Explore your backyard

SEE THE BAY A DIFFERENT WAY

Whether you’ve lived here for decades or are a recent arrival, there’s always more to discover in our beautiful backyard.

Have you paddled across Lake McLaren on Waimarino’s evening glow worm kayak tour? Or taken in the view from 15,000 feet with Skydive Tauranga? Try stand up paddleboarding with Mauao Adventures or ride down the Rangitāiki or Wairoa rivers on an inflatable Riverbug. Hop aboard the Bay Explorer and experience an incredible day out spotting dolphins and marine wildlife. History buffs will love stepping back in time at The Elms | Te Papa Tauranga and learning about our region’s earliest European settlers. Or book a scenic flight with Adventure Helicopters and be whisked away to the Papamoa Hills, Kaimāī Range and Ōmokoroa – all within half an hour.

Try something new this spring and cement your place as a true Bay of Plenty local!

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EXPLORE YOUR BACKYARD

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Kayaking, Other Wildlife, Water activities

Evening Glow Worm Kayak Tour - Tauranga

Glow Worm Kayak tours depart from Waimarino, Tauranga. A delightful array of refreshments are offered during sunset just before departure onto the lake. The darkness has fallen and the glow worms shine extra bright in the moon lit sky.

Evening Glow Worm Kayak Tour - Tauranga

Skydiving, Scenic flights, Air activities

Skydive Tauranga

Experience an epic 1 minute freefall with a jump from 15,000 feet. Discover the beauty of Tauranga and some of the best views in New Zealand. Enjoy spectacular views of New Zealand's best beaches, Mount Ruapehu, White Island, and Lake Rotorua.

Skydive Tauranga

Water activities

Mauao Adventures - Stand Up Paddle Boarding Lesson

Introduction to Stand Up Paddle Boarding Lesson.

Mauao Adventures - Stand Up Paddle Boarding Lesson

Water activities, Rafting, Kayaking, Maori Cultural Attractions, Study/Education

Riverbug – Rangitāiki River Bay of Plenty

Ride the rapids and drift past waterfalls as you experience the Rangitāiki River's spectacular gorge from a riverbug perspective. Share our passion for riverbug adventures, and help us to support regenerative tourism, community & healthy lifestyles.

Riverbug – Rangitāiki River Bay of Plenty

Boat cruises, Dolphins, Whale watching, Penguins, Seals

Dolphin & Wildlife Cruise - Bay Explorer

Enter nature & wide open spaces on a Bay Explorer wildlife cruise. Explore our big blue backyard and watch dolphins swimming up close. Join us for a shared lifetime experience and help protect wild marine animals. A great family friendly half-day.

Dolphin & Wildlife Cruise - Bay Explorer

Arts & crafts, Gardens, Heritage attractions

The Elms | Te Papa, Tauranga

Set in the heart of Tauranga, The Elms | Te Papa is one of Aotearoa New Zealand's oldest heritage sites. It is best known for its iconic Mission House and award-winning heritage gardens. The sites rich history dates to pre-European times.

The Elms | Te Papa, Tauranga

Scenic flights

Carbon Neutral Scenic Helicopter Flight Package

A stunning scenic flight to a beautiful cafe at Waihi for lunch followed by driving back to Tauranga in the latest Tesla Model X.

Carbon Neutral Scenic Helicopter Flight Package

Venues, Educational, Arts, Heritage & Culture, For Families, Cafes & Delis, For Couples, Event Suppliers, In the Air

Classic Flyers NZ Limited

During your travels through the Bay of Plenty and in particular Mount Maunganui, visit the Classic Flyers Historic Aviation Museum for an attraction to visit that combines a unique historic aviation museum with a first class cafe & bar.

Classic Flyers NZ Limited

Boat cruises, Dolphins, Penguins, Seals, Whale watching

Dolphin Viewing and Swimming

Our Wildlife Tour to watch and swim with wild dolphins in the Bay of Plenty is a must on any bucket list. Our 6-hour boat tour departs daily (November to May) from Tauranga on our spacious catamaran, ideal for viewing and swimming.

Dolphin Viewing and Swimming

Maori Cultural Attractions, Urban attractions, Attractions, Land Activities, Miscellaneous madness

V8 Trike Tours

Discover Mount Maunganui & Tauranga on the back of an awesome V8 Chevy Trike. Buckle up, sit back and relax while our driver/guide shows you the stunning sights. A Qualmark Gold operator and successive Traveler's Choice Award Winners 2022 & 2023.

V8 Trike Tours

Wineries, Urban attractions

Taste of Plenty

Taste of Plenty is a boutique food tourism venture located in the stunning Bay of Plenty. Choose from a range of food and culinary tours, or let us design a custom tour for your group. Visit orchards, farms, providors & unique production facilities.

Taste of Plenty

Breweries, Wineries

Tauranga Tasting Tours

A tasting tour. Approximately six hours of wine beer, spirits & food. Free pick-up and re-delivery in Tauranga/Mt Maunganui, early Papamoa.

Tauranga Tasting Tours

Seals, Kayaking

KG Kayaks Guided Tours

Kayaking adventures for independent travellers, family groups, businesses and schools. We offer guided tours, hires and tuition at a number of locations around the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

KG Kayaks Guided Tours

Arts & crafts, Gardens, Heritage attractions, Urban attractions, Walking & hiking

Travel Ed

Katikati Arts & History Day Trip from Bayfair, Mount Maunganui with your local Maori guide. Experience the history of local settlement, both Māori and non-Māori including through the arts.

Travel Ed

Water activities, Rafting, Kayaking, Maori Cultural Attractions, Study/Education

Riverbug - Wairoa River Bay of Plenty

Join us on the Sunday water releases & experience the spectacular Wairoa River gorge near Tauranga from a riverbug perspective. Share our passion for riverbug adventures, and help us to support regenerative tourism, community and healthy lifestyles.

Riverbug - Wairoa River Bay of Plenty

Hot pools & health spas, Scenic flights

Tree Tops Luxury lunch Helicopter package

A stunning Scenic Flight over the Papamoa hills to Rotoruas finest lodge, Tree Tops for a luxury lunch and fun activities

Tree Tops Luxury lunch Helicopter package

Golf, Surfing, Scenic flights

Pauanui sandy lunch and swim Helicopter package

Departing from Tauranga Airport flying into the Coromandel Peninsula to the gem of Pauanui for a lunch break at a local cafe or lodge retreat, with time for a dip in the ocean before returning.

Pauanui sandy lunch and swim Helicopter package

Wildlife Encounters, Seals, Boat cruises, Bird watching, Volcanic/Geothermal

Moutohorā: Island Sanctuary

Discover the rare beauty of one of New Zealand’s little-known treasures, Moutohorā (also known as Whale Island), home to some of New Zealand’s most endangered birds and reptiles.

Moutohorā: Island Sanctuary

Attractions, Miscellaneous madness, Urban attractions, Theme & leisure parks

The Cave Papamoa

'New Zealand’s best virtual reality & sim racing studios'. Out of this World experiences where anything is possible.

The Cave Papamoa

Miscellaneous madness, Sailing

BayStation

Come and visit and have a blast on the all-electric Drift Karts that are perfect for going sideways. Bring a crew and race your mates.

BayStation

Arts, Heritage & Culture, Shopping, Cafes & Delis

The Historic Village

If you love great coffee, creative art, retro clothing, artisan homewares, vinyl records or local stories, then there’s lots for you to explore at The Historic Village.

The Historic Village