Cheap flights to Tauranga from £1,134

Tauranga is an attractive coastal destination for anyone who likes to combine a bustling city lifestyle with a waterfront setting. Stretching around a large harbour in New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty, this thriving city offers visitors easy access to the beach and outlying islands. The harbour is the perfect destination for water sports and activities, such as fishing, sailing or diving. Many local boat tour companies offer a range of memorable boat trips, whether you enjoy a relaxing harbour cruise or want to try a once in a lifetime experience of swimming with dolphins. To the north of the city centre is Mount Manganui, an extinct volcano which provides spectacular views of the peninsular and coastline. The ocean beach is particularly popular with surfers, due to its excellent surfing conditions and it regularly hosts surf championships. Avid scuba divers will benefit from a trip to one of the local island reefs to see the many varieties of local marine life. For intrepid travellers looking for adventure, a boat trip to White Island from the nearby town of Whakatane offers the incomparable experience of walking into the heart of an active volcano. If you prefer a more peaceful setting, you can explore the natural wonders of Mclaren Falls Park, which is within a 10-minute drive south of the city. Alternatively travel west to Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park to explore the deep gorges, waterfalls, rocks and trails of this ancient natural landscape. However you like to spend your holiday, Tauranga has attractions and activities to suit any visitor, so it is easy to see why it is such a popular tourist destination.

Getting around Tauranga

There is a network of bus routes that operate throughout the city area. The bus network also extends to other towns in New Zealand’s North Island, such as Rotorua, Whakatane and Te Puke.