The Bay of Plenty lies east of the Kaimai-Mamaku Ranges and south of the Coromandel peninsula. It’s a place of beautiful harbours, long white surf beaches and an easy going lifestyle.

Located at the entrance to a beautiful natural harbour is Tauranga - a city with a nautical theme. Two large marinas hold over a thousand yachts and launches, and there are numerous charter boat operators ready to take on the marlin waters offshore.

The thousands of visitors who were once lured to the Bay of Plenty by its beautiful beaches are now discovering Tauranga as a cosmopolitan lifestyle city where they can enjoy first-rate cuisine and local wines in any of the many cafés and restaurants. The shopping is tasty too.

Across the harbour from Tauranga is Mount Maunganui - a volcanic cone on the end of a huge sand spit. The deep blue of the Pacific Ocean stretches as far as the eye can see, the vista interrupted only by surfers, wind surfers, small islands and boats carrying keen anglers in search of the stuff fishing legends are made of. There’s enormous scope here for adventure seekers.

On the journey east encounter Te Puke, ‘the kiwi fruit capital’ of New Zealand. Then it’s on to the town of Whakatane and White Island, one of the most accessible active volcanos in the world. Steam billows from its main crater and spurts of ash keep things interesting for visitors.