Tauranga hugs the Bay of Plenty on the north shore of New Zealand’s North Island. The sixth largest city in the country is a bustling port city with everything needed to enjoy a vacation, including hotels, restaurants, and plenty of great things to do both on and off the water, on the ground and in the air.

History

Today a center for commerce and shipping, the city along the bay long has been home to human activity. The Maroi people arrived in the 1300s, 500 years before European traders showed up in the 1830s. After the flax traders, missionaries and other Europeans arrived in Tauranga, whose name means “safe harbor.” By 1882, the community was established as a borough. It wasn’t until 2004 that Tauranga was officially declared a city when its population crossed the 100,000 people mark.

Tauranga Harbor

The Bay of Plenty, a natural harbor, has long attracted attention of the Maroi, Europeans and others who have passed through the North Island of New Zealand. It has many harbors, including the Tauranga. Matakana Island separates the harbor from the Pacific Ocean. This area is large enough to accommodate cruise ships. Once passengers step of their cruises or arrive at the harbor some other way, they have a lot of choices of things to do. The harbor is a popular place for beachcombing and kite surfing, along with other recreational activities. It’s also a fantastic place to discover on flightseeing excursions. From the harbor, it’s just 45 minutes to Hobbiton, the magical village where they filmed the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit movies.

New Zealand Map

Tauranga Hotels & Lodging

For those who aren’t returning to their cruise ship, they’ll need a place to stay once the sun has set. Tauranga has a wide mix of accommodations to suit budgets from the thriftiest backpacker to the most demanding luxury traveler. On the cheaper end of the spectrum, youth hostels and campgrounds provide a place to stay without a premium price tag. Distinctive accommodations are available at boutique hotels and bed-and-breakfast inns. You’ll also find more traditional hotels as well as luxury apartments for rent.