3 Days in Mount Maunganui: My Perfect Long Weekend

Located on the east coast of the North Island, Tauranga is home to my favourite coastal town, Mount Maunganui.

It is one of my most cherished regions in New Zealand. However, many travellers never make it to this little slice of heaven on whirlwind road trips through Aotearoa.

Well-known to New Zealanders, Mount Maunganui offers miles and miles of white sand beaches, hiking tracks, and more cafes than you could possibly imagine. It’s also within close proximity to some of the most stunning waterfalls, perfect for a long weekend getaway.

I’ve spent many weekends exploring this idyllic region and now think I am well-versed to introduce you to my dreamy long weekend itinerary, highlighting the best of our trips to Tauranga and why it’s a must-visit destination every summer.

How to get to Mount Maunganui

Getting to Mount Maunganui from cities like Auckland, Hamilton, and Rotorua is relatively straightforward.

It’s also within driving distance of other popular New Zealand destinations like the Coromandel, Raglan, Hobbiton and Taupo.

I recommend renting a car and driving. There are so many beautiful places to stop along the way like Paeroa to see the iconic L&P bottle and the Karangahake Gorge for epic walking tracks.

How long does it get to Mount Maunganui:

Auckland: 3 hours
Hamilton: 1.5 hours
Raglan: 2 hours 10 minutes
Rotorua: 1 hour
Taupo: 2 hours

When to visit Mount Maunganui

Mount Maunganui’s Main Beach has won the Trip Advisors award for ‘Best Beach in New Zealand’ multiple times AND is among the top 25 beaches in the world. If that’s not enough reason to visit, I don’t know what is!

Mount Maunganui, affectionately known by locals as ’The Mount’, is an amazing destination year-round. However, if you want to maximise your time here, I’d recommend visiting in the summer months (December-February).

Summer in New Zealand gives The Mount the most delicious, laid-back vibe. There are beach and ocean events almost every weekend; food trucks line the beachfront, and there are plenty of places to sunbathe.

Where to stay in Mount Maunganui

Accommodation in Tauranga and Mount Maunganui varies from holiday parks and campsites to boutique hotels.

I’ve visited Mount Maunganui more times than I can count. Given I’m a sucker for camping, if you’ve got a tent or campervan, my recommendation would be to stay at Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park, particularly if it’s your first time visiting The Mount.

This campground has one of the best locations I’ve ever encountered. Located at the base of Mauao (The Mount), Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park is within walking distance of Mount Maunganui Main Beach and Pilot Bay, hiking tracks, cafes, and the town’s shops.

If you’d like to stay somewhere more remote, drive 20-30 minutes from Mount Maunganui and stay at McLaren Falls. The Tauranga District Council operates McLaren Falls Campsite, which is nestled among 190 hectares of parkland set alongside Lake McLaren. There are facilities such as hot showers, flushing toilets, glow worm tracks, and waterfalls to visit.

If camping isn’t your thing, there are plenty of AirBnbs, lodges, and hotels in the area. I recommend checking out Booking.com for a full list!

Note: If I could give you one piece of advice, it’s that if you’re travelling to Mount Maunganui in the summer, you’ll want to book your accommodation early!

Day One: Auckland to Mount Maunganui

The drive from Auckland to Mount Maunganui is relatively easy and only takes three hours. We usually start early at 7:00am and drive direct, without any stops (except for the odd toilet/snack break). But it’s your first time travelling this way; I’d recommend factoring in extra time to make some stops along the way!

Make sure to visit:

Paeroa for New Zealand’s iconically large L&P bottle
Karangahake Gorge for beautiful walking tracks. I’d recommend the Historical Tunnel Track and the Windows Walk.

Alternatively, if you’ve got a trip to Hobbiton on your bucket list, you could drive through Hamilton, stopping at the Hamilton Gardens and Cambridge for a coffee.

Then, I’d recommend making a detour to Ōmanawa Falls. Recently reopened, Omanawa Falls is one of the most beautiful waterfalls on the North Island and a must-visit in the Bay of Plenty. You can expect to spend about an hour and a half here, so it’s perfect for a trip over lunchtime!

You can find out more about visiting Ōmanawa Falls in my guide here.

*Ōmanawa Falls from the first viewpoint*

When you arrive in Mount Maunganui, it will be midafternoon. Check into your accommodation at Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park. Then, it’s time to get to know the area. Walk along the beachfront and spend hours watching the waves crash in (perfect during Golden Hour) or head into town to peruse the shops.

Once it’s time for dinner, make sure to check out Rice Rice Baby for epic Vietnamese Fusion or Osteria for the most delicious Italian food.

Day Two: R&R

If you know me, you’ll know my favourite travel style is rest AND adventure crammed into one.

However, I’m also a sucker for an early morning, and there’s no shortage of epic sunrises in this part of the world.

Start your day with a hike up Mauao (The Mount) for sunrise.

*It’s usually still nighttime when we start walking up The Mount!*

I’d recommend you start walking an hour before sunrise and choose The Mount Maunganui Summit and Ranui Look Track, which spans 6.4km and usually takes about 2 hours to complete.

The first part of the walk is uphill and typically takes 30-45 minutes, depending on your fitness level. Once you’ve made it up, there will be plenty of time to catch your breath and soak in the sunrise (trust me, the photos will be worth it!) Then, you can make your way back down via the loop track.

Once you’ve finished your walk (seriously, the best way to start your morning), walk into town for breakfast at The General Café.

The General is an award-winning, family-owned eatery in the heart of Mount Maunganui. They serve everything from breakfast cocktails and epic coffee to eggs on toast and whole foods.

After breakfast, head down to Main Beach for a day in the sun. If you’re an active relaxer, you could walk around the base of The Mount or take a surf lesson.

Day Three: Wairere Falls

I hadn’t explored Wairere Falls until 2024, but now I firmly believe that a trip to the Bay of Plenty isn’t complete without experiencing the North Island’s tallest waterfall.

Nestled on the western side of the Kaimai Mamaku Conservation Park near Te Aroha, Wairere Falls plunges 153 metres (500 feet) in two steps.

The popular track leaves from the Wairere Falls Track Carpark, located at 87 Goodwin Road, an hour away from Mount Maunganui.

It’s moderate, with lots of steps, steeper sections, rocks, and tree roots. But the effort it takes to get to the top is well worth it. The hike to the top takes about 2-3 hours (depending on your fitness).

If you want an easier trip, you can walk to the first viewpoint and then return the way you came. This option takes about 45 minutes each way and offers delicious views of the cascading waterfall.

Both routes require suitable footwear and can get very muddy in the winter (or if there’s been lots of rain), so take care.

If you do the whole track, you can expect to spend 4.5-5 hours here, perfect for a full day out!

Once you’ve finished your walk, head back to Mount Maunganui. No trip to The Mount would be complete for me without a late afternoon walk down the beach with a real-fruit ice cream from The Wave food truck. The Wave is an institution and serves up my favourite real-fruit ice cream in the world (dramatic, but true!).

My favourite thing about Mount Maunganui is that each time I go back, I seem to explore somewhere new. So, I’m sure there are some beautiful places that I’ve missed off this list. To me, that sounds like I’ll have to book another trip back! Do you have a favourite place in Mount Maunganui? Let me know in the comments below!

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