An extinct volcano set on a peninsula, Mount Maunganui gives its name also to the suburb of Tauranga in New Zealand. It's readily accessible from the town centre, and a doable walk from the cruise port if visiting on a cruise ship. Its summit is 232 meter (761 feet) high and is a great place for 360 views of the surrounding areas. It has different paths up, some of which are handled through stairs while others are more gradual with no stairs. The gradual climb did have signs stating that it could be accessible by wheelchair, but I couldn't imagine how difficult that would be. We ended up by mistake taking the harder (with stairs) route and it was a tough climb, requiring a couple of breaks (took about 25 minutes total). It also had many areas where the trail was narrow (requiring navigating when hikers needed to pass each other), as well as passing very steep drop-offs with no barriers (giving someone like me who is very afraid of heights, second thoughts on what I was doing). Once we got to the top, we could see all over the peninsula, including the dock where our cruise ship was anchored. I had been able to see the mountain from our cabin, and now seeing the ship from this view...it did provide a nice sense of accomplishment on far and high we had walked/hiked. Going down, we took the more gradual route and it was definitely easier with no steep drop-offs. It also had no joggers...those who wanted to push themselves were taking the more steep route, which could cause congestion and backups if crowded. One benefit of taking the gradual route was to see the sheep grazing in the fields near the base. You got a sense of them by first seeing the various swinging gates meant to keep them in one spot, but also tons of droppings all over the paths. read more

See all

Mount Maunganui in Tauranga is a slice of paradise with a beach town nestled right next to the iconic Mauao (Mount Maunganui). The town itself exudes a laid-back vibe, with cozy cafes, boutique shops, and a welcoming atmosphere. The beach is stunning, with golden sands and waves perfect for surfing. I hiked to the summit of Mount Maunganui. I tackled it one crisp morning, and the views are stunning. The trail is well-maintained and offers a moderate challenge, with lush greenery and occasional glimpses of the ocean as you ascend. Beautiful. read more

Mount Maunganui - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Mount Maunganui, BOP

Quality/Quantity - Fun easy hike. Well you have the choice of the fun easy hike or the steep (yes STEEP) shorter path. We chose the steep shorter path, as there was so much we wanted to do in this city. Everyone, all the hikers, are so friendly. Reward on the top of the mountain is the "good luck" stone, Star Compass, Kapehu Whetu; make sure you touch it! There are all the different names for that stone. See pictures of more information on the stone. Atmosphere - Beautiful 360 degree views as you hike this mountain! Especially on a clear beautiful day like today, see pictures. At the base is the main white sand beach, and any amenity that you might need. Not sure if dogs are allowed on the beach, see signs. Cool lifeguard station with plenty of clean toilets and showers, etc. Plenty of public toilets at the base of the mountain, no amenities after that, so prepare accordingly. BBQ grills, drinking water, waste & recycling bins, etc. Surfing, hot salt water pools, golf, etc. Service - Self service. Price - FREE! Owner Comment - Thank you for such a friendly mountain and great hikes. read more

See all

Imagine waking up to the beautiful mountain out your window. Mount Maunganui is located on the peninsula to the north-east of Tauranga. It gets its name from the large lava dome which was formed by the upwelling of rhyolite lava about two to three million years ago. This small area has a lot to offer. Hiking trails up, down and around the almost 800 mountain give you a spectacular 360 degree view of land and sea. Two fabulous white sand beaches. The long thin one on the Pilot Bay side offers warm relaxing waters. Mount Maunganui Main beach, on the Bay of Plenty side of the peninsula, is the best beach in New Zealand and in the top 25 in the world. On a December day, I can vouch for that. It's also a hot surfing spot. Dotted along the area are small cafes, restaurants and snack shops. At the base of the mountain are hot pools and a very popular campground. The harbor is also home to a cruise ship terminal. So if you arrive by ship and want a lazy beach day.....here's the perfect place. You might get a glimpse of the blue penguins in the area too. read more

See all

Iconic Mount Maunganui, Mauao, which rises over 750 feet above sea level. There is a walking path around the base that takes about an hour & has views. The walking tracks to the top of this extinct volcano provide 360 degree views which span the entire length of the Bay of Plenty. According to Maori legend, this hill was a slave to a mountain called Otanewainuku. The conical headland dominates the mostly flat surrounding countryside. It was formerly a Māori pā, and the remains of trenches can be seen in the ridges, as well as ancient shell middens. A statue of a Māori warrior stands in the bay in front of the volcano. Today, it is open to the public year-round. read more

See all

Another day ashore as our circumnavigation of New Zealand draws to a close tomorrow. Mount Maunganui is a sacred place in MAORI culture. A bit if a hike from the Port of Tauranga gates to the start of our climb. We opted for the 4 wheel drive track rising 761 feet above sea level at the summit. Great vistas in all directions, a glorious day light and breezy cool temps low 70s, fine for walking. Pathways are clean tidy and well monitored. A MUST do when y'all find yourself in Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, Aotearoa ( land of the long white cloud) Highest ratings and recommendations. 5 full stars on the yelpmeter. read more

See all

This was an incredible hike. I mean pristine and perfect and just about the best thing we could have done in NZ on our honeymoon on the first day of spring. The trailhead begins off the beach. We discovered there are actually two trailheads here. The first is a nice and not too strenuous hike around the base of the mountain. We weren't intending to take this but what can I say..The husband let me lead and reading signs is for sissies. So..about halfway around the circumference he concludes we must have taken the wrong direction and there must be 2 trailheads. Well, I hate admitting the husband's right especially so early in the marriage but yah, I took us the wrong way. That being said it was a great warm up and had beautiful views of the surrounding areas, the ocean, and we even got a bonus of watching a cute little group of penguins... I'll just say I intended it this way. After this lil jaunt we ended up back at the trailhead and took the vertical path. My husband pointed out the logic in the vertical path leading 'up'. To the summit. Our originally intended destination. Ok fine. This was also a beautiful walk that got our cardiovascular systems working a bit harder than the first trail but still had plenty of rest points and areas not as steep for a nice chance to catch your breath. If the penguins weren't squee worthy enough, there were sheep studded all over this beautiful green terrain and they had newly suckling babies.. O.M.G. am I right? Forget the summit view, I'll just stare at the fluff babes all day. The summit did in fact have some unbeatable views of the Bay of Plenty and Tauranga. We enjoyed the breeze and took the obligatory newlywed selfies. The hike down was no trouble, except for my husband having to drag me away from photographing the baby lambs. A quick trip down and we were able to refill our waters on the beach before jumping in the car headed out on more adventures. read more

As our cruise ship sailed past Maunganui early in the morning I saw a number of people running a path along the base of the mountain. Then I noticed people running on paths up the mountain. That confirmed to me that even though I'm not in all that great shape, the hike to the summit would be attainable. It wasn't an easy hike for me but I'm so glad I did it. There are signposts at each path crossing and occasional benches. At the summit are a couple of picnic tables and benches and great views. There are sheep in the fields by the paths so you might get up close and personal with a woolly being. This hike is popular so the slow and steady like me have to step aside for the trail runners. Restrooms are at the bottom so take that into consideration. Also bring plenty of water. read more

See all

Excellent Beach Side City. Pacific Ocean on one side and half kilometre away a quiet Bay, which is near the busiest cargo and cruise ship port in New Zealand. Between the two beaches is a popular natural hot mineral/seawater pool. At least 10km of ocean beach so you can get away from the crowds. It is on an isthmus across the harbour from Tauranga. Vibrant shopping area and numerous restaurants. Easy access to rest of Bay of Plenty and Rotorua. Numerous flights to Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch read more

One of the most amazing views of the North Island! Although this hike is not easy for beginning older hikers or out of shape youngsters, it is well worth the trek if you would take your time. There are two ways to get to the top (east or west) and depending on your preference and needs, your choice while likely drive your success. Going around the east side means you will go up a steep set of stairs mixed with a smooth track. There are so many stairs and they are steep and narrow, with traffic coming in both directions. There is tree cover, so if you go up this way, just stop if you need a break -otherwise it is a great workout. Going up the west side is a steep and slick climb but no stairs! So depending on your interest or need (stairs can be tough on your knees for example) make a good choice. The view is incredible at the summit! You can see the entire town of Tauranga plus! Ocean gateway and miles and miles of beautiful mountains and water. Note that besides the summit peak (mini water tower and tables/benches) there are two lookouts hidden on side paths on the far east and west peaks - make sure you stop and enjoy those too. We observed a father and son having lunch on the summit, a couple of young ladies having a fun conversation, and a few tourists like us just enjoying the day. If you are in this area, please take the hike - it is well worth it, and if you finish by 2pm there are a few good places to have lunch overlooking the beach at the bottom of the mountain. If the summit hike is too high - they also have a flat walk around the base. Looks pretty and much easier than the summit climb. read more

I highly recommend a walk or run on the track around the Mount ! Takes about 45min and is fairly easy I did it in regular clothes and flat sneakers . There are lots of seals and bird life , the walk to the top is another story for another day ! Take warm clothes as the wind can go right through you and there are a few good photo ops . read more

See all

The first couple of times I did the Mount hike, I was just mildly impressed. Compared to many of the other hikes/walks I've done in New Zealand, especially in and around Wellington, it's not that spectacular. But for some reason I seem to love it more every time. I think it's because I've started to appreciate the variety of walks the Mount offers: you can walk around the base of the Mount for some lovely sea views (and when the season's right, views of seals/orcas), or you can do a basic walk up/walk down in about 45 minutes, or you can do my favorite walk, which is the normal way up and then come down round the back. It's a bit hard to explain the route, but basically once you reach the summit you keep going to the lookout point at the back of the peak, then walk down from there. At some point there's a staircase that seems to go backwards down into a forest. Take that! You won't regret it. In winter, you should leave before 4pm so that you don't end up walking down in the dark. You can also try to get up for sunrise, which I highly recommend as well. Best free and healthy thing to do in the area, hands down. read more

Great workout hiking the Mount. It does not matter if you take the stairs straight up or the lower track. Both will get your heart pumping. Photos off the top are not to be missed. Take your own water, there is only water at the lifeguard station and toilets at the station. Allow 40-45 minutes up and 20-25 minutes down. read more