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Things to do in Bay of Plenty start on the water and in the air. Cruise Tauranga Harbour looking for penguins and dolphins, fly over Mount Maunganui, jump from 15,000ft or paddle under glowworms at Lake McLaren. Book one for yourself, or give it as a gift.
The Bay of Plenty is a long stretch of coast with a sunny climate, so most of what there is to do is outdoors. Tauranga and Mount Maunganui are the base for harbour cruises, skydives and scenic flights, and the lakes inland have glowworm kayaking and the Kaituna River. Here are the best things to do in Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty.
The Tauranga scenic harbour cruise is 90 minutes among the islands, with blue penguins, seabirds and fur seals to look for. A hop off option at Matakana Island lets you swim and picnic, and children under five travel free with a paying adult. For open water, the Bay of Plenty dolphin and wildlife cruise is a half day, five hours, looking for dolphins, seals, sunfish and whales, with commentary and a licensed bar. Sightings aren't guaranteed. See cruises and dolphin and whale experiences.
From the airport, the 30 minute Mount Maunganui scenic flight flies over the coast, beaches and islands with a pilot who tells local stories. The 90 minute Coromandel and Cathedral Cove flight follows the coast to Cathedral Cove, and the two hour Mount Ruapehu volcanic flight climbs to 10,000ft, passes the Tongariro Crossing and the peak used as Mount Doom in The Lord of the Rings, and returns over the Rotorua Lakes and Lake Taupō.
To jump instead, the tandem skydive over Tauranga from 15,000ft has panoramic views of Mount Maunganui and takes about 1.5 hours. Advance bookings are required for the skydive. See skydiving and scenic flights.
For something different, the 25 minute V8 trike beach cruise takes up to four people around Mount Maunganui and its beach, which the operator calls New Zealand's best. The 60 minute city and scenic cruise adds downtown Tauranga and plenty of photo stops. Booster seats are provided, and the beach cruise is open to ages two and up, while the longer tour is for ages seven and up. See driving experiences.
On Lake McLaren, the evening glowworm kayak tour paddles into a glowworm canyon, and the scenic guided kayak tour is a gentle three hour paddle past cliffs and native bush. A moderate level of fitness is needed for both. Further inland, the Rotorua glowworm kayak tour goes out at sunset on Lake Okareka, with a hidden glowworm cave and stargazing on the way back, from age four. See kayaking and canoeing.
At Okere Falls, the grade 5 Kaituna River rafting trip takes on three waterfalls, including the seven metre Tutea Falls, with an hour on the river. The minimum age is 13. The Kaituna River zipline is two hours, with four ziplines including a dual line and a swing bridge, open to ages five and up. See white water rafting and ziplining in Rotorua.
Whakatāne and the Eastern Bay of Plenty have more to explore, as do neighbouring Rotorua, Coromandel, Hamilton and the Waikato and Taupō. Browse geothermal and volcanic experiences, the Central North Island, Auckland, the North Island and things to do in New Zealand. Buying a gift? Try gifts for families, gifts for couples, experiences for 2, gift ideas for groups and birthday gifts.
Yes, on the Bay of Plenty dolphin and wildlife cruise, which looks for dolphins, seals, sunfish and whales. Sightings are never guaranteed because the animals are wild, and the Tauranga harbour cruise is more likely to find blue penguins and fur seals.
Yes. The tandem skydive over Tauranga is from 15,000ft with views of Mount Maunganui, and it takes about 1.5 hours. Advance bookings are required, and skydiving isn't permitted for anyone under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
The V8 trike beach cruise takes ages two and up, the Kaituna zipline is from age five and the Rotorua glowworm kayak tour is from age four. Check each product page for age and fitness requirements.