Mt Maunganui - North Island, New Zealand

Mt Maunganui is a terrific beach resort in the close vicinity of Tauranga and is at the foot of the dormant volcanic cone that also goes by the name of Maunganui. Mt Maunganui is a commercial holiday hub in comparison to neighbouring Tauranga. It is crowded in the summer period from December to Easter with locals thronging the beach.

The Mt Maunganui Visitor Centre is on Salisbury Ave. There are local buses running half hourly to and fro from Tauranga to Mt Maunganui. There is a ferry service that operates nine times a day from Coronation Wharf on the Strand in Tauranga to the Salisbury Wharf in Mt Maunganui.

Mt Maunganui Accommodation

The surf of Mt Maunganui is a prime attraction for visitors to base their accommodation close to the beach. Mt Maunganui has a great club and bar scene to boot. Most of the Mt Maunganui accommodation is geared towards the surf and the sand. There are decent accommodation choices in the form of motels and a couple of backpacker hostels.

Mt Maunganui runs from the northern tip where the Mount rises above the beach and stretches 20 kms east to Papamoa. There are lots of beachside condominiums and apartments in the fashionable northern part. In the New Year period, the Mount is a party zone. The beach is great for swimming and surfing and lots of the restaurants and bars are set right on the beachfront..

Mt Maunganui Activities

At the junction of Marine Parade and Tay St, the New Zealand Surf School offers two hour surfing lessons. They also rent boards and wetsuits. There are sea kayaking operators and this includes night trips.

Another of the Mount's star attractions is the mountain itself with superb walking tracks around the base offering fantastic views of the harbour and sea. The base track joins the path to the summit.

It can be a tough hike towards the upper reaches but is worth the slog as you are treated to fabulous views of Matakana Island and the coast. Both the tracks start at the northern end of the beach near the outdoor Hot Saltwater Pools on Adams Avenue.

Mt Maunganui does not have the wide ranging culinary selection that Tauranga offers. But there are boutique restaurants and cafes on Maunganui Road where you can get excellent food. The dividing line between restaurants and bars is thin in Mt Maunganui. The night scene here is quite vibrant and is a good place to let your hair down.

LooknbookNZ can take care of your Mount Maunganui accommodation and Mount Maunganui activities bookings and let you and your family/friends enjoy the beachside action at Mt Maunganui in the western Bay of Plenty region.