Explore the Bay of Plenty
From beautiful beaches and vibrant arts to adrenaline adventures and gourmet experiences, the coastal
Bay of Plenty offers a wonderful mix of activities, culture and scenic attractions to tempt travellers.
This spring it’s all happening in the city of
Tauranga with two world-class exhibitions and a thriving arts festival on tap. If you missed the stunning
Earth from Above last year, now’s your chance to see Yann Arthus-Bertrand’s collection of photographs along Tauranga’s waterfront. From spectacular glaciers to a market garden in Timbuktu, photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand has captured an incredible variety of
landscapes from the air in his collection of 110 large scale photographs taken in 58 countries. The exhibition will run around the clock to 25 November 2007 along The Strand waterfront area in the Tauranga CBD.
Coinciding with the exhibition is the city’s biennial Tauranga Arts Festival from 18-28 October 2007. This popular festival provides 10 action-packed days of music, theatre, dance and photography from leading international and national performers. You can find out more at www.taurangafestival.co.nz.
Rounding out the exciting line-up is the World Press Photo exhibition. These winning entries from the annual World Press Photo Contest provide a fascinating record of recent world events. The exhibition will run from 20 October 2007 to 11 November 2007 at the new Tauranga Art Gallery, which opens to the public for the first time on 20 October 2007.
It’s not all about culture though - adventure lovers certainly won’t be bored in the Bay. You can choose to go jetboating or four-wheel-driving at Longridge Fun Park or take a guided tour of White Island, 
New Zealand's only active marine volcano. This spectacular volcanic landscape is full of bubbling mud pools, steaming craters and a mystic crater lake. Whakatane operator White Island Tours will take you right up to the crater rim. For the ultimate vantage point of this amazing volcano, you can head to Tauranga airport for a scenic flight with Air Discovery or explore the volcanic terrain underwater with Dive White Island.
For something a little different, try an adventure on the locally invented blokart at Blokart Heaven in . This land-sail kart guarantees an adrenaline rush, but if you enjoy being up with the birds, there is parasailing and skydiving for an added adrenalin rush. Aerius Helicopters also offers a great line-up of adventures, with helifishing, jetboa
ting, white water rafting, deer park tours and horse riding.
Nature lovers won’t miss out either. Coastal Bay of Plenty offers a wonderful opportunity to swim with and view the incredible dolphins that visit the waters of the Bay.
can take you alongside these playful marine creatures and you’ll also get to observe the diverse bird and fishlife that make up this unspoilt marine ecosystem.
For a taste of the region’s superb produce, head inland to Te Puke to Kiwi 360. You can take a guided tour on a kiwicart and taste all sorts of kiwifruit products in the gift shop and café. There’s also the aw
ard-winning Comvita Visitor Centre, home to healthy honey products and visitor centre where you can learn all about the amazing honey bee. For more gourmet delights, you can sample the Bay of Plenty wines and local fare at two award-winning wineries: Morton Estate in Katikati and Mills Reef in Tauranga. Both offer free wine tasting and scrumptious cuisine. There are also some great dining options along the Tauranga Strand waterfront area. For outstanding cuisine, check out The Kestrel. Once the Devonport ferry, this boat is permanently fixed to a floating pontoon on the Strand. If you're looking for cafes you'll find a string of them in downtown Tauranga and across from the main beach at Mount Maunganui.
Useful Information
Coming Up in Summer
Images courtesy of Tourism Bay of Plenty