Activities

In the summer most holiday makers travel to "The Mount" to make the most of the beautiful beaches and the great surf. The waters off the coast of Tauranga also are good fishing areas. It also has a good selection of beautiful walks.

• Katikati Bird Gardens, Walker Road East (25 min drive north of Tauranga off State Highway 2), ☎ +64 7 549-0912. 10:00-16:30. Lovely old established gardens on the edge of the inner Tauranga Harbour. Mostly formal with wetlands area and walk. Golf cart tours and hire. Great café. Native birds on display including the NZ kea. from $5.

• The Kiwi Asylum, 386 Papamoa Beach Road, ☎ +64 7 218-0355, +64 27 273 2544. Dirtsurfing is for the adrenaline junkie in all of us. All that is needed is a willingness to try this inline board sport. Only your imagination will limit what you can do with your Dirtsurfer. A Dirtsurfer is like a combination of a skateboard and a bike moulded into one.
• Mauao or Mount Maunganui - a volcanic peak to climb with fantastic views of the suburb named after it (Mt Maunganui) and the entire Tauranga area and coastlines.

Food

People in Tauranga love to eat out. There is a large selection of restaurants to eat at, especially on 'The Strand', which is regarded as the restaurant central of Tauranga.

• Bella Mia Pizzaria, Devonport Road. In the same spot for over 30 years, pizza-pasta Italian restaurant.

• Bravo, Red Square. Excellent weekend brunch, lunch and dinner spot in the centre of town. Great restaurant and Cafe food

• Harbourside. Situated over the water in a historic converted yacht club

• Nazar Mediterranean Cafe & Takeaway, 332 Maunganui Road, Mount Maunganui, ☎ +64 7 575-3887. Cafe & takeaway. Cuisines: Mediterranean, Turkish. Payment Options: cash, EFTPOS, Visa, MasterCard, American Express. Street side outdoor seating. $10-20.

Drinks

As with eating, people in Tauranga love cafes. You will also find numerous pubs around the area. A double spirit will cost $6-7.

'The Strand' is the main area for Tauranga's nightlife consisting of a strip of bars, clubs and restaurants.

Clubs

• The Grumpy Mole - General mainstream, top 50 music
• Krazy Jacks - Alternative / rock club providing live bands - no dress standard enforced
• The Budda Lounge - Cocktail lounge with some impressive bartenders working
• Home Bar
• Coyotes - Mainstream music with dance on Saturday nights - high standard of dress
• Crown & Badger - Great pub meals
• De Bier Haus
• Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club Sulphur Point
• Mount Ocean Sports Club Pilot Bay, Mount Maunganui

Pubs

• Cornerstone

Shopping

There are two main shopping centres in the Tauranga region - Bayfair at 'The Mount' and central Tauranga, or 'town'