
GIRLS' ESCAPE TO THE BAY
Sometimes, you just need a weekend away with the girls. The Coastal Bay of Plenty has all the good things that make a girls’ getaway one to remember – and it’s a perfect place to visit year-round. We have shopping destinations to rival the big cities, culinary experiences to tease your tastebuds, fresh sea air and beautiful walks that are just as stunning during the cooler months.
We’ve put together some of the best things to do and places to eat and drink during a gals’ getaway to the Coastal Bay of Plenty. All you need to do is find a date and book it in! It's sure to make you smile.

Shopping
It wouldn’t be a girls’ weekend without some retail therapy. Tauranga’s shopping experience has recently had a regeneration with major international retailers such as Mecca Maxima (makeup, anyone?) and H&M making their mark firmly in the Bay.
Mount Maunganui’s Bayfair has been through some exciting changes with a huge expansion including over 50 new stores and the recently opened Dine – an all-weather alfresco dining precinct. This brings some of the country’s big players to the Bay including Burger Burger, Mexico and unique newcomers including Izakai – a Māori Japanese fusion restaurant. Whether you’re going for the food, the shopping, or both, Bayfair is definitely one to add to the must-do list.
Tauranga Crossing is the region’s newest shopping mall located at The Lakes, just 15 minutes from downtown Tauranga. You can shop, dine and catch a movie all in one place. Grab a cocktail at Something & Social, or a tasty Malaysian dish from Hawker & Roll, check out H&M, and finish with a wine and movie in Tauranga’s newest cinema (we recommend the recliner seats!).
If you’re looking for a boutique shopping experience – head to downtown Mount Maunganui and check out some of the local shops – including Paper Plane and Blak Chaos. Or venture north to Waihī Beach and pop into Sunday Homestore – a cute little store full of contemporary homeware and other treats.

Dining & cocktails
You are spoilt for choice when it comes to eating and drinking in the Coastal Bay of Plenty. Keen to have a fancy dinner with the girls while you’re here? Book a table at any one of the top-end restaurants, including The Bistro at the Clarence Hotel, Harbourside, and Mount Maunganui's Fire, and you’ll be treated to stunning food, wine and exceptional cocktails.
Looking for the top breakfast spots? There are so many to choose from, but you can’t go wrong with Mount Maunganui’s Eddie’s and Elspeth, The General, Nourish in Te Puna (you need to try the french toast doughnuts...seriously). The list goes on! Check out this Stuff article which covers some of the best eateries in the Bay.
Here are some of the best places to grab a great coffee: Luca, Mixture, Henry & Ted, Love Rosie Bakery, Cafe 88, Tay Street Store, or grab one from The Wave caravan (literally a caravan shaped like a wave) on the Mount beachfront and take in the salty sea air.

Health & wellbeing
It goes without saying that treating yourself to a massage or soak in a hot pool is a must-do on any girls’ weekend. There are plenty of thermal hot pools to choose from in the Coastal Bay of Plenty, including the ever-popular Mount Hot Pools, Fernland Spa, and Sapphire Springs in Katikati. If you’re after a massage – drop into the amazing team at Thai Touch (they have three locations in Tauranga and Mount Maunganui), or for a real treat – book a treatment at Sanctum in Mount Maunganui – their facials and other spa treatments will leave you feeling utterly relaxed.

Tracks & trails
It wouldn’t be a visit to the Coastal Bay of Plenty without exploring some of the beautiful scenery right on our doorstep. If you’re staying near Waihī Beach (or even if you’re not, it’s not far to travel) it’s definitely worth walking around the coast to Orokawa Bay, and you can carry on to the next beach - Homunga Bay, where a waterfall lands directly on the beach.
Tauranga and Mount Maunganui have an abundance of walking tracks – including one of New Zealand’s most popular short walks – the Mauao base track and summit walk. (You can easily do both if you have a couple of hours up your sleeve.) The views from the top are well worth the hike and, let’s be honest, it’s all for the ‘gram. For something more casual, grab a coffee and head for a stroll along some of the 125 kilometres of coastline – it’s perfect any time of the day!
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GIRLS' WEEKEND HOLIDAY EXPERIENCES
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Mount Mainstreet

Sunday Homestore
Clarence Hotel

Harbourside Waterfront Dining

Fire

Mount Hot Ocean Water Pools

Fernland Spa Thermal Mineral Springs
Sapphire Springs Holiday Park & Thermal Pools
Tauranga Crossing
Sanctum Beauty Therapy and Spa
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Where to
stay
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Mission Belle Motel
Pukehina Beach Holiday Accommodation + Long term rentals

Thornton Beach Holiday Park

Waihi Beach Top 10 Holiday Park
Hugo and Carter's Backpackers and Motel

Number Eight Bed and Breakfast

18th Avenue Thermal Motel

The Atrium Apartments
Opotiki Holiday Park

Oceanside Resort & Twin Towers

Barringtons Motor Lodge

Kalinal ltd trading as Alton Lodge Motel

Aotea Villa
Moanarua Beach Cottage

White Island Rendezvous
Aberfeldy Farmstay and Bed and Breakfast

Accommodation at Te Puna

Murupara Motor Camp
Bethlehem Motor Inn and Conference Venue

Atlas Suites and Apartments

Ohiwa Beach Holiday Park

Matahui Lodge

Beachpoint Resort

ASURE Kaimai View Motel

Boscabel Lodge

Cosy Corner Holiday Park

The Reef Luxury Apartments
Cottage Park Thermal Motel

Bachcare Holiday Homes
Bird Gardens Cottage

Colonial Court Motor Inn

Roselands Motel

Bay Palm Motel

Shalendy Cottage & Garden

Quayside Luxury Apartments

Pacific Coast Lodge and Backpackers

Seascape Villa B&B

Beach House Motel
Katikati Kiwifruit Cottage

Morning Tide Villa

Omokoroa Kiwi Holiday Park

Belle Mer Apartments

Academy Motor Inn

Birchwood Motel

Ohope Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park

Pacific Motor Inn

Beachside Bed & Breakfast

Hotel on Devonport

Summit Motor Lodge Tauranga

Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park

Sun Pacific Villas

Two Tui Homestead and BnB

Surfs Reach Motel

Kiwi Corral Country Backpackers
The French Country House

Papamoa Beach Resort

Calais Mount Resort

Tourist Court Motel Whakatane

Cameron Thermal Motel Tauranga

Casa del Mare

Gateway Motor Inn

Tirohanga Beach Motor Camp
Ohope Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park Motels

City Suites

Bell Lodge Motel & Backpackers Hostel

Ohope Beach Resort

Pacific Park Holiday Camp

The Anchorage Apartments

Cortez Motor Inn
Sapphire Springs Holiday Park & Thermal Pools

Cutters Cove Resort Apartments

Selena Farmstay

Trinity Wharf Tauranga

The Pacific Apartments

Kuru's Villa
The Boatshed

Apple Tree Backpackers

The Tauranga on the Waterfront

Whakatane Holiday Park

Tauranga wetland house

Tuscany Villas Whakatane

Greerton Motor Inn

Valley Gardens Lodge
Rehutai Apartments
Baywatch Motor Inn

Warm Earth Cottage Romantic Retreats
Beachpoint Apartments

37 The Landing Motel

Tauranga Lodge Bed & Breakfast

Westhaven Motel

Ohiwa Beach Holiday Park Motel

The Terraces at Ocean Beach

Oceanspray Homestay

ASURE Harbour View Motel

Athenree Hot Springs & Holiday Park
Harbour City Motor Inn Tauranga

Eagle Ridge

Welcome Bay Hot Pools & Campground

Papamoa Beach Paradise

Ambassador Motor Inn Tauranga

Aquarius Motel

Resolution Retreats

Aquarius Motor Inn

Bennetts Tauranga Motor Inn

Seagulls Guesthouse

Bethlehem Motor Inn

Blue Haven Motel
Just the Ducks Nuts

Papamoa Paradise - Amazing Accom

Pavilion Beachfront Apartments
Cobblestone Court Motel

Karibu Backpackers

Canopy Camping Escapes - Phoenix Valley

Hotel Armitage and Conference Centre

Canopy Camping Escapes - Cob Cottage

Canopy Camping Escapes - Kahikatea Farm

Hoatu Kaimua Tourist Lodge

Ohiwa Seascape Studios

The Beaumont Apartments
Baybell Lodge

Beaches Motel
Clarence Hotel

Quest Tauranga

Beautiful Holiday Home & Pool

Livingston Motel

Paradise Beach Luxury Accommodation

Katikati Naturist Park

Loft 109 Backpackers

One88 on Commerce

Waterford House Bed & Breakfast

Awakeri Hot Springs
ASURE Macy's Motor Inn

Maketu Hilltop Holiday Park

Durham Court Motor Inn

Villa93 Luxury Lodge

Capri on Pilot Bay
