tauranga Bridge has communed to the economic epicenter.

Mt. Maunganui’s central beach has been crowned as the “Best Beach in New Zealand” and stands among the 25 best beaches in the world.

The Gourmet Night Market has a great preference for food and big game fishing, dolphin tours, and drive expeditions are easy to organize in the outdoors which will keep you gripped without getting bored.

Highlights

• Superb surfing and sunbathing
• Hike to the summit of Mauao
• Hot saltwater pools

2.McLaren Falls

McLaren falls is located 17kms away from the city center which flares over an area of 190 hectares and is the motherland of one of the finest botanical arrays of trees in New Zealand. It is a favored tourist attraction that is a go-to for several outdoor recreational activities like Kayaking, disc golfing, fishing, camping, picnics, bush walks, and summer lawn concerts. The portion of the waterfall is also wheelchair and mobility-scooter-friendly.

Due to sheep throughout the park, dogs are not permitted.

Highlights

• Waterfall track
• Golf course
• Trout fishing

Highlights

• High-quality exhibitions

4. Scenic helicopter rides 

Adventure Helicopters are Tauranga and Mount Maunganui’s aerial fun in the Bay specialists.

They are established centrally at Tauranga Airport, only a quick flight away from numerous major attractions, sandy beaches, and Auckland as an inbound terminus.

Adventure Helicopters flatters itself on retaining the most impeccably-maintained, efficient, and safest fleet in the Bay of Plenty.

Highlights

• Weddings
• Private Charter
• Corporate Flights
• Survey
• Lifting
• Commercial Operations

5. Skydive in North Island

Enjoy dazzling views of The Mount, extending all the way from White Island to the Coromandel and Mount Ruapehu. It will be an exhilarating experience to skydive in the North Islands of Tauranga.

Higher up, you’ll be able to see White Island, Mount Ruapehu, the Rotorua Lakes, The Coromandel, and Mount Taranaki. Aviation will endure15-20 minutes, so there is an abundance of time to abide it all in.

Once at 15,000 feet in the sky, jump out of the plane on a tandem skydive, falling to the earth at over 200km/hour. After the adrenaline of the freefall, enjoy a placid parachute ride back to the base.

6. Tauranga’s craft beer

New Zealand is known for its fondness for beer and the craft beer scene is detonating.

Tauranga has its equitable share of micro-craft breweries creased away, some in places you’d never expect.

The top-rated Craft Breweries in Tauranga are:

• Slab Brewing – beers without synthetic herbs and preservatives
• Mount Brewing Co. Brewery – roused by New Zealand’s geography
• Fitzpatrick’s Brewing Co Ltd – acknowledged and driven by a brew specialist
• Super Liquor Greerton – with extensive craft beer collections
• Lumberjack Brewing – a treasured craft brewery in the BOP region

7. Explore Moutohora (Whale Island) 

Moutohora Island is a small uninhabited isle located off the Bay of Plenty coast of New Zealand’s North Island, roughly 9 kilometers north of the town of Whakatane, and is strewed over an area of 354 acres.

Moutohora or Whale Island is a Wildlife Management Reserve and is a pest-free oasis home to 190 native and 110 introduced plant species and provides shelter to many endangered birds and reptiles. Today, Whale island is recognized as an eminent fishing and diving destination with regional tourist operators who are also capable to take visitors on sightseeing expeditions.

8. Kayak with the glowworms 

Magical, enchanting, surreal, and amazing. If any of the above words express the stir you are looking for, the Glow-worm Kayak Tour is for you.

Glow Worm Kayak tours vacate from Waimarino, Tauranga. An amusing array of refreshments are proffered at the time of sunset just before departure onto the lake. The twilight has descended and the glow worms shine illuminate in the moonlit sky.

You can paddle a sea kayak in many places around the world, this is the only place where the two combine for a magical evening. The tour is great fun with lavish refreshments, captivating scenery, fantastic birdlife, and dandy glowworms.

Paddle to the mystifying glow worm canyon, our tour departs once a day before sunset. Upon arrival, the gorge is entirely dark, as needed to see the glow worms to the best effect.

9. Harbour Cruise 

Harbour scenic cruise of Tauranga Harbour in the Bay of Plenty, is a cool hop-off-and-on option at Matakana Island. Cruise exceeding the white sands and headland of Mt Maunganui, unfailingly voted New Zealand’s best beach, past coastal forest, small village settlements, and islands. Tauranga Harbour is vast and flashy, with an ever-changing topography and an enormous working port. Spot penguins, small NZ fur seals, white-fronted terns, oystercatchers, red-billed gulls, and other sea birds, and esteem the Statue of Tangaroa, the Maori God of the Sea perched along the harbor foreshore. This barrier island is the ideal locale to spend a couple of hours sunning, swimming, and exploring the 20-kilometer stretch of sandy beach before catching an afternoon cruise back to shore.

Highlights

• Stunning scenery cruising Tauranga Harbour
• Spot blue penguins, seabirds, and pretty NZ fur seals
• Hop-off option to swim at Matakana Island.

 10.Moturiki (Leisure) Islands

This small island sits just off Mount Maunganui’s Main Beach. This iconic juncture is actually linked to Mt. Maunganui’s Main Beach by a man-made land bridge and has had a prolonged and colorful history.

This is a walk that is relished by locals and holiday goers for its beautiful scenery.

Highlights

• The scenery from Moturiki Island is stunning.