Waihi to Lake Rotorua
The first part of this tour leads you along the Bay of Plenty, a agricultural region where kiwi and citrus fruits flourishes. It's also a big tourist destination with lots of beaches for surfing and swimming.
The second part brings you to the most active volcanic area of New Zealand. It's the region to go for bubbeling mud pools, geysers and hot springs.
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Newmont Waihi GoldAn operating open pit mine producing over $1.5 million worth of gold and silver each week.
There is a viewing platform and the Golden Legacy Centre for more information.
Katikati
40 km north of Tauranga
A great idea and plenty of paint put the town on the map for tourists. Nearly 40 painted murals are turning the town into an open air gallery. You'll find a description of the murals at the i-Site.
Evening concerts are held during the summer months.
Tauranga - safe anchorage
As the cities name already tells it was an harbour for centuries. Nowadays there is a large number of yachts, freight liners and it's a destination for cruise ships.
The StrandA newly developed pedestrian area with restaurants, cafes and shops on the waterfront.
Elms Mission House
Mission St
One of the countries oldest mission stations was completed 1847. The garden is open to the public everyday from 2 to 6pm, the home with a library on Sundays between 2 - 4pm.
Mt Maunganui
A popular holiday destination for New Zealanders with a long beach and lots of apartments and hotels. You will reach Mt Manganui from Tauranga by the harbour bridge.
Mt Mauaoa - Mt Maunganui - the Mount2 hours return (to the summit)
Start: Adams Avenue
The Mount dominates the region and there are many remains of Maori fortifications. Choose from plenty of walking possibilities but if you make it all the 323m to the top, you'll be rewarded with an incredible 360° panoramic view over the harbour.
Adams Avenue
The pools are open till late and mark a perfect end of the day - especially if you walked to the summit of Mt Maunganui.
Te Puke
If you want to get closer to New Zealand's national fruit, this is the place to do so. The inlandtown is known as the Kiwi fruit Capital of the World.
www.tepuke.co.nz
www.kiwi360.com/history_of_te_puke.php
Kiwi 360
SH2 east of Te Puke - watch for the big kiwi!
Kiwi 360 has a visitor centre and you can take a tour around the Kiwi fruit industry. The trees are in fruit between may und june.
Close by Kiwi 360 on SH2
A large number of classic and vintage vehicles are on display.
Okere Falls
Whatch for the signs to the falls before you reach Lake Rotoiti. It's a short walk to the spectacular falls. The water of Kaituna River comes from Lake Rotorua and Lake Rotoiti. Here it falls down some 100m over a series of cascades and rapids on it's way to the sea.
Hell's Gate - TikitereA short drive up SH30 takes you to Hell's Gate, a large thermal area with a thermal waterfall, mud pools and other thermal miracles to walk around.
