Also known as Main Beach, Mount Maunganui Beach is located on the Northeast side of the peninsula…read morethat juts out into the Pacific Ocean, the point being Mount Maunganui. It is located in the suburb of Mount Maunganui, New Zealand. The Peninsula is narrow, and on the other side is Pilot Beach facing the Bay of Plenty with calmer waters. We came for a visit on a Sunday in mid April, and the beach was being enjoyed by locals, competing in a team obstacle course competition. But even then, there was a ton of open space for beach lovers, with the wide sandy beach providing just a gorgeous backdrop. It truly is a picturesque beach.

This is a really beautiful beach with a lot of wonderful amenities. There is convenient parking all…read moredown the beach and we were able to easily find a spot and head over to the trailhead for Mount Maunganui. It seems like you could spend a full day here pretty easy. Do a little hiking in the morning and be rewarded with a great view of the beach and bay, then relax on the beach all day. The sand is very soft and perfect for footsies. There's also bike baths and paved walking trails offering something for everyone. There's quite a few restaurants and ice cream places just walking distance from the beach in case you get hit by the hungries throughout the day. I was also really impressed to see the water bottle refilling stations to help keep you hydrated. The day we were there we saw a lot of surfers out and the water was pretty rough. I imagine this is a better beach for laying out on rather than for swimming. Pretty incredible area though, wish I lived next to it!

I absolutely had to see a black sand beach on my trip to New Zealand and on our way to Hamilton we…read moredrove along the coast to Manu Bay. There are several small seaside towns to visit on the drive and though we didn't stay long to look around, it appeared there were some places for tourist shopping and some dining options. This beach was beautiful and I really wish I had more time to spend here. The black sand is striking yet soft on the footsies. There was a great menagerie of shells and rocks washed up along the beach that were fun to pick through. There are a lot of hills around, and there was a short little hike to a lookout point with a great view. Apparently one of the best surf sites on the North Islands west coast, it did have some surfers out there despite the weather being a bit nasty. There were places to rent gear if you're interested in some water activities. We also passed by several nice looking camping and recreation areas. Great stop and very glad I didn't miss it!!

This place was awesome! We got a room with a queen bed and a bunk. The room was tidy, and spacious…read more The AC kept it cool the fan was really nice to have while we slept. IT was awesome that there are thermal pools on site! We enjoyed using the pools and meeting fellow travelers. The WiFi was very poor, as it is in many places we have traveled.

So Disappointing! So…read moredisappointing, small park unfriendly staff, although we had booked in advance no question of having our vans together, despite there being empty spaces the whole time next to us! Their hot pools were just everyday hot tubs and tiny swimming pool, far too small for the size of site! Digging your own pool on the beach is not what it seems, again very small area! Children's playground dangerously close to a real hot spring with very inadequate fencing! Facilities left a lot to be desired!

The drive that takes you around the coast of Maraetai is one of my favourites in all of Auckland…read more The road itself is a little bit dicey in places so do be careful, but it's so beautiful looking out onto the ocean as you drive dangerously close to the cliff. There are many places that you can stop at on the way and admire the view, or get out of the car and go for a swim in the clear water. There are usually a few people jumping off the end of the main wharf in the Summer time, and even some fishermen. I went fishing here once at night time and something huge surfaced just below the wharf and then disappeared. Possibly a whale or a dolphin, but it scared the shit out of us in the pitch darkness. It is known that the Maraetai area can be a bit dangerous at times, with thieves etc. so be aware of your stuff and your car.

The first white sand and blue water beach I have ever been to in New Zealand. I was used to the…read moreblack sand and stony beaches, they are all beautiful but I was wanting something different. The first time we went to Maraetai was when I was 13 and it was Christmas. Man I had the time of my life swimming with my family and friends and enjoyed a beautiful picnic. Now many years later I still love going to this beach and lounging around. Last time I was there my boyfriend and I sat by the rocks and enjoyed the sun. The fresh air at the beach plus the sound of the sea creates a romatic and relaxing setting.

I've been here a number of times with my 3-year-old and he never tires of this playground (and we…read morenever tire of him tiring himself out at this playground). If you are in Tauranga or The Mount area, this is a great place to bring the little ones for a run around. You can also walk over the beach or around Mount Drury if you're done at the playground. It's also within walking distance of a number of shops and cafes along the beach and in the central part of the area. I'd say this playground is more for the 2-3 years-old and up sort of kid age range. There aren't too many options for the real little ones, but there is lots of open space nearby for them to toddle around or for you to kick a soccer ball, throw a rugby ball or Frisbee around. I'm also happy with the fact that there are a fair number of benches available and public toilets right there at the playground. All in all, we've been a number of times and we'll be back plenty more times in the future.

Well appointed Dept of Conservation campsite. Situated between a wildlife reserve and the…read moremagnificent stretch of white sand east coast beach. Campsite is well run, has water and toilets and also a 50c hot shower. Cost is only $12 for two people in tent campervan or car. Beautiful location, easy ride from Tauranga or Whakatane - 30 mins each way

We decided to do a day trip over to Waiheke Island and rented a car so we could do a bit of…read moreexploring. This is one of two beaches that we spent some time on. Like other beaches we have visited in New Zealand, it is astounding how few people were there. Of course it was nearing the end of the summer school holiday, and a weekday, but even at 2 pm on a warm and mostly sunny day, there were only a handful of people and just a few splashing about in the waves. While not huge, at low tide there is a broad flat golden sandy beach perfect for just hanging out. There is some parking in a small lot or on the street too. We had no trouble finding a space. There also is a toilet and a small convenience store nearby. We hung out and enjoyed the sun for about an hour.

Great play ground and pristine beach. The playground is perfect for toddlers and slightly older…read morekids, with swings slides and climbing gyms. It also has picnic tables, but often times in nice weather, everyone takes their picnic down to the beach. Nice beach for swimming with very calm waves, and pretty seashells for beachcombing.