Holiday houses & accommodation in Bay Of Plenty

Getting to Your Bay of Plenty Accommodation

Wherever you choose to stay in the Bay, you'll find plenty of options for getting there. Tauranga, New Zealand's 5th-biggest city and biggest and busiest port, is the gateway to the Bay of Plenty, and it's close to several major North Island cities.

If you're planning to drive, Tauranga is easily accessible from Hamilton, Taupo, Rotorua, and Auckland. The quickest way is following State Highway 1 onto State Highway 27. But if you want a really special drive, we recommend taking the leisurely but far more scenic Pacific Coast Highway, which traces the beautiful Coromandel Peninsula.

If you don't plan to drive, no worries. Plenty of bus and coach companies run frequent daily services between Auckland, Rotorua, Hamilton, Taupo, and Tauranga. From Tauranga, you can find local services to smaller Bay of Plenty towns like Katikati, Te Puke, Omokoroa, and Whakatane.

Family Holidays in the Bay of Plenty

If you've got kids to entertain, you'll find no shortage of options for family fun. Line up a wildlife encounter with a dolphin cruise or native bird walk, or take a tour of the glow worm caves by Lake Mclaren to meet some of the Bay of Plenty's most ancient and unusual subterranean inhabitants.

For an educational option, take the kids to learn about Maori culture and heritage at one of several fantastic museums and heritage centres in the area. Or visit the Whakarewarewa Maori Village for a full immersion experience. For a glimpse into one of the most famous aspects of modern New Zealand history and culture, take a day trip to Matamata and walk around the movie set used to film Hobbiton in Sir Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy.

What to See and Do in the Bay of Plenty

The Bay of Plenty offers plenty of options for active holidaymakers, from world-class surfing to unforgettable skydiving. Look for lodges around the western Bay of Plenty to enjoy the waves and chilled-out vibes of Waihi Beach, or the famous surf break and beachside boulevard of Mount Maunganui. The walk up 'the Mount' is a must for any active visitors looking for sensational sunset or sunrise views.

If you're more in the market for a relaxed holiday, find a holiday home hidden away in the hills behind Papamoa and Te Puke, where you can find bushwalks to breathtaking waterfalls, or unwind at the rejuvenating natural thermal Awakere Hot Springs. For something really special, take a cruise off the coast from Whakatane to explore the incredible views of White Island, New Zealand's only active marine volcano, or the wildlife sanctuary of Whale Island.

Frequently Asked Questions