How to Spend 4 Days in Mount Maunganui

Looking for a relaxing coastal getaway? Look no further than Mount Maunganui.

Mount Maunganui (and the surrounding Tauranga region) is a place that is near and dear to my heart. So much so, I think that one day I will call this place home. Plus, its close proximity to the Coromandel, Rotorua and Taupo makes it a ‘no-brainer’ addition to any New Zealand road trip itinerary.

So, whether you’re interested in jaw dropping hikes, surfing and white sand beaches, or just kicking back with a coffee and watching the world go by; this is the place for you!

How to get to Mount Maunganui

The easiest way to get to Mount Maunganui is by driving. This will allow you maximum flexibility and ensure you don’t miss anything on the way! If you haven’t already, I wouldn’t recommend renting a car – check out Rental Cars for the best deals in town.

From Auckland: 3 hours
From Hamilton: 1.5 hours
From the Coromandel: 1.5-2 hours (don’t underestimate the winding roads!)
From Napier: 3.5 to 4 hours
From New Plymouth: 4 hours
From Wellington: 6.5 to 7 hours

Where to stay in Mount Maunganui and Tauranga

Choosing where to stay in Mount Maunganui will ultimately depend on your budget, location and whether you have a taste for the finer things in life.

If you want to stay within walking distance of most of the activities I cover in this itinerary, I recommend staying in Mount Maunganui – as close to Mauao as possible! Obviously, with the location comes a larger price tag (however in my option it’s well worth the extra $$!)

If you’re looking for another option, you can stay in Tauranga – 15 minutes drive from The Mount. I stayed in Tauranga South on my most recent trip and loved it.

Camping | Located at the foot of Mauao, Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park offers a dream location to park up your caravan or pitch a tent. With Main Beach out the front (and Pilot Bay around the corner), you’ll be hard pressed to find better located accomodation options!

If you’re looking for something a little more secluded, try McLaren Falls Holiday Park and nestle yourself between walkways, waterfalls and one of the best botanical collections of trees in the North Island.

Budget | Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park and Cosy Corner offer well equiped cabins which offer the perfect mix of location, price and home comforts.

Splash the cash | I stayed at The Tauranga on the Waterfront on my most recent holiday here and loved it. Located in Tauranga South, everything from the rooms and location to local eateries, to the ultra friendly staff exceeded my expectations. Plus, they offer free on-site parking which is a huge bonus!

The Best Cafes and Restaurants in Mount Maunganui and Tauranga

Food. You can’t live without it! Personally I love the dining scene in the Mount – it’s the perfect combination of a ‘come as you are’ experience with a little je ne sais quoi. Indulge yourself with my top picks below:

Cafés:

The General – a big call, but this is the best cafe in the Mount. Whether you’re after breakfast, lunch or dinner, this award winning cafe serves up fresh, local produce that can’t be beaten. Top picks: eggs on sourdough toast with (to die for) house smoked salmon and the Loom Bowl (Mango and passionfruit Greek yogurt, house made Granola clusters, seasonal fruit and almond salted caramel butter)
Henry & Ted – a little further down the line in Papamoa, Henry & Ted is a vibrant cafe with some of the nicest wait-staff we’ve ever come across!
Tay Street Beach Café is a beachside dream. They’ve been a local fav for over 13 years and we can see why! They offer an extensive menu full of kiwi classics, as well as mouth watering cabinet food.

Deckchair – location, location, location! Deckchair’s proximity to Mauao’s base and Main Beach makes it the perfect ‘post sunrise walk’ refuelling station.
The Wave Cafe okay, technically this isn’t a sit-in cafes but no ‘best places to eat in Mount Maunganui’ list would be complete without a special shoutout to The Wave. An iconic Mount Maunganui favourite, serving up unbeatable coffee, toasties and real fruit ice cream!
The Sandbank Cafe is the most gorgeous Bedford Truck turned sustainable coffee van, located right on Papamoa Beach (don’t go past their superfood smoothie bowels topped off with homemade muesli, coconut shavings and fruit).

Restaurants:

Rice Rice Baby – authentic Vietnamese food right in the heart of the Mount. Need I say more? The co-owner and head chef comes from Vietnam and let me tell you – her traditional family recipes are to die for. More on this below!
Sugo serves up the best pizza I’ve had in New Zealand. There. I said it! After an average meal at another restaurant across the street the night before, my hopes weren’t high. Sugo blew me away. Decadent drinks, beautiful decor and Neapolitan style pizza that just hit the spot (major points for the super flavourful, chewy crust!). I’d go back here in a heartbeat and will recommend this dinner spot to every one of my friends. Top picks: marinated mixed Mediterranean olives, Heirloom tomato & Clevedon Buffalo mozzarella salad, Prosciutto Di Parma and Sugo Margarita pizzas.
Izakai Bar & Eatery – bringing together the flavours of Maori and Japanese cuisine in the best way possible.
Astrolabe Brewbar in the heart of the Mount is the perfect place to sit back, relax with a beer and watch the world go by. Did someone way foot long, hand-stretched sourdough pizzas? Sign me RIGHT up.

Day 1: Auckland to Mount Maunganui

It’s go time baby. Whether you’re heading down to Mount Maunganui from Auckland, or elsewhere in Aotearoa, the drive is fairly straightforward.

Take your time as you you drive down as there is plenty to see on the way!

Must see stops on the way (via SH2):

Take a photo with the iconic giant L&P bottle in Paeroa.
Walk through the Karangahake Gorge, home to much of New Zealand’s old gold mining history. Stretch your legs along one of the many walks in the region – you won’t be disappointed!

Must see stops on the way (via SH1/SH29):

Take in the beauty of Hamilton Gardens – a public garden park which boasts 54 manicured acres of enclosed gardens, open lawns, a lake, a nursery, and more.
Stop for coffee in Tirau – a quirky little town and the ‘Corrugated Capital of the World’ before detouring to Putāruru, home to the mesmerising Blue Springs. Take the 3-hour easy return walk along the riverside Te Waihou Walkway to see where most of New Zealands bottled water comes from!

Once you arrive in Mount Maunganui, check into your accomodation before heading to the Mauao Base Track for sunset. Start from Pilot Bay, or the Surf Club on Main Beach, and the easy walk will take you around 45 minutes to complete. You’ll be treated to views of Matakana Island and glistening golden hour sun. What more could you want!

If you’re up for a challenge, you can climb to the top of Mauao along the Summit Track. But, take it easy today – that’s on the agenda tomorrow!

Wrap up day 1 with dinner at one of Mount Maunganui’s best eateries. My personal favourite is Rice Rice Baby – serving authentic Vietnamese food right on Mount Maunganui Road. If you’re looking for cheap drinks, they run their Happy Hour between 4-6pm every day. Don’t go past their Gỏi cuốn (fresh summer rolls with peanut hoisin sauce) and Phở bò/Hủ tiếu gà (traditional beef/chicken noodle soup).

Now, you’re in for an early start tomorrow to climb the Mauao Summit Track for sunrise so hit the hay early and get some shut eye.

Day 2: Climb Mauao for sunrise and soak up the sun

No adventure to Mount Maunganui is complete without a trip up Mauao – it’s so good i’ve included it in my best walks in New Zealand. Take your adventure to the next level by walking up Mauao for sunrise is a Mount Maunganui – it’s a locals right of passage!

The walk is challenging in places and heads uphill from the beach for approximately 40 minutes before reaching the summit. The two most popular routes to the top are the Oruahine and Waikorire tracks and both start from the Main Beach Surf Club. Both of them are fairly gnarly, but we opted for The Waikorire track. Although it is supposedly the steepest, it has well-formed staircases and is 400m shorter than the Oruahine track. No matter which path you take, the views from the top are WELL worth the effort.

Your wake up call will depend on the time of year you’re in town. We visited in March and started walking at 6am, about an hour before sunrise. The first half of the walk was completed in total darkness (remember to bring your head torch!) and the second was gently lit by red sky as we neared sunrise.

Take your time exploring the top of the summit and watching the world slowly wake up, before heading back down to the world below.

Spend the rest of your second day relaxing by having brunch at one of the many incredible cafes this region boasts, do a spot of shopping, kick back on the beach and allowing yourself to fully unwind.

If you’re up for another activity, see if any from the list below tickles your fancy:

Walk along nature trails at McLaren Falls Park.
Experience exquisitely created award winning New Zealand craft beer with Brewbus.
Soak the day away and relax at the Mount Hot Pools at the base of Mt Maunganui.
Get the adrenaline pumping with a 12,000ft tandem skydive above the Bay of Plenty.

Day 3: We’re off to the beach – surfs up!

If you know me, you know I’m all about the beach. There’s no better feeling in the world than spending the day basking in the sun with a good book and eating lunch with your toes between the sand (it really puts the sand in sandwiches) followed by that post-beach day shower and dinner. So, today we’re doing just that. Bliss.

You’re truly spoilt for choice when it comes to great beaches in Tauranga. Whether you’re looking to catch the surf, get away from the crowds of people, or would rather swim in calmer waters, there’s something for everyone.

Keen to surf? Mount Main Beach is a surfers paradise and there is something for everyone – seasoned veterans and surf newbies alike. The tip of Moturiki/Leisure Island is often a good point break spot, but there are plenty of people in the water so my advice would be to follow the crowds. If you want to learn to surf, the beach is dotted with signs for excellent instructors.
If you’re up for something calmer, or want to paddle board, Pilot Bay on the other side of Mauao is for you. Check out East Coast Paddler to rent your board and book a lesson.
Head to Papamoa for a relaxed vibe with surf, less crowds and great coffee courtesy of The Sandbank Cafe (pictured above).

I expect you’ll have worked up an appetite after all that lounging around on the beach. Treat yourself to dinner at Sugo in Tauranga South.

Home to Neapolitian style pizzas, Sugo exceeded my expectations and takes the cake for my favourite Italian in New Zealand (closely followed by Hones Pizza Garden in Russell, Northland and Poderi Crisci on Waiheke Island, Auckland). We managed to get a table without a reservation, but I’d highly recommend calling ahead as this is one you’re not going to want to miss!

Day 4: Tauranga to Auckland

After 3 days relaxing in beautiful Mount Maunganui, it’s time to head home. Wrap up your trip with one final brunch, laze on the beach, walk around Mauao or wander around the shops. You don’t need an excuse to relax!

Break up your journey home by going in a different direction – if you travelled down via Karangahake Gorge and SH2, travel home via SH29/SH1 and stop off in Hamilton to visit the Hamilton Gardens. It’s free after all!

I hope you loved Mount Maunganui and Tauranga as much as I do! Have I missed something in this itinerary? Let me know in the comments below and I’ll add it to my list for next time!

Notes to Home