Boat Ramp Gain easy access to some of the best boating spots in the Bay of Plenty. Kayaking Enjoy the thrill of the white water or just a calm paddle taking in the beautiful surrounds. Camping Plenty of room is available to pitch yor tent and enjoy your surrounds throughout most of the Bay of Plenty.
Disabled Access Easy access for wheelchairs and buggies. Fishing Try some of these prime fishing locations and be sure to go home with a fresh catch for dinner. Horse Riding There are many superb horsetreks to be experienced throughout the Bay of Plenty.
Hunting Deer, wild pigs, goats and more can be found in various locals around the Bay of Plenty. Hut Many of the tramps in the Bay of Plenty take more than a few hours - huts are provided for overnight excursions. Information Need maps, help or advice when in the area - check out our Information Centres.
Look Outs Experience the magestic views that only the Bay of Plenty can provide. Mountain Biking Extreme or leisurely, the Bay of Plenty has many great scenic cycling experiences. Boating Some of the most stunning locations can be only viewed in their full glory from off-shore.
Parking Need a place to park, look no further. Picnicing Beautiful scenic areas with picnic tables provided for your eating pleasure. Rafting Enjoy the thrill of the ride on one of our many great rafting experiences.
Sailing Enjoy the wind in your hair and the beautiful views at one of our exquisite sailing locations. Surfing Surfs up - tear up the waves at one of the Bay of Plentys prime breaks. Swiming Take a dip and enjoy the surrounds at one of our many superb beaches.
Public Toilets The Bay of Plenty is renowned for the cleanliness of its amenities. Tramping There are numerous excellent tracks to experience in the Bay of Plenty. Water Skiing Feel the spray on your face and the wind in your hair - the Bay of Plenty has some exquisite waterskiing locations.
Walking A cool casual walk taking in the beautiful Bay of Plenty scenery can be a great way to wind down. Wild Life An abundance of native flora and fauna can be found in these gorgeous settings. Gamebird Hunting Some of the best areas to sit and wait during the hunting season.
Historical The way things used to be, preserved lest we forget. Leashed Dogwalks Plenty of room to exercise your canine - just remember to keep them on their leashes. Geothermal Experience spectacular forces of nature at work - but remember not to stray from the path.
Camper Van Pull up and spend some time in one of our Camper Van friendly camping sites. BBQ The good old kiwi barbie - nothing
Home Whirinaki Forest 'Dinosaur' forests of giant trees many centuries old. The eastern ranges of the Bay of Plenty are remote and untouched. Kaimai-Mamaku The western ranges of the Bay of Plenty are a living museum of the regions natural and human history. Urban-Rural There are many places in the Bay of Plenty where nature is close to our homes. Lakes And Geothermal Beautiful lakes, distinctive volcanic landscapes and unique geothermal sites are special features of the Bay of Plenty. Coastal Pohutukawa fringed beaches and golden sand. Bay of Plenty's coastal environment is beautiful.
Camping

Plenty of room is available to pitch your tent and enjoy your surrounds throughout most of the Bay of Plenty.		 Click for home


Urban-Rural There are many places in the Bay of Plenty where nature is close to our homes. Urban-Rural
McLaren Falls Park

The park borders Lake McLaren, formed behind a dam built for hydro-electricity generation.
The landscape includes parkland and native bush. McLaren Falls has a fine botanical collection
of trees and a range of birdlife, including the North Island brown kiwi, North Island robin
and long-tailed cuckoo.The park has accommodation, with camping on any open, grassed area, except Cherry Bay,and three hostels. Trout fishing is permitted year round in the lake and nearby Ruahihi Canal
with a licence. An animal park adjoins McLaren Falls Park.
Te Waihou Walkway

Scenic beauty and history are features of the walkway, beside the upper reaches of the Waihou River. The river water is clear and pure, with an intense blue colour. Many springs and tributaries feed the river. The Blue Spring is internationally acclaimed. Its clear, blue-green water flows from the spring at 42 cubic metres (9240 gallons) per minute. The water is sold in bottled form around New Zealand and supplies the town of Putaruru without treatment.
Discover it... Love it... Live it...
Mauao Mount Maunganui

The dominant feature of the Tauranga district, Mauao rises 232m above sea level at the Mount Maunganui side of the entrance to Tauranga Harbour. Mauao has been of great importance to local Maori for more than six centuries and habitation terraces, storage pits, defence
trenching, bank systems and shell middens are still visible. The British Militia made
military use of Mauao in colonial days. Traces of their occupation are visible around the
base track.

Kaimai-Mamaku The western ranges of the Bay of Plenty are a living museum of the regions natural and human history. Kaimai-Mamaku
McLaren Falls Park

The park borders Lake McLaren, formed behind a dam built for hydro-electricity generation.
The landscape includes parkland and native bush. McLaren Falls has a fine botanical collection
of trees and a range of birdlife, including the North Island brown kiwi, North Island robin
and long-tailed cuckoo.The park has accommodation, with camping on any open, grassed area, except Cherry Bay,and three hostels. Trout fishing is permitted year round in the lake and nearby Ruahihi Canal
with a licence. An animal park adjoins McLaren Falls Park.
Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park

The 37,000ha forest park is a living museum of natural and human history.The park marks the northern limit of kamahi, red and silver beech,and the southern limit of the huge kauri. Birdlife includes the fantail, North Island Robin, kereru (native pigeon), waxeye or silver-eye, tui and tomtit. Kiwi and morepork (ruru) can sometimes be heard at night, the North Island kaka is a rare sight, and the shining cuckoo and bellbird are more often heard than seen. Maori established routes across the Kaimai Ranges for trading and raiding. Later,these trails were used by Europeans. The introduction of logging and mining had a substantial impact on areas of the park which are clearly visible in the form of caves, tramlines and remnants of kauri.

Whirinaki Forest 'Dinosaur' forests of giant trees many centuries old. The eastern ranges of the Bay of Plenty are remote and untouched. Whirinaki Forest
Te Urewera

Te Urewera is an area of varied scenery - rivers,grass flats, steep sided hillsides cut
by streams and native vegetation. The vegetation ranges from lush kohekohe forest in river
and stream valleys to beech forests on the more elevated dividing ranges, with some scrub
and grassed clearings.
Whirinaki Forest Park Mountain Bike Track

Whirinaki Forest Park Mountain Bike Track

Tall trees, rushing rivers, special plants and animals, a wide variety of habitats and fascinating past combine to create Whirinaki Forest park. This was one of New Zealand''s most famous conservation battlegrounds, where people actively fought to save a magnificent native forest.
Whirinaki Forest Park

Whirinaki Forest Park has something for everyone, with terrain ranging from flats to
steep uplands. The park, known as a ‘dinosaur forest, has many tall trees that are centuries
old. Sights include giant podocarps, views of the river cutting through an ancient lava flow,
and caves with pumice deposits and remnants of the Taupo eruption nearly 2000 years ago.
Waioeka Gorge Scenic Reserve

The reserve is 1800ha of forest and regenerating farmland. The area was cleared for farming
after World War 1, but the steep land and then the depression deafeated the settlers. The
Tauranga and Manganuku Bridges are among evidence of the pioneer farming in the area. The
Tauranga Bridge is one of only two harp suspension bridges in the country.

Lakes And Geothermal Beautiful lakes, distinctive volcanic landscapes and unique geothermal sites are special features of the Bay of Plenty. Lakes And Geothermal
McLaren Falls Park

The park borders Lake McLaren, formed behind a dam built for hydro-electricity generation.
The landscape includes parkland and native bush. McLaren Falls has a fine botanical collection
of trees and a range of birdlife, including the North Island brown kiwi, North Island robin
and long-tailed cuckoo.The park has accommodation, with camping on any open, grassed area, except Cherry Bay,and three hostels. Trout fishing is permitted year round in the lake and nearby Ruahihi Canal
with a licence. An animal park adjoins McLaren Falls Park.
Lake Rerewhakaaitu Recreational Reserves

Lake Rerewhakaaitu is a site of special wildlife interest. It supports breeding populations of
dabchicks, scaup and the largest breeding population of banded dotterel in the Rotorua
Ecological District.
Lake Tarawera Scenic Reserve

The 1886 eruption, which killed 153 people and raised the lake surface by 12m, shaped the
Tarawera landscape. The lake drains eastward through the Tarawera River, over spectacular
falls. The reserve contains walking tracks and many recreational and cultural sites,
including those at Tarawera Landing, The Orchard, Humphries Bay and Hot Water Beach.

Coastal Pohutukawa fringed beaches and golden sand. Bay of Plenty's coastal environment is beautiful. Coastal
Western Whakatane Coastal Reserves


The Matata Wildlife Reserve, Matata Recreation Reserve and the Thornton Wildlife Management
Reserve make up the Western Whakatane Coastal Recreation reserves.
Mauao Mount Maunganui

The dominant feature of the Tauranga district, Mauao rises 232m above sea level at the Mount Maunganui side of the entrance to Tauranga Harbour. Mauao has been of great importance to local Maori for more than six centuries and habitation terraces, storage pits, defence
trenching, bank systems and shell middens are still visible. The British Militia made
military use of Mauao in colonial days. Traces of their occupation are visible around the
base track.
Tuhua (Mayor Island)

Tuhua (Mayor Island) is
an ancient volcano, once
prized, quarried and
fought over for it's
valuable black glossy
obsidian, now safe-haven
for some of New Zealand's
most threatened native
species. The adjacent
Tuhua Marine Reserve is
renowned for its high
water quality, diversity
of deep sea and sub-
tropical fish species and
stunning geological
features.

The island is classified
as a Wildlife Refuge and
administered by the Tuhua
Trust Board, whom
represent the owners and
are working in
partnership with the
Department of
Conservation to restore
the island as close as
possible to it's original
state.

Visitors are welcome on
the island by prior
arrangement and are asked
to follow a few rules and
biosecurity precautions,
so that the island's
natural beauty, pest-free
status and unique
inhabitants are
protected.

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© Copyright. Destination Outdoors Bay of Plenty is the product of a Department of Conservation (Bay of Plenty Conservancy) initiative promoting recreational opportunities for people to learn about the natural, historical and cultural significance of the Bay of Plenty.
Please contact 0064 09 349 7400 for more information.