An extinct volcano set on a peninsula, Mount Maunganui gives its name also to the suburb of…read moreTauranga 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.

Mount Maunganui in Tauranga is a slice of paradise with a beach town nestled right next to the…read moreiconic 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.

The best way I can describe this place is the "Pompeii of New Zealand". I have to be honest to say…read moreI was not expecting more than another tourist trap, but it far exceeded my expectations! Firstly, the gift shop you enter the ladies are dressed in era appropriate garb and you automatically feel like you have kinda gone back in time a bit. So that was comforting. One of the nice ladies behind the register even gave me a bit of a "rainy day discount" since it was raining pretty hard at that point and she took pity on me. She also provided an umbrella upon request, which was very nice. You get an informative little laminated map card that tells you your route and all the things you are looking at. You start in the museum, which was one of my favorite parts! The Maori art they had in the museum were just incredible! Seriously, some of the woodworks were jaw-dropping in the grandeur of the piece and the ornate details. There is a piece below the story of the day the volcano erupted about the ghost war canoe that had me mesmerized for what felt like hours! It was just so beautiful and intricate! They did an excellent job explaining what happened, why the village was such a tourist hotspot prior to the eruption, and the aftermath. They even had handwritten excerpts from a journal of a family member who lost his family in the eruption that day. It was extremely poignant and I highly recommend taking your time to really appreciate the museum portion. There were a group of people who came in after me that literally just walked through it w/o even stopping once before going outside. The grounds are pretty spread out and you basically just see the excavation sites of the different features that existed in the village. Some have artifacts that were recovered on display, which are pretty neat, especially the bottles, tea cups, and welding tools. It is a bit somber. As you come to one of the last excavation sites, you start to walk along a stream and it is simply gorgeous! Because of the rain, I basically had the place to myself as the group that ran through the museum was long gone, and it was just very tranquil standing by the little waterfalls of the babbling brook with the sound of the rain on my umbrella. It was a great experience to have in a place like this. When you end the grounds tour you have a choice to hike down to a waterfall. This is a must! The waterfall is just wow and you can get right up to it! You hike down steps and dirt and then hike back up a different way, but the boardwalks by the waterfalls are just awesome! I had it to myself and it a pretty spiritual experience. I could have stood there in front of the initial thundering falls all day! The hike back to the visitor center is about 5mins and they have some great Maori inspired pieces and art work to purchase for souvenirs. All in all a great experience for the price of admission (with my discount it was $22US) and I left with a little trinket that will have sentimental value tied to that experience here!

So going to all the touristy places this is one that you definitely want to come and see. In 1886 a…read morevolcano my tarawera had erupted in the early hours of the morning and molten lava and mud had covered a little village. Recently excavations have happened and items and parts of buildings have been discovered and restored. You'll walk through a museum to see the history of the town and then walk outside and see buildings around. Eventually this will lead you down a path to a beautiful waterfall and great views of the lake below. Entrance to the museum and walk is about $50 for a family if 2 adults and 2 kids but it's well worth it. Also you'll need comfy and sterdy shoes for the walk to the waterfall preferably runners, and be relatively fit it has a lot of steps! But so good for the views

Be the seriously greatest person ever with a photo at this true NZ Landmark!!!…read morehttps://www.vroomvroomvroom.com/big-things-to-see/l-and-p-bottle-paeroa/ --Paeroa is located about halfway between New Zealand's largest city Auckland (90 minutes northwest driving) and another urban centre, Tauranga (75 minutes southeast). Paeroa has a population of about 4 thousand - but its WORLDWIDE FAME is thanks to being the birthplace of Lemon and Paeroa, or L and P for short. The popular New Zealand soda was traditionally made by mixing carbonated mineral water from Paeroa's natural springs with lemon juice. --These days it's bottled by Coca-Cola. Over the years, L and P's comical ad slogan "World famous in New Zealand" has become a popular New Zealand saying.

White Island Tours is the only company who has permits to land with a boat, and they do an amazing…read morejob! The boat ride is ~1 hour there and back and you're on the island for about 1.5 hours. Plan for about 5 hours total for the full tour. We went during 5-10 knot winds and for those who get sea sick, it was very comfortable and manageable. They have a brand new custom boat that makes it super easy to land on the island and the staff are AMAZING! Cannot recommend White Island tours enough!

LOVED my tour! Gaia is awesome and I highly recommend this tour. We learned so much and had such a…read moregreat day exploring White Island. If you have time and its a gorgeous day, I highly recommend going out here! It is important to wear the masks they give you the further you go in to the island. It definitely ended up being one of my favorite days of my NZ trip. We also got to see SO MANY dolphins on the way back! Definitely recommend this tour!

We bought tickets for both the Lady Knox Geyser and touring the thermal park. The gates to the…read moregeyser don't open until 9:45am and that wasn't clear so there was a long line of cars right outside the gate wondering if they were in the right place. They were. The geyser eruption can be controlled by the insertion of soap so it runs each day at 10:15am. Quite the crowd gathers. A woman sang a local native song as it erupted. It was quite lovely. After the eruption, most people head to the visitor center to tour the grounds. Well marked paths lead you interesting features throughout the park. It was a great way to learn and experience something unique that New Zealand has to offer.

I definitely enjoyed my trip here. Seeing all the natural beauty and wonder was amazing. Plus…read moregetting in some steps was also a plus. I thought the admission fee was a bit much for what the place offered but still happy I went.

Great place to learn about Maori culture. Highlights & Recommendations for Te Puia:…read more1) NZ Maori Arts & Crafts Institute (NZMACI) - A fascinating school that allows Maori adult students to study (tuition free) traditional crafts such as wood, stone, and bone carving and weaving, using tradtional methods. This allows the students to perpetuate Maori culture. Recommendation: NZMACI should offer classes (for a fee) for Pākehā (non-Maori people) who could also learn the techniques, and their fees would also help subsidize the school. The classes could range from the full course for NZ residents, to shorter courses for tourists. 2) Geyser- Spectacular! 3) Cultural Show - Interesting, Informative, Entertaining. Recommendation: Do a full Haka, and outside where everyone can see. Also, give a more full explanation of all the parts. 4) Maori Staff - All of the staff were superb! I was with Kia (sp?) and she very patiently answered all my many questions about the Maori language. Recommendations: I would like to have known a little about each Staff member- origin, tribe, etc. 5) Maori Culture- I cannot imagine a better place to learn about Maori culture! Recommendations: I would like to have known more about Maori tattoos - designs, placement, symbolism, etc. It's such a visible part od Maori culture that it should be featured. If it would be offensive to do so, I would withdraw this comment. Overall, and exceptional visit to a very entertaining place. Nga mihi!

We got the ticket for the full guided tour, dinner, and the show. It's pricy but we enjoyed it very…read moremuch and it's a unique experience. The tour starts with some quick stops at the traditional way the food is cooked and at a carved canoe to give a glimpse of Māori life. You get to see some kiwi birds, then cruise around the geyser area. Lots of lookouts and viewing sites. You finish the tour in the art center where the intricate carvings and weaving are done. Next is dinner. The buffet has a ton of meat (meat coma) along with vegetables, salads, desserts, etc. so many options. You are given a seating assignment so we conversed with folks from Denver and California. Funny we go all the way to New Zealand and end up hanging with folks from the US. Finally, you end with the show. It is well done. You get a good variety of battle, love, and storytelling songs. It was an educational and enjoyable experience.

Even better than just the thermal walk - pay for a day in the hot springs and a massage, bring a…read morepicnic lunch. It's super pretty and enjoyable. There's also a great cafe on site and all the staff are very professional and efficient.

Natural wonders to see, and just $10. Great for anyone wanting a taste of thermal action and…read morecoloured earth for a bargain price. Plus you're by a campsite if looking for a spot to stay.

Waiheke Island is a stunning and short ferry ride from Auckland, New Zealand. This serene oasis of…read morethe bluest water has beautiful, world-class wineries, and unique activities, making for a perfect day trip with friends. Once you land on Waiheke, look behind you for wonderful views of the skyline of Auckland. Ready, set, sip wine!

We spent a day on Waiheke Island, one of the highlights of our trip. The island has over 9,400…read moreresidents and is a popular tourist destination. Just 40 minutes by ferry from downtown Auckland, it made for an easy day trip. Our plan was to visit various wineries and have a nice dinner in the evening. We did wine tastings at Wild Estate, Stonyridge Vineyard, and Cable Bay Vineyard; lunch at Heke Kitchen, Brewery & Distillery; and dinner at Mudbrick. Unfortunately we missed the bus we needed to take us form the ferry terminal to the first winery, and the next one wasn't departing for another half an hour or so. However, the bus driver of another bus route suggested we hop on his bus, which, while it would not take us to our destination, he could drop us off in an area with some shops where we could look around while we wait for our bus. It was a good suggestion, because waiting half an hour in a cute village is much more enjoyable than waiting half an hour at a ferry terminal with nothing to do. Also, while in the village, we had just enough time to stop into a store where my husband found a great rain jacket. So perhaps it was a good thing that we missed the bus! The first winery we went to was Wild On Waiheke, and we walked between Wild, Heke Kitchen, and Stonyridge Vineyard. We took a cab from Stonyridge to Cable Bay, which was in another area of the island, and from Mudbrick back to the ferry. Despite all the rain we experienced on our trip, we got pretty lucky with the weather while we were on Waiheke Island. If you go to Auckland, I highly recommend a day trip to Waiheke Island, especially if you like wine! [Yelp collections: NZ/Fiji 2023; New Zealand 2023; Wine Time!]

Cathedral Cove was an amazing experience. To be walking in farmland amongst a bunch of sheep one…read moreminute and then be in a tropical jungle next to a beach the next is amazing. The scenery was like something out of a movie. This is a must see on any New Zealand trip.

35 years ago this place was da bomb. Now, it's over-crowded beyond belief. In the late 1980s and…read moreearly 1990s it was a pristine place where you could have this gorgeous beach all to yourself that only locals knew how to get. Now there's a water taxi, a 1-way 5 minute boat ride from Hahei Beach to Cathedral Cove for $80NZ, there's kayak tours and other signs of commercialization that make this beautiful place swarming with people. It's about an hour walk, up and down hills that are steep, yet paved, with a few steep stairways as well. The amount of tourists overwhelms the beauty, in my humble opinion. Super beautiful spot, but waaaaay too crowded to enjoy the true beauty.