Things to do in Bay of Plenty Region

Activities, attractions and tours

Panoramic view of Mount Maunganui in Tauranga. Tauranga is a harbourside city in the Bay of Plenty region on New Zealand's North Island.
Panoramic view of Mount Maunganui in Tauranga. Tauranga is a harbourside city in the Bay of Plenty region on New Zealand's North Island.
The Rotorua Museum of Art and History grounds in Rotorua, New Zealand. A little bit of Victorian England in New Zealand, the grounds contain lovely gardens and lawn bowl...lawns. Open and clean, it draws a nice mix of locals and tourists. The museum contains a great collection of fine arts and artifacts from the Maori culture.
The Polynesian Spa in Rotorua is a great place to warm up on a rainy day. Go in the morning and you'll have the place to yourself.
Rotorua is small town mostly known for its geothermal activity, geysers and hot mud pools. The steam was following us all the time! It was real experience to walk around the park while on every step something evaporates...
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Top places to visit

1. Skyline Rotorua

Skyline Rotorua cable car carries passengers up Mount Ngongotaha to a height of 487 metres (1,598 feet). Admiring the views isn’t the only thing to do at the summit. Sip a coffee in the café, fly over dense forest on the zip line or steer down the steep luge course.
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Skyline Rotorua

2. Polynesian Spa

Located adjacent to beautiful Lake Rotorua, the steaming baths of the Polynesian Spa are the perfect place to destress. Soak in steamy, cleansing water while you gaze out across the pristine lake. Escape to your very own private pool or play on the slides in the large family area.
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Polynesian Spa featuring a pool

3. Redwoods Whakarewarewa Forest

Redwoods Whakarewarewa Forest is a tranquil woodland park crisscrossed by trekking and biking trails. Set off on a hike past thermal ponds and geysers or admire eucalyptus trees and immense Californian Redwoods while horseback riding.
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Redwoods Whakarewarewa Forest which includes forests, night scenes and a suspension bridge or treetop walkway

4. Lake Rotoiti

Take in views of forest-fringed waters, shimmering glow worm caves and the Southern Alps at Lake Rotoiti in the Nelson Lakes National Park. Surrounded by towering mountains, all the lakes in this park were carved out by glaciers over thousands of years and have remained largely untouched. As well as making for a spectacular landscape, this has also allowed native wildlife to thrive.
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Lake Rotoiti featuring tranquil scenes and a lake or waterhole

5. Lake Rotorua

Visit Lake Rotorua and you will find no shortage of things to do. Swim in the calm, clear waters by the city’s edge or set off on foot in search of your own private bay. Kayak to mystical Mokoia Island or sit back and relax on a boat cruise.
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Lake Rotorua

What to do in Bay of Plenty Region

Popular places to visit

Mount Maunganui beach panorama

Mount Maunganui

Commune with nature and explore the great outdoors at Mount Maunganui during your travels in Tauranga. Wander the area's beautiful beaches or simply enjoy one of its charming cafes.

Mount Maunganui
Skyline Rotorua

Skyline Rotorua

Take in the splendid scenery during a gondola ride and jump in a luge cart to navigate your way down the exciting mountain track.

Skyline Rotorua
Polynesian Spa showing a lake or waterhole

Polynesian Spa

Set among the serene Government Gardens on the shores of Lake Rotorua, these hot pools are an idyllic place to relax and unwind.

Polynesian Spa
Redwoods Whakarewarewa Forest which includes forest scenes

Redwoods Whakarewarewa Forest

Walk, cycle or ride a horse through this picturesque forest filled with a magnificent array of trees from around the world.

Redwoods Whakarewarewa Forest
Lake Rotoiti featuring tranquil scenes and a lake or waterhole

Lake Rotoiti

Marvel at the pristine Nelson Lakes National Park as you kayak across this magnificent lake to thermal pools and glow worm caves.

Lake Rotoiti
Lake Rotorua which includes a garden and a lake or waterhole as well as a small group of people

Lake Rotorua

One of the largest lakes on the North Island, this location offers an abundance of exciting activities as well as a fascinating geological and cultural history.

Lake Rotorua
Rotorua which includes markets and night scenes

Eat Street

During your trip to Rotorua, you can enjoy retail therapy at Eat Street.

Eat Street
Wunderbarer Sonnenaufgang

Papamoa Beach

Why not spend a lazy afternoon at Papamoa Beach during your trip to Papamoa Beach? Amble around the area's beaches or visit its shops.

Papamoa Beach
Lake Tarawera featuring swimming and a beach as well as a small group of people

Lake Tarawera

Fish for rainbow trout, swim at a beach with hot spring water and hike to waterfalls set amid majestic scenery at this vast, intense-blue lake.

Lake Tarawera

Areas of Bay of Plenty Region

Mount Maunganui which includes a city, a sunset and a coastal town

Mount Maunganui

Take in the views from this mighty volcanic cone, relax on a beach, go for a surf, dine out or indulge in some retail therapy in the Bay of Plenty.

Mount Maunganui
Papamoa Beach

Papamoa Beach

Unique features of Papamoa Beach include the beaches and shopping. Make a stop by Papamoa Beach or Bay of Plenty while you're exploring the area.

Papamoa Beach
Panoramic aerial view of Mt Maunganui, North Island, New Zealand

Papamoa

While visiting Papamoa, you might make a stop by sights like blokart Recreation Park and Looking Glass Garden.

Papamoa
Lake Okareka which includes a lake or waterhole

Lake Okareka

Despite its pretty views and charming, leafy walks, this picturesque lake manages to remain relatively crowd-free and peaceful.

Lake Okareka
Four of a kind

Owhata

If you're spending some time in Owhata, Lake Rotorua and Haiku Pathway are top sights worth seeing.

Owhata
Mount Maunganui and Omanu beach panorama, Tauranga, New Zealand

Omanu

While Omanu may not have many sights to explore, venturing just a little farther will lead you to top things to see and do like Blake Park and Mount Maunganui Golf Club.

Omanu
Rotorua which includes a hot spring

Rotorua

Landscape photo of a jetty on Lake Rotoiti, New Zealand. This jetty is within the Nelson Lakes National Park and is one of the most Instagrammed locations in New Zealand

Mourea

The scene

Oropi