Mount Maunganui -Tauranga (Mauao)

Aerial view of a large island with a mountain in the center, surrounded by blue water, with a city and beaches in the background.

🌿 About this place

Mauao, known as Mount Maunganui, is a sacred mountain deeply rooted in Māori legend. According to tradition, Mauao was once a nameless mountain that journeyed across the land out of love, eventually coming to rest by the ocean.

Today, it stands as one of the most iconic coastal landmarks in New Zealand, surrounded by golden beaches and a relaxed surf-town atmosphere.

It sits at the entrance of Tauranga, one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing coastal cities, known for its sunny climate, harbour lifestyle and strong connection to the sea. While Tauranga offers a more urban base, Mount Maunganui brings a relaxed beach-town vibe, making the combination of both places a perfect coastal experience.

Mount Maunganui - Mauao

Closed until further notice

Although many visitors think Mount Maunganui is its own town, it is actually a coastal suburb of Tauranga and home to one of New Zealand's most famous landmarks: Mauao.

Rising directly from the ocean to a height of 232 metres, Mauao is a sacred mountain with deep significance to local Māori and offers some of the best coastal views in the country.

The most popular walk is the Summit Track, which climbs to the top of the mountain via a series of well-maintained paths and stair sections.

🥾 Summit Track

  • Distance: approximately 3 km return

  • Elevation Gain: approximately 230 m

  • Time: 45–90 minutes return

  • Difficulty: Moderate

  • Approximate Steps: 600–700 stairs throughout the climb

The track rewards hikers with spectacular 360-degree views over:

  • Mount Maunganui Beach

  • Tauranga Harbour

  • Matakana Island

  • Papamoa coastline

  • The Bay of Plenty

For those wanting something easier, the Base Track circles the mountain at sea level.

🚶 Base Track

  • Distance: approximately 3.4 km loop

  • Time: 45–60 minutes

  • Difficulty: Easy

Many locals combine both walks by completing the summit and then returning via the coastal paths around the base.

Best Time to Visit

Mauao is famous for both sunrise and sunset.

Cultural Significance

According to Māori legend, Mauao was once a nameless mountain who fell in love with another mountain. The story remains one of the most important legends in the Bay of Plenty and adds a rich cultural layer to the experience of visiting the summit.

Local Tip: Start early in the morning during summer. The track offers very little shade, and the views are often clearest before the afternoon sea breeze arrives.

A man with a beard, wearing glasses, a hat, a white t-shirt, and shorts, is sitting on a rock near the coast, making a peace sign with his right hand. Behind him, there is a view of the ocean with waves hitting the shore and a beach area in the distance.
A man with long hair and a beard, wearing a blue t-shirt and black pants, smiling and standing on a large rock with a scenic coastal landscape in the background. The background features the ocean, a small island, and a city along the shoreline with cloudy sky overhead.
An older woman wearing a white sleeveless top, light-colored pants, and a beige cap standing on a hillside overlooking a coastal town with a beach, ocean, and greenery.

Mount Maunganui Beach & Pilot Bay

One of the reasons Mount Maunganui is so popular is that it offers two completely different beaches within just a few minutes' walk of each other.

Mount Maunganui Main Beach

Facing the Pacific Ocean, Mount Maunganui Main Beach is consistently ranked among New Zealand's best beaches.

This long stretch of golden sand is known for its rolling waves, making it a favourite spot for surfers, swimmers, and beachgoers. During summer, the beach is patrolled by lifeguards and becomes one of the busiest coastal destinations in the country.

Whether you're surfing, swimming, or simply relaxing on the sand, the backdrop of Mauao rising from the ocean makes it a spectacular place to spend the day.

Pilot Bay

On the opposite side of the mountain lies Pilot Bay, a completely different environment.

Protected from the ocean swell, the water here is usually calm and sheltered, making it ideal for families, paddleboarding, kayaking, and swimming.

Pilot Bay is also where many dolphin-watching and harbour cruises depart, and it's one of the best places in Mount Maunganui to watch the sunset.

The contrast between the powerful surf of Main Beach and the calm waters of Pilot Bay is one of the things that makes the area so special.

Leisure Island (Moturiki Island)

At the southern end of Main Beach you'll notice a small rocky hill connected to the mainland by a short causeway. This is Moturiki Island, often called Leisure Island by locals.

The walk to the top takes only a few minutes, but the views are fantastic. From the summit, you'll enjoy panoramic views of Mauao, Main Beach, the Pacific Ocean, and the Bay of Plenty coastline.

It's one of the easiest and most rewarding viewpoints in Mount Maunganui.

A hidden highlight is the small blowhole on the ocean side of the island. During large swells, waves crash into the rocks and send water shooting high into the air.

📸 Best Times to Visit:

  • Sunrise at Main Beach

  • Sunset at Pilot Bay

  • Early morning walk on Moturiki Island

  • High tide for the blowhole

Local Tip: If you're short on time, walk up Mauao in the morning and visit Moturiki Island at sunset. Together, they offer some of the best coastal views in the Bay of Plenty.

Ōmanawa Falls

Hidden in the hills west of Tauranga, Ōmanawa Falls is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the North Island.

The waterfall plunges approximately 35 metres into a deep gorge surrounded by native forest, creating a scene that feels more like a tropical jungle than a typical New Zealand landscape.

For many years, access to the falls was unofficial and potentially dangerous. Today, visitors can safely enjoy the experience thanks to a purpose-built viewing platform and staircase system that provides incredible views of the waterfall and the hydroelectric power station below.

The journey to the viewing platform includes a descent of around 240 steps, followed by the return climb back to the top.

Visitor Information:

  • Walk Time: 30–45 minutes return

  • Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

  • Approximate Steps: 240 each way

  • Waterfall Height: 35 metres

The falls are also historically significant. The nearby Ōmanawa Power Station, completed in 1915, is one of New Zealand's oldest hydroelectric power stations and is still operating today.

Unlike many waterfalls that require long hikes, Ōmanawa Falls provides access to a truly dramatic natural landmark within a relatively short walk. The combination of native forest, powerful waterfall, and historic hydro station makes it one of the Bay of Plenty's hidden gems.

Best Time to Visit

The waterfall is impressive year-round, but it's particularly spectacular after periods of rain when the water volume increases dramatically.

Local Tip: Visit in the morning for softer light and fewer visitors. The surrounding forest creates a peaceful atmosphere that feels a world away from nearby Tauranga and Mount Maunganui.

McLaren Falls Park

Located about 20 minutes from Tauranga, McLaren Falls Park is one of the Bay of Plenty's best-kept secrets and a perfect addition to a visit to nearby Ōmanawa Falls.

The park is built around the beautiful Lake McLaren and offers a network of walking tracks, waterfalls, swimming spots, native forest, and some of the region's best glow worm viewing.

The park's namesake waterfall may not be the tallest in New Zealand, but it is one of the most enjoyable to visit.

A footbridge crosses directly above the falls, providing fantastic views of the river as it cascades over the rocks below. During summer, the pools around the falls become a popular swimming spot for locals and visitors.

The water is usually calm and clear, making it a great place to cool off on a hot day.

For the more adventurous, some visitors enjoy cliff jumping from the surrounding rocks into the deeper sections of the river. Conditions vary throughout the year, so always check water levels and depths before jumping.

Walking Tracks

Many visitors come to McLaren Falls simply to enjoy the walking trails.

Tracks wind through native forest, around the lake shoreline, and across open parkland, making it an excellent location for an easy hike, picnic, or afternoon outdoors.

Glow Worms After Dark

One of the park's most famous attractions appears after sunset.

A short track leads to a stream bank illuminated by thousands of glow worms. Unlike commercial glow worm tours, this experience is completely free and often far less crowded.

Here's the important thing to know:

🚪 The park gates close in the evening, usually around sunset (times vary seasonally).

Because the glow worms are only visible after dark, many visitors arrive before closing time, enjoy the park during daylight, and remain inside until darkness falls. Others park outside the gates after closing and walk in to access the glow worm track.

It's always worth checking the current gate closing times before your visit.

A Perfect Afternoon Adventure

A great local itinerary is:

  1. Visit Ōmanawa Falls in the morning.

  2. Head to McLaren Falls Park for a swim, walk, or picnic.

  3. Explore the waterfalls and lake during the afternoon.

  4. Stay until dark to see the glow worms.

Local Tip

Bring a torch with a red-light mode for the glow worms and avoid using flash photography. The darker your eyes adjust, the more impressive the glow worm display becomes.

Many locals consider the combination of Ōmanawa Falls, McLaren Falls, swimming holes, glow worms, and sunset views to be one of the best free day trips in the entire Bay of Plenty.