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When
Captain James Cook sailed into the region aboard the
Endeavour in the 18th Century, he was so impressed by
the rich flora and fauna, the abundance of food and the
friendly natives he named it the ‘Bay of Plenty’.
The region retains its reputation as one of the
countries
premiere holiday destinations surrounded by many kilometers of glittering white sand, the countries
premier beaches, beautiful harbours, crystal clear
mountain waters, a large horticultural and farming
hinterland and a lifestyle that is the envy of other New
Zealanders.
Everything you need for your holiday can be found here -
sun, surf and seaside cafes, endless amounts of
activities and attractions – and a great welcome by the
friendly ‘bay’ inhabitants.
Tauranga
One of the fastest growing communities in New Zealand,
Tauranga is a buzzing city with a population of just
over 100,000 enjoying a sunny temperate climate. With an
abundance of cafes, bars, restaurants, boutique shopping
in the central city or the many surrounding shopping
centres, Saint-Tropez of the South Pacific.
Mount
Maunganui
Mount Maunganui is one of the country’s most popular
holiday destinations. |
It is a modern sea and harbour side town located a short drive across the harbour
bridge from Tauranga City. Dominated by ‘Mauao’ (Mount
Maunganui) at the end of the long peninsular and almost
completely surrounded by harbour, white sandy surf
beaches the ‘Mount’ as it is known by the locals, is a
very popular destination for visitors. Walking up or
around the Mount is one of the region’s most popular
activities – and an excellent way to justify some of the
excellent bars and restaurants in the area.
Papamoa
Fifteen minutes drive down the coastline from Mount
Maunganui is the expanding suburb of Papamoa. Its
relaxed atmosphere, excellent surf beaches and rural
boundaries combine to offer an alternative atmosphere
away from the busier centres.
Katikati
Known widely as the ‘mural town’, Katikati is famous for
the colourful murals painted on the walls and building
of many businesses, depicting the interesting history of
the area. The town was founded by George Vesey Stewart
in 1875
as an
outpost of Ireland on the banks of the Uretara River.
Predominantly a rural farming community it is now also
also known for nearby vineyards, hot springs, luxury
lodges and quirky cafes. |
Te Puke
Appropriately named the Kiwifruit capital of the world
Te Puke is just half an hour’s drive (21 kilometres)
southeast of Mt Maunganui and hidden by the Papamoa
hills which were an important area for the original
Maori inhabitants of the region.
Paengaroa
A
few minutes further south from Te Puke is one of
Tauranga’s best-kept secrets - Paengaroa and The
Junction. This is a tourist haven with 26
tourist-related businesses from adventure, fishing and
wildlife parks to the story of the honey bee, great
shopping and wining and dining at local cafes.
Maketu
Another 15 minutes south east from Te Puke is Maketu -
home to the famous Maketu Pie. Steeped in history, it
was where the Arawa canoe landed with the first Maori
migrants from Hawaiki – an event recorded by a memorial
on the foreshore.
Climate
Tauranga has a warm sunny climate with 2,200 - 2,400
sunshine hours per year. Mean summer temperature is 23
degrees C and 14 degrees C in winter. Winter
is between June and August and summer between December
and February.
Visit the award winning Tourism Bay of Plenty website
…
http://www.visitplenty.co.nz/ |
