Food scene
May fav is Hawker and Roll SE Asian Malaysian fusion. Great for shopping, movies, bars and Pak n Save including the Warehouse and other cafés and shops outside of the shopping centre also.
47 locals recommend
Tauranga Crossing
2 Taurikura DrMay fav is Hawker and Roll SE Asian Malaysian fusion. Great for shopping, movies, bars and Pak n Save including the Warehouse and other cafés and shops outside of the shopping centre also.
A new dining area – lovely range of food from SE Asian, Italian to pub grub. Awesome new addition built during the first lockdown.
Also a good sushi place on this eatery strip too!
See Wharf Street FB page or Downtown Tauranga food
Wharf Street
Wharf StreetA new dining area – lovely range of food from SE Asian, Italian to pub grub. Awesome new addition built during the first lockdown.
Also a good sushi place on this eatery strip too!
See Wharf Street FB page or Downtown Tauranga food
Special place for Tauranga with stunning base and summit walk (reasonable fitness for summit walk). Wildlife is beautiful - you may spot a sea lion, lots of birds and bush surrounding it. Many shops, cafes and hot pools surround the Mount.
Great food places too
My fav is Rice Rice Baby – Vietnamese Asian fusian.
Heaps of places to eat, have ice-cream, nice little shops, boutique shops, bars and cafes.
THE LITTLE GUY
Outskirts of the Mount, small shop front, great coffee and has a big lovely garden at the rear: https://www.littleguybagelandbrew.co.nz/
EDDIES & ELSPETH
Hip happening cafe, outskirts of Mount Maunganui (10 mins drive away)
The local roast is Lil Drum or Excelso coffee beans
571 locals recommend
Mount Maunganui
Special place for Tauranga with stunning base and summit walk (reasonable fitness for summit walk). Wildlife is beautiful - you may spot a sea lion, lots of birds and bush surrounding it. Many shops, cafes and hot pools surround the Mount.
Great food places too
My fav is Rice Rice Baby – Vietnamese Asian fusian.
Heaps of places to eat, have ice-cream, nice little shops, boutique shops, bars and cafes.
THE LITTLE GUY
Outskirts of the Mount, small shop front, great coffee and has a big lovely garden at the rear: https://www.littleguybagelandbrew.co.nz/
EDDIES & ELSPETH
Hip happening cafe, outskirts of Mount Maunganui (10 mins drive away)
The local roast is Lil Drum or Excelso coffee beans
Papamoa – you can have a drink or something to eat overlooking the ocean, fish n chips, family friendly casual area as well as a restaurant area http://www.bluebiyou.co.nz/
65 locals recommend
B L U E B I Y O U
559 Papamoa Beach RdPapamoa – you can have a drink or something to eat overlooking the ocean, fish n chips, family friendly casual area as well as a restaurant area http://www.bluebiyou.co.nz/
Family friendly bar and restaurant. This is in the new Papamoa growth zone. When I first moved down here, I stayed with my cousin and this place went up in 8 months. https://www.papamos.co.nz/ . It is worth the drive if you are interested in how quickly Tauranga is growing and there is an amazing ice cream place next door
29 locals recommend
Papa Mo's
4 Golden Sands DrFamily friendly bar and restaurant. This is in the new Papamoa growth zone. When I first moved down here, I stayed with my cousin and this place went up in 8 months. https://www.papamos.co.nz/ . It is worth the drive if you are interested in how quickly Tauranga is growing and there is an amazing ice cream place next door
Tauranga CBD industrial hide-away, small lively hip cafe, amazing coffee they roast on site, with muffins and pastries only (note - pastries are so good they go quickly) - https://www.excelso.co.nz/
7 locals recommend
Excelso Coffee
112 Third AveTauranga CBD industrial hide-away, small lively hip cafe, amazing coffee they roast on site, with muffins and pastries only (note - pastries are so good they go quickly) - https://www.excelso.co.nz/
Outskirts of the Mount, small shop front, great coffee and has a big lovely big garden at the rear: https://www.littleguybagelandbrew.co.nz/
Little Guy Bagel And Brew
373 Maunganui RdOutskirts of the Mount, small shop front, great coffee and has a big lovely big garden at the rear: https://www.littleguybagelandbrew.co.nz/
Hip happening cafe, outskirts of Mount Maunganui (10 mins drive away)
The local roast is Lil Drum or Excelso coffee beans
10 locals recommend
Eddie's Brunch Parlour
411 Maunganui RoadHip happening cafe, outskirts of Mount Maunganui (10 mins drive away)
The local roast is Lil Drum or Excelso coffee beans
Recommend Zozos SE Asian and Takura Japanes also Brooklands Bar.
A variety of restaurants and a nice waterfront walk that homes sculptures and tidal steps that you can swim off in the harbor - https://www.tauranga.govt.nz/exploring/parks-and-reserves/parks/the-strand-reserve
7 locals recommend
The Strand
The StrandRecommend Zozos SE Asian and Takura Japanes also Brooklands Bar.
A variety of restaurants and a nice waterfront walk that homes sculptures and tidal steps that you can swim off in the harbor - https://www.tauranga.govt.nz/exploring/parks-and-reserves/parks/the-strand-reserve
K-Mart, Pharmacy Warehouse, Burger Fuel, Patrick’s Pie shop, fish n chips, Columbus and Coffee Club cafes, one bar, Countdown, Indian restaurant/take away - https://www.bethlehem.co.nz/our-stores/
41 locals recommend
Bethlehem Town Centre
19 Bethlehem RdK-Mart, Pharmacy Warehouse, Burger Fuel, Patrick’s Pie shop, fish n chips, Columbus and Coffee Club cafes, one bar, Countdown, Indian restaurant/take away - https://www.bethlehem.co.nz/our-stores/
Brookfield Shops
A small suburban shopping centre (Brookfield) with; a New World supermarket, pharmacy, cafe, Mobil petrol station - 5 mins drive (15 min walk) from here.
• Inside the New World supermarket foyer is a great SE Asian Poke Bowl, Sorbet and ice-cream and a SE Dumpling place. Easy convenient and tasty
• Also a café is in the foyer area too
*Pak n Save and Countdown large supermarkets are on Cameron Road in the CBD or Bethlehem*
Another petrol station – Summit BP, fish n chip take-away and there is also a small dairy and this is at the end of Paine Street literally a 5 min walk away.
28 locals recommend
New World Brookfield
89 Bellevue RdBrookfield Shops
A small suburban shopping centre (Brookfield) with; a New World supermarket, pharmacy, cafe, Mobil petrol station - 5 mins drive (15 min walk) from here.
• Inside the New World supermarket foyer is a great SE Asian Poke Bowl, Sorbet and ice-cream and a SE Dumpling place. Easy convenient and tasty
• Also a café is in the foyer area too
*Pak n Save and Countdown large supermarkets are on Cameron Road in the CBD or Bethlehem*
Another petrol station – Summit BP, fish n chip take-away and there is also a small dairy and this is at the end of Paine Street literally a 5 min walk away.
Best sushi close to me in my opinion. They will be opening a branch in the foyer of the New World Supermarket soon too (as of March 2023)
Hello Sushi (Bethlehem Town Centre)
Best sushi close to me in my opinion. They will be opening a branch in the foyer of the New World Supermarket soon too (as of March 2023)
Lloyds Deli & Pizzeria
Best yummiest pizza - sour dough, NY style. Delicious!
Fresh baked goods daily. Italian, French pastries, Sourdough bread - wholemeal, seeded, mixed grain. Delicious cookies/cakes and great coffee too. 5 mins drive from my place
Breadhead Tauranga
Fresh baked goods daily. Italian, French pastries, Sourdough bread - wholemeal, seeded, mixed grain. Delicious cookies/cakes and great coffee too. 5 mins drive from my place
I rate this Indian restaurant and take away. Only a min drive from my home.
12 locals recommend
Own Masala Tauranga
175 Eleventh AveI rate this Indian restaurant and take away. Only a min drive from my home.
Now called Benny n Brew cafe. The best local cafe! Owned by French/Kiwi couple. Great food, pastries, lil Drum local roast coffee. My fav cafe!
9 locals recommend
Tahlula's Cafe
100 Grange RdNow called Benny n Brew cafe. The best local cafe! Owned by French/Kiwi couple. Great food, pastries, lil Drum local roast coffee. My fav cafe!
Sightseeing
BEACHES AND Bay of Plenty BOP GEMS
• Close by - Papamoa beach and
• Down from Mount Maunganui i.e. end of Tay Street - great for surfing,
• Pilot Bay is a 10 min drive from here and is the non-surf side, great for swimming and goes deep quickly. You can also jump off the wharf pier bit at the beginning of Pilot Bay
• Waihi old gold/coal mining township,
• Karangahake Gorge, old railway line/walkways/cycleways,
• Omokoroa - beautiful harbour township,
• Waihi beach township,
• Rotorua (50 mins drive away) – you can do so much in a day including the Redwoods and an amazing café built onto the forestry lab that has pizza nights Friday and Saturday from 5pm
• Ferries - from Tauranga CBD can take you to Omokoroa and other townships
41 locals recommend
Pilot Bay Beach
BEACHES AND Bay of Plenty BOP GEMS
• Close by - Papamoa beach and
• Down from Mount Maunganui i.e. end of Tay Street - great for surfing,
• Pilot Bay is a 10 min drive from here and is the non-surf side, great for swimming and goes deep quickly. You can also jump off the wharf pier bit at the beginning of Pilot Bay
• Waihi old gold/coal mining township,
• Karangahake Gorge, old railway line/walkways/cycleways,
• Omokoroa - beautiful harbour township,
• Waihi beach township,
• Rotorua (50 mins drive away) – you can do so much in a day including the Redwoods and an amazing café built onto the forestry lab that has pizza nights Friday and Saturday from 5pm
• Ferries - from Tauranga CBD can take you to Omokoroa and other townships
Pori Pori water hole. Seriously under-rated and so amazing – it is near a dam so you need to check dates and times for dam release times but it is a gem https://exploretauranga.co.nz/pori-pori/
Check out this site for more great walks and waterfalls - https://www.bayofplentynz.com/experiences/outdoor-adventures/wanderlust-waterfalls-in-the-bay-of-plenty/
7 locals recommend
Poripori Water Holes
10 Poripori RdPori Pori water hole. Seriously under-rated and so amazing – it is near a dam so you need to check dates and times for dam release times but it is a gem https://exploretauranga.co.nz/pori-pori/
Check out this site for more great walks and waterfalls - https://www.bayofplentynz.com/experiences/outdoor-adventures/wanderlust-waterfalls-in-the-bay-of-plenty/
McLaren Falls Park – swimming, waterfalls, beautiful park which you can drive through and walk. Café there also
143 locals recommend
McLaren Falls Park
190 McLaren Falls RdMcLaren Falls Park – swimming, waterfalls, beautiful park which you can drive through and walk. Café there also
• Waihi old gold/coal mining township,
• Karangahake Gorge, old railway line/walkways/cycleways,
96 locals recommend
Karangahake Gorge
State Highway 2• Waihi old gold/coal mining township,
• Karangahake Gorge, old railway line/walkways/cycleways,
Omokoroa Beach
Omokoroa - beautiful harbour township,
Rotorua (50 mins drive away) – you can do so much in a day including the Redwoods and an amazing café built onto the forestry lab that has pizza nights Friday and Saturday from 5pm
Eat Street - a variety and diversity of food. Recommend Lady Janes ice-cream parlour also
107 locals recommend
Rotorua
Rotorua (50 mins drive away) – you can do so much in a day including the Redwoods and an amazing café built onto the forestry lab that has pizza nights Friday and Saturday from 5pm
Eat Street - a variety and diversity of food. Recommend Lady Janes ice-cream parlour also
Mangorewa Gorge Climbing Entrance
On the way to Rotorua - very pretty
Mangapouri Scenic Reserve
Less than an hour's drive from my place and close to the volcanic plateau
Neighbourhoods
Gordon Carmichael Reserve
Nice suburban walkway for walking and biking
Fernland Spa and mineral hot pools – 5 mins drive. Natural springs with no chemicals. Drained and filled naturally from the volcanic springs each day.
52 locals recommend
Fernland Spa
250 Cambridge RdFernland Spa and mineral hot pools – 5 mins drive. Natural springs with no chemicals. Drained and filled naturally from the volcanic springs each day.
Kopurererua Walkway and wetlands (there are parts of the fresh water stream you can swim in too). You can walk there but it goes through some industrial factory streets so best to drive there, park and walk (through Judea Industrial Estate – it is a gem especially at the end of the day when the sunset and birds are magical). I bike ride around there a lot.
Kopurererua Valley
Kopurererua Walkway and wetlands (there are parts of the fresh water stream you can swim in too). You can walk there but it goes through some industrial factory streets so best to drive there, park and walk (through Judea Industrial Estate – it is a gem especially at the end of the day when the sunset and birds are magical). I bike ride around there a lot.
Waikareao estuary: lovely walk through the bush side of the loop. Go this way as the other bit goes alongside the motorway which is not as nice. The bush walk is nice, and is close to the boardwalk too. Lots of birds and an easy stroll.
See Tauranga walkways. There are many entrances and the closest is 10 min walk down Waihi Road
Waikareao Estuary
Waikareao estuary: lovely walk through the bush side of the loop. Go this way as the other bit goes alongside the motorway which is not as nice. The bush walk is nice, and is close to the boardwalk too. Lots of birds and an easy stroll.
See Tauranga walkways. There are many entrances and the closest is 10 min walk down Waihi Road
Traveler advice
Getting around
Location
Near bus route - https://www.baybus.co.nz/tauranga-western-bay/tauranga-and-western-bay/
Close to motorway - SH2 to Auckland or Whakatane
7 mins drive into the CBD and only 15 mins drive from Mount Maunganui. Close to motorways.