DRIVING TO THE BAY OF PLENTY

Getting to the Coastal Bay of Plenty is easy. Tauranga is only 2.5-hours’ drive from Auckland Airport (and slightly under 2-hours if you’re stopping in at Waihī Beach or Katikati on the way to Tauranga - which you should because they’re beautiful places and the locals would love to see you!). There are also plenty of buses and transport businesses that come through the region each day if you’d prefer someone else to do the driving so you can enjoy the scenery.

FLYING HERE

Air New Zealand flies daily to Tauranga with direct flights to and from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. The flight from Auckland is a quick 20-minutes (just enough time for a cuppa up in the air) and you will land at Tauranga Airport, right in the heart of the city (and certainly one of the prettiest destinations to fly into). 

If you’re flying from other regional towns, you can still fly into Tauranga, you’ll just have a connecting flight from one of the major cities.

If you would like to fly into the Eastern Bay of Plenty, Air Chathams offers daily flights between Whakatāne and Auckland.

AirNZ

RENTAL CARS

The Coastal Bay of Plenty is a large region, so if you’re wanting to explore all of it, we’d recommend hiring a rental car or motorhome so you can make the most of your time here.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Baybus runs the regional bus network and buses are available seven days a week and on all public holidays except Christmas Day and Good Friday. This is a great way to travel around our biggest city, individual suburbs or between towns. Routes include all major shopping, dining and tourist destinations.

For more information about the regional bus services and timetables visit baybus.co.nz or phone 0800 4 BAYBUS.

 

TOURS AROUND THE BAY

An organised tour is a great way to see all the sights. You can relax and fully enjoy the experience without the hassle of worrying about driving on unfamiliar roads. A full range of tours and their pick up/drop off points can be found at our i-SITE Visitor Information Centre at 103 The Strand in downtown Tauranga or phone +64 7 578 8103.

If you’re arriving in Tauranga on a cruise ship, check out all the shore excursion tours available here

TBOP Winter 429

WALKING

And of course, one of the best ways to immerse yourself with the locals is to strap on your walking shoes and hit the streets. Check out some of the hidden gems, like Tauranga and Mount Maunganui’s street art, the Kiwi Wandering Trail in Whakatāne, and the stunning murals in Katikati. You’ll also find great waterfront and inland walking and cycling trails offering up views only visible by foot.

EXPLORE WALKS IN THE BAY