Bay of Plenty
Beautiful & Plentiful
With its white sandy beaches, crystal clear surf, beautiful harbours, and unbeatable lifestyle, the Bay of Plenty is one of the country’s premier holiday destinations. Just three hours’ scenic drive from Auckland, Tauranga – its main city – sits on a magnificent harbour with two large marinas, and the country’s largest export port. The popular seaside resort town of Mount Maunganui is a mere five-minute drive across the harbour bridge, and the many small towns in the region, such as Te Puke – the kiwi fruit capital of the world – reflect the horticultural richness of the land.
Beautiful & Plentiful
With its white sandy beaches, crystal clear surf, beautiful harbours, and unbeatable lifestyle, the Bay of Plenty is one of the country’s premier holiday destinations. Just three hours’ scenic drive from Auckland, Tauranga – its main city – sits on a magnificent harbour with two large marinas, and the country’s largest export port. The popular seaside resort town of Mount Maunganui is a mere five-minute drive across the harbour bridge, and the many small towns in the region, such as Te Puke – the kiwi fruit capital of the world – reflect the horticultural richness of the land.
Experience Bay of Plenty
- Take one of the many bush walks
- Relax on the glittering, white sandy beaches and swim amongst the surf
- Drive to Minden Lookout in Te Puna for the best views in the Bay of Plenty
- Climb to the top of Mt Maunganui for stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding islands
- Enjoy a dolphin watching cruise or the opportunity to swim with the dolphins
- Stroll through the Katikati bird gardens
Here is a small selection of the accommodation available in the area, but we have many alternative Hotels, Apartments, B&Bs, Motels and Lodges to suit all tastes and budgets.
Matahui Lodge, Katikati
Situated in six acres of manicured grasslands and vineyards, tranquil Matahui Lodge offers truly superior accommodation: three luxurious suites with stunning harbour, vineyard and orchard views, elegant furnishings and spacious en-suite bathrooms.
Cabernet Room
The Cabernet Room enjoys stunning inner-harbour views, a large furnished patio, with spa pool, a Super King or Twin beds, a large en-suite with double shower, quality furnishings and a complimentary mini bar.
Merlot Room
The Merlot Room features a private furnished balcony with spectacular elevated views of the harbour. Enjoy the tranquil ponds set in manicured gardens, with the grasslands and vineyards beyond. Sleep peacefully in a sumptuous Super-King bed with cosy woollen underlay, quality cotton bed linen, and feather and down pillows.
The French Country House, Tauranga
The hills of Pahoia are the heart of the Bay of Plenty, and you’ll find The French Country House nestled here, around 20 minutes’ drive from central Tauranga, and just over 2 hours from Auckland Airport.
There are three bedrooms, all with en-suite bathrooms: the Blue Room, the Green Room, and the Farm View Room. They are spacious, light, and superbly appointed, with timber floors, crystal chandeliers, the finest Italian linens and elegant furniture – unique sanctuaries with serene countryside views.
The Blue Room
The Blue room is a cool and calming space to unwind. Antique French doors lead to the large en-suite with its unique silver spa bath, and there’s a charming guest room off to the right complete with a cosy reading nook.
The Green Room
The Green room is soft and relaxing, with touches of rustic elegance, such as timber floors milled from the farm, and chandeliers with timber features that cast a romantic light.
The Farm View Room
The lofty Farm View room’s gorgeous Turkish rug, tuille draperies, antique furniture and grand chandelier give this King room a romantic ambience. French doors open onto your own private balcony with a view of the French Country House farm, green paddocks rolling into the distance.
Trinity Wharf Tauranga
The Trinity Wharf Tauranga is brilliantly positioned, with magnificent views of Tauranga Harbour. This stylish over-water hotel comprises 120 well-appointed guest rooms. All premium Water View and Harbour View guest rooms feature individual balconies or direct access to the pool. Halo Lounge & Dining offers impeccable service, and a chic, relaxed ambience. The hotel is just minutes from the CBD, 5 km from Tauranga Airport and only 2.5 hours’ drive from Auckland.
Each room has an LCD television, pay-per-view movies, SKY digital TV, in-room safe, tea and coffee-making facilities, minibar, iron, ironing-board, air-conditioning and heated bathroom flooring.
Urban King Room
In each spacious, contemporary-styled Urban King room, you’ll find luxury bathrooms, with deep-soak baths and separate showers, heated bathroom flooring, bathrobes and luxury amenities.
Urban Balcony Room
Outdoor furniture gives the Urban Balcony Rooms extra living space overlooking either a grassed courtyard, with its backdrop of established Pohutukawa trees, or the hotel entrance.
Harbour King Room
Located over the waterfront, the stylish Harbour King Rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows and sliding doors leading out onto large private balconies that enjoy amazing, ever-changing vistas.
Tuscany Villas Boutique Hotel, Whakatane
Located in the town centre, this hotel is close to fishing charters, nature walks, and a great selection of restaurants and bars. There’s a choice of luxurious guest suites and one-bedroom apartments, and there are spa facilities, meeting facilities, free WiFi, and gourmet continental or full-cooked breakfast options.
Deluxe Studio
These studios are spacious and quiet, all with Queen beds, a kitchenette, microwave and facilities for making light meals, WiFi and SKY Digital TV.
Super King Suite
The Super-King suites with super-sized spa pools are perfect for a honeymoon, anniversary celebration or a special romantic getaway. Indulge yourselves in your room or take a two-minute stroll to the local restaurants, bars and cafés nearby.
The Atrium Apartments, Mount Maunganui
The Atrium is 200 metres’ walk to Mount Maunganui beach, one of New Zealand’s premier swimming and surf beaches. Facilities include a swimming pool, spa, sauna, gym and private secure parking.
Lower and Higher Floor One- and Two-Bedroom Apartments
These apartments have fully equipped kitchens, dining/lounge areas, separate bathrooms with showers, laundry facilities, Sky TV, DVD players and WiFi.
Capeview Cottage, Opotiki
Every room – including the hot tub – at Cape View Cottage enjoys a ‘cape view’, but there are also gorgeous outlooks from the hilltop over farmland and the mountains. Very quiet, with its own garden and driveway, the cottage is surrounded on one side by kiwifruit and avocado orchards. Inside the self-contained luxury cottage, there are two identical upstairs bedrooms, with huge King beds that can each be separated into two Singles. Downstairs is open plan living, rimu interior, comfortable lounge suite, library and desk area, TV, video and CD player. There’s also a fully fitted kitchen with microwave and dishwasher, luxury bathroom, separate toilet and full laundry facilities.
Some of the experiences available in the Bay of Plenty area are outlined below, but there are many more, so please ask for details of any other activity you would like to include during your stay
Mauao Summit (or Around the Base Tour), Mount Maunganui
You can enjoy a guided climb (with many rest stops) to the summit of Mauao (The Mount), or you can choose to walk around the base track instead. You’ll learn about the nearby rocky outcrops and their origin, and how local people identify with their Mountain. This tour takes in significant landmarks, archaeological sites, harbour activities and wildlife habitats. Once at the top, you’ll enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the Tauranga region with a light refreshment. Admission to the Mount Hot Pools at the base of Mauao is included.
Duration: 4 Hours
Evening Glow Worm Kayak, Tauranga
This is a truly unique experience – the only place in the world where you can spend a magical evening marvelling at the glow-worms while paddling a sea kayak. The tour is great fun, combining beautiful scenery, fantastic birdlife and the glow-worm performance.
Duration: 3.5 Hours
Moutohora – Island Sanctuary (Whale Island) Tour, Whakatane
Moutohora is one of New Zealand’s most protected wildlife reserves. The tour includes a comfortable 20-minute boat journey aboard the Moutohora Cat, followed by a two-hour walk on the island up to its saddle and the peak of the lower rise. Your guides will show you the abundant flora and fauna, and there will be ample opportunity to see and hear a number of bird species which, on the mainland, are under threat. You’ll visit Sulphur Bay’s geothermal area and, for those who are keen, there’ll be time for a swim at the island’s hot water beach. Once back on board the Cat, you’ll circumnavigate the island and visit the NZ fur seal colony.
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From assisting with your travel insurance and foreign currency to airport transfers, parking, marvellous accommodation and lounges. All Ways Tailormade are here to give you the experience of a lifetime and as stress-free as possible.
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