3-night Mount Maunganui Beach Getaway

2: Beached as

Today, you chill. Take your time - grab a coffee (there's plenty of cafe's across the road from the campground serving great coffee and food), breathe in the salty sea air, and figure out how you're going to spend your day.

Need some tips? We've got you covered...

1. Grab a towel, a good book, some sunscreen, and some water and take your pick between the Mount Main Beach and Pilot Bay. If you're keen for some waves, head to Main Beach. For slightly calmer waters, Pilot Bay is your best bet.
    
2. Keen to learn how to surf? Mount Main Beach is a great destination for surfers of all levels - including learners. There’s no shortage of breaks and there’s often a good right point break off the tip of Moturiki/Leisure Island. There are plenty of surf schools dotted along the beach if you're keen to get a lesson from a pro. Find the surf school for you here.
   
   
3. Book a session with Mauao Adventures; you can hire a board or even book in for a lesson to learn the art of stand-up paddle boarding
   
   
4. Jump aboard the Kewpie for a scenic 1-hour cruise around Tauranga Harbour. You can even jump off at Matakana Island, and get picked up later.
   
   
5. Book a tour with V8 Trikes; these epic trikes are the ideal way to see a bit more of the area - and loads of fun to boot! There is a range of tours to choose from, or customise your own if there's somewhere special you want to go. 
   
   
6. For all the thrill-seekers out there - check out Baystation, where you can experience paint ball and laser tag at the same place.
   
   
7. Treat yourself to a waffle cone from Copenhagen Cones. Across the road from the Mount Hot Pools (and usually with a queue out the door) is one of the longest-standing ice cream shops in the Bay. You can smell the delicious waffles being cooked fresh, ready for you to fill with ice cream and plenty of toppings!

At the end of the day, grab some fish and chips and head to Pilot Bay to watch the sunset.

3: Beach brews

There's more to Mount Maunganui than just epic beaches. Something we're a little less famous for is our emerging craft beer scene; our relaxed down-to-earth lifestyle has given rise to a bunch of innovative micro breweries, they're definitely worth checking out! 

Finish the day off with some more brews and some ridiculously good dumplings at The Rising Tide. Located inside the Mount Brewing Co. brewery, this laidback restaurant and bar is a favourite among the locals - and with 39 craft beers and ciders on tap, you can see why! We recommend a tasting paddle - it's the best way to sample a few of the beers!

Have a thirst for more? Dive into our guide on the Bay's Best Brews here.

4: Have a whale of a time

Make the most of your last day in the Bay - book a marine wildlife tour with Bay Explorer or Dolphin Seafaris! A half-day tour out on the water will see you get up close with some of our precious marine wildlife. 

Bay Explorer's 5-hour Dolphin & Wildlife Cruise gives you a genuine kiwi experience and the opportunity to get up close with dolphins, whales, seals, and plenty of other epic wildlife! Hear from the Captain - a qualified marine biologist - as he takes you along the pristine Bay of Plenty coastline - he'll share some of the history of region while on the lookout for sealife. Don't forget your camera - the crew will get you as close as possible to capture all those photo opportunities!

Ever wanted to swim with dolphins? Dolphin Seafaris' 5-hour Wildlife Tour will help you tick that one off the bucket list! Head out of Tauranga Harbour past Mauao and keep an eye out for the local common dolphins; the boat is equipped with swim bars for the best in-water experience - the dolphins swim alongside you while you're in the water! It's doesn't get better than that!

More great accomodation

Check out some of the other accommodation options in Mount Maunganui...

• Oceanside Resort & Twin Towers
• Pavilion Beachfront Apartments
• Capri on Pilot Bay
• The Beaumont Apartments
• The Atrium Apartments

Where to eat

Mount Main Street is a busy hub of restaurants, bars and boutique shopping. No matter what you're in the mood for, you'll find something tasty to satisfy your tastebuds. The laidback surf vibe at Astrolabe is appealing if you're after a casual meal or drink - it's great for families with a large outdoor area. For something a little more fancy, head to Solera or Alpino. After a casual sit down meal? Then head along to Rice Rice Baby in the Mount for some amazing Vietnamese, it's always busy and once you've been, you'll see why!