Things to Do in Tauranga

• Swimming with the dolphins
  Gemini Galaxsea offer tours, as well as snorkelling on the reefs. Dolphin Seafaris are a provider of watching and swimming with dolphins in the Bay of Plenty area. 
• Mount Maunganui
  Tauranga's neighbouring town is a favourite beach resort with good surf and swimming beaches, and walks to the summit of Mount Maunganui (232m), which overlooks the beach. Visitors can also take a relaxing dip at the Mount Maunganui Hot Saltwater pools at the foot of the Mount.
• Cruising
  Visitors can enjoy a day or overnight cruise with Blue Ocean Charters, departing from Coronation Pier, or go sailing on the South Sea Vagabond catamaran.
• Aerial Activities
  At nearby Mount Maunganui, Tauranga airport offers scenic flights with Tauranga Glider Club, or visitors can jump with Tandem Skydiving.
• Compass Community Village
  The city's recreated colonial village is complete with shops, cottage industries, church, stables, jailhouse, a Maori village and old machinery and vehicles.
• Elms Mission Station House
  This pioneer home on Mission Street was completed in 1847, and features period furnishings, gardens and historic outbuildings.
• Walks
  The Visitor Centre has copies of Walkways of Tauranga, which includes Mount Maunganui. There are longer walks in the rugged Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park and at McLaren Falls, 11km southest of Tauranga.
• Mills Reef Winery & Restaurant
  The closest winery to Tauranga with free wine tasting and cellar door sales, and an award-winning restaurant.
• Cascades Fountain Gardens
  Magnificent gardens with night lighting and water features. Visitors can control the water level of the fountains.
• The World of Horses
  Cross-country horse trekking and horse riding tuition. Facilities include a display corral, native bush gardens, birds and animals to feed and a licensed café/bar.
• Marshall's Animal Park
  The chance to see and feed a variety of wild and domestic animals, with pony rides, a flying fox, bushwalks, a trout spring and picnic grounds.
• Matakana Island
  This rural retreat in the Tauranga Harbour boasts a 24km stretch of white sand. There is swimming, surfing, windsurfing, kayaking and fishing. A ferry service departs from the town of Omokoroa, 22km west of Tauranga.
• Water Activities
  Tauranga takes advantage of its harbour-side location with space to fish and stroll beside the water close to town. The city offers a full range of boating and watersports activities, in particular big game fishing. There are charter boats for hire at the central city wharf.